Remembering Pottstown:: Historic Tales from a Pennsylvania Borough

by Michael Snyder

Soldiers, champions and innovators have all hailed from this buzzing borough on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Founded in 1761 as Pottsgrove, the small country town was transformed into a thriving industrial center with the coming of the P&R Railroad. Local historian Michael T. Snyder brings together a collection of vignettes to chronicle this fascinating history. From tales of gallant Civil War colonel John Rutter Brooke and the dedicated Dr. Alice Sheppard to memories of summer baseball games long past and a community united in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, Snyder deftly captures the spirit and history of Pottstown.

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2010

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting slice of life for people with a Pottstown connection, this book gamely tries to tell the story of a small town and its people over its 250+ year history. Credit to Snyder on diligent research, there are sections touching on the impact of the major wars, the local art and sports scenes (especially music and baseball), and even a bit of true crime, but nothing so salacious that it would invite a wider audience. All in all, it was like a trip home - comforting, if a bit dull. If you've got ties to Pottstown, it's worth a read.