Early History of Tilden Township

Source: The History of Berks County, Pennsylvania by F.W. Balthaser (1925), pages 250-251:

Tilden Township was taken from Upper Bern in 1887 and organized as a separate district. It was named after Samuel J. TILDEN, the unsuccessful candidate for president in 1876. It lies just south of the Blue Mountains which form its northern boundary.

Industries

Most of the people are engaged in farming. The chief industries are one foundry, two brick works, two creameries, and two grist mills. The Hamburg Vitrified Brick Company was established in 1891. It was operated by TOBIAS & SHERIDAN for many years, and at one time the annual output was ten million bricks. After lying idle for some time, operations were again resumed in 1921.

St. Michael's Church

The original St. Michael's Union Church was erected in 1769 on land given to both the Reformed and Lutheran congregations by Joseph ZOLENBERGER, in then Bern Township, later Upper Bern Township and now Tilden Township. The building, constructed of logs, stood at the southwest corner of the old graveyard and was named for the first Reformed pastor, Rev. Philipp Jacob MICHAEL. In 1810, a new brick building was erected on the site of the present edifice, which replaced it in 1874. The present union church has a seating capacity for 1,400 people and cost $18,000.

The graveyard was designated long before the first church was built, and the first burial was Hattie GITTELIS, aged eight years, on August 22, 1766. She was killed by lightning under a chestnut tree on the farm now owned by Alexander S. RENTSCHLER.

Contributed by: Diane Klopp.