Along the Saucony
One of the first things the Kutztown Area Historical Society did after incorporating in April 1976 was to create committees to oversee various society activities. One of the committees was dedicated to publication of various articles/stories about local history. The society decided to publish a quarterly journal to be called “Along the Saucony” starting in October 1977.
The editors of the first issues were Jane Gottlund and Gertrude Durr. The art work for the publication was created by Gail Gottlund with Peter Snyder drawing the cover (a design that was used until the end of the quarterly publication in 2005). Gayle Sanders printed the first issues, which were later outsourced to various publishing companies.
The final issue of the quarterly was published in September 2005 as Jane Gottlund, who was editor for the publications entire 28-year run, had retired from her position. Jane and many other folks created a wonderful source of local history that the society frequently references.
The first issue included information that would later be reported in the society newsletter. We’re sharing the other articles below. We hope you enjoy reading them, although they were published almost 50 years ago.
FAMILY HISTORIES by Bernice Sell
DUNKEL
Johannes Dunkel arrived at the Port of Philadelphia from the Palatinate on 29 August 1730 and appears first in the records of the Falkner Swamp Reformed Church and Hanover Township, Montgomery County area. In 1746 he located in Greenwich Township, and became a member of the New Jerusalem (Dunkel's) Reformed Congregation.
Johannes Dunckel (Cunkel) was born 10 October 1703 and died 23 November 1787. His mother Elizabeth, buried also at Dunkel's Church, was born 19 September 1677 and died 24 December 1767. Anna Margaret, the first wife of Johannes Dunckel was born 23 November 1703 and died 28 February 1781. He married the second time on 3 September 1781 to Anna Catharine.
Johannes, in his will, mentions six sons and daughters, but only Peter and Rosina (Mrs. Anthony Adam) are named. Others are probably Kilian, Michael and Conrad. Another daughter, Eva Maria, married Michael Henninger. These families settled in Greenwich, Maidencreek, and Windsor Townships.
WINK
The Winks were inhabitants of the area prior to 1734, before the township of Maxatawny or the County of Berks were established. Casper Wink came from Manheim on Rhine in the Palatinate about 1727 and married Gertrude Kemp, daughter of Dewalt Kemp the immigrant of about 1720.
Casper was a Catholic, but his family were staunch members of St. John's Reformed Church in Kutztown. Family legend states that before his death st the age of 96, he went back to the Most Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church at Bally for confession. Casper and his wife are buried on the family farm on a hill behind Kemp's Hotel, but the place is no longer marked. A monument to their memory is erected on Hope Cemetery at St. John's Church.
Casper's family consisted of Catharine, born about 1728; Theobald (Dewalt) born in 1733 married to Margarethe Reed; Anna Elisabeth born 1735 married to Michael Christman; Maria Christina born 1737 married to John Valentine Bayer; Anna Barbara born 1739 married to William Haintez (?); and John Peter born 1745. John Peter Wink is said to have gone to the Revolutionary War and never returned.
LANDMARKS by John Keim
THE GREENWICH STEET STORE
This year marked the passing of a familiar scene in Kutztown. One of the few remaining neighborhood grocery stores closed its doors in the spring of 1977 after 80 years of operation. The name of the store in the end was Angstadt's Store but during its long history it had many names and owners.
Angstadt's Store as we remember it was originally known as Keiter's Riverside Department Store and Mr. Keiter was the proprietor from 1897 through 1914. The building, located at 250 Greenwich Street, was built in 1897 in three distinct parts. The first part on the left hand side was open horse stables. The next partition housed a hardware store and the final part was a grocery store.
In 1914 Ed Stufflet had the ownership of the store until 1950 when the partnership of Christ and Gernard took over the operations. At this time the horse stables and hardware store were demolished.
The partnership dissolved in 1952 when Mr. Christ died and Norman Rubrecht gained control of the business. Mr. and Mrs. Lester Angstadt bought the property from Rubrecht in August, 1956. In April, 1977 Gabriel Tenaglia, owner of a local winery. purchased the property. He does not know what he intends to do with the business at the present time.
