Amity Heritage Society

04/15/2026

For more information contact the Berks County Genealogical Society.

02/27/2026

Our photo today shows the Swavely family posing on their front porch at now 1728 Weavertown Road circa 1910. Starting from the left we have William R Swavely, Civil War Veteran Daniel H Swavely, Lillian (Miller) Swavely holding her son, and seated is Harriet (Rosenthal) Swavely.

02/20/2026

This early view shows Main St. in Monocacy when it was a dirt horse and buggy road complete with chickens meandering down it. You have just crossed over the railroad tracks. The photographer would be standing near the porch of the Monocacy Hotel.

02/14/2026

We are sharing our 2022 look at the Schmale farm due to several requests for information on it. Please keep the comments civil...

This is the historic 1813 Jonathan Jones House. It sits down in the valley on the east side of Old Swede Road just north of Pine Lane. It’s hard to see from the road and is often overlooked as one of Amity Townships most beautiful houses.

Jonathan Jones built this house on the same 200 acre family farm that his great grandfather, Mouns Jones, willed to his grandfather Jonas. It sat only a couple hundred feet away from Jonas’ 1723 log house. Jonas raised a large family in this log house that included sons Jonas Jr. and Jonathan’s father, Nicholas (Nick the hatter).

As his family grew, Jonas bought a second farm in 1745. It was the Jacob Rhoad’s Farm next door (on the east side of 662 across from Bieber Lane). Jonas then turned the 200 acre family farm over to his eldest son Jonas Jr. and 50 acres of the Roads Farm over to Nicholas. The two brothers were now living on adjoining farms.

Jonas Jr. on the 200 acre farm never married and did not have children. Next door, Nicholas the hatter was not into farming and allowed his son Jonathan to work for and likely live with uncle Jonas.

When Jonas Jr. was 58 and in poor health, he deeded the large family farm over to his brother Nicholas. Part of the agreement was Jonas could continue to live there the rest of his life and possibly Jonathan cared for him. Jonas Jr. died seven years later and Jonathan with his wife Hannah remained in the old log house. Hannah was the daughter of prominent Peter Jones and Catherine Kerlin.

In 1813, Jonathan and Hannah outgrew the log house and with family money from his aging father, Jonathan built this beautiful stone house. In the Nicholas Jones will of 1822, Jonathan received the title to his house and farm but had to square up with the family book and pay for it.

The Jonas Jones farm was in the Mouns Jones Family from 1701 until 1845 when Jonathan’s executors sold it to Jacob Harold.

02/13/2026

This was our mystery house from our 2025 calendar. No one ever correctly identified it. Any guesses? (hint: It is not on Route 662)

Edit - the mystery house is located on Levengood Road. See Paul Darrah III pinned post of a photo from today.

02/09/2026

This is what we all felt like last week... but the real question is... was Amity resident Clyde Van Reed rushing to get to work or just out playing in the snow? From other family photos scanned from this day it was proven he was just "out playing."

02/04/2026

Katie Ehrgood gives us this view of the intersection of Route 662 and Old Airport Road. The flat-top shown was built by John Wagner in 1861. John was one of the first tavern keepers of the Amityville Hotel and was also known as a carpenter and undertaker. At one point this home was owned by Werner E. DeTurk. Most history buffs would know him better by his intials WED, a well known postcard photographer.

01/24/2026

All the board members of the Amity Heritage Society today attended a talk by Dan Graham at the Pottsgrove Manor concerning Revolutionary Ironmasters including John Potts and Thomas Rutter and their contributions to the Revolutionary War. This is going to be an amazing year for history.

01/23/2026

The 1763 Henry Herner Homestead once stood on the east side of Old Airport Road, south of Amityville (now Rosecliff). The log house was eventually moved to the Daniel Boone Homestead, where it serves as the blacksmith shop.

01/19/2026

Be sure to stop by St. Paul's Lutheran Church tomorrow Monday January 19th and check out their Volunteer Fair. St. Paul's has graciously invited us to again set up this year.

12/01/2025

Wanted to share some recent internet auction purchases... early views of the Weavertown and Rimby one room schoolhouses. These are dated making attempting to identify the students a real possibility. They are currently on a stack of photos waiting to be scanned and restored. ☺️