The Historical Society of Berks County congratulates
David Goldfarb on his successful effort to get his
house and barn at Yellow House listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The official recognition
occurred March 29, 2007.

PENNSYLVANIA, BERKS COUNTY,
Rhoads--Lorah House and Barn,
1832 Old Swede Rd.,
Amity Township, 07000216.

For photos and more information, access
http://www.panix.com/~goldfarb/pahouse/

Guy Bierman has provided us with a photo of the
1741 Yoder Homestead at Pleasantville—next to the
Pleasantville Covered Bridge. In the previous News-Bits
dispatch we mentioned that the historic landmark is
for sale.



Pleasantville originally was Yotterstettle (splg?).
The early Yoder graveyard is about a block away, in a
field opposite (just east of) the village church.

The small / older portion of stucco-over-stone structure—
seen on the far right in Mr. Bierman’s picture—is the
pioneer cabin of 1741.

- - -

Chris Yoder provided a pdf file with more information about
the marker inside the Yoder cabin…along with other Yoder
data of interest.

Here’s hoping most of you can open a pdf file:

http://www.yodernewsletter.org/ynlpdf/YNL29.pdf

The Oley Valley Heritage Association will meet this
coming Monday, April 16, 2007, at 7:30 PM at the
Oley Valley Middle School Auditorium--along
Friedensburg Road, just outside Oley Village.

Stephen Hench will present a program titled
“Old Guns,” which will include a display of
old guns, including one from the Reading area.

You are invited to attend this event.

BOOK BONANZA collection Sat., Apr. 21 – 9 to noon

Nancy J. Poole emailed to inform us that county-wide
used book collection for Book Bonanza 2007 will be held
Saturday, April 21 outside the Reading Regional Airport,
from 9 am to noon.

Adult and children's hardback or paperback books in good
condition are needed. The Book Bonanza provides funds for
scholarships for women and the Berks Libraries' Summer
Reading Program for Kids.

Sponsoring organizations: Berks County Public Library
System, Friends of Berks County Libraries, and the Reading
Branch of the American Association of University Women.

For more information, call 610-779-7297.

From our good friend Rev. Willis K. Heckler of Topton we
received the following communication, which leads readers
to a great deal of interesting and useful information:

“Doctor:
I spent too much time tonight increasing my education
on the internet. You might want to visit some or all of
these sites. You might, additionally, want to inform others.

1) is a site concerning Pa German tombstone art. The site is
extensive and contains many links. Lots of reference to local cemeteries.
www.pagstones.com

2) is the site for Berks Graveyard preservation. This site
is much improved and has archives.
www.bcagp.berkshistory.org

3) is the site in New England with lots of information on
do’s and don’ts for graveyard study.
www.gravestonestudies.org

I found all of them informative, inviting and enticing.”

AMVM, Berks County’s newest museum-library complex:

The American Museum of Veterinary Medicine (AMVM)
invites the community to participate in its spring
clean-up day....on Saturday, April 28th, from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The property includes a stone farmhouse (built in two
sections, circa 1740 and 1811), a rare 1809 double-bank
barn, a smoke house, wagon shed, root cellar and other
outbuildings that will be adapted to museum use.

The farm will once again focus on animals, and the
profession which cares for their health and welfare.
The Museum collection is extensive:-- veterinary instruments,
pharmaceuticals and equipment used 150 years ago to
present; an U.S. Army Veterinarian Corp WWI uniform
and saddle; and a library of 6,000 books in eight
languages, dating from the 17th century.

Another treasure is the ASPCA Roger Caras Library, a
personal collection of 3,000 books from the former ABC
commentator, Westminster Dog Show Announcer, ASPCA
President, and author. This collection includes the
72 books he wrote.

Activities during clean-up day include a variety of tasks:--
sorting through and discarding left-overs from the previous
owner; general yard work, gardening and landscaping;
vacuuming and dusting; and moving books, artifacts, and
display cases.

Bring family members and friends. Lunch will be provided.

The Museum is easily accessible. It’s located at Ridgewood,
along Route 724, one-quarter mile east of Interstate 176,
Cumru Township---walking distance from the Animal Rescue
League’s headquarters.

This commercial message just arrived, which might
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Aulenbach's Cemetery Assn. will be holding a fundraising
dinner on Saturday, May 5th, in the Crystal Room at Riveredge.
Doors open at 6 PM; dinner is served, beginning at 6:30.

Sandy Stief will be presenting a program highlighting some
of the famous, infamous, and unique individuals buried there.
She will also talk about some of the more unique headstones
that she's encountered.

And speaking of famous and unique individuals interred at
Aulenbach's, we surely have to include this gentleman among
them.



Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased by calling
610-779-5320.

Advertisement space is available in our program; call Dorothy
at 610-779-5320 for more information.

We urge our local News-Bits readers to attend this event if
possible, as Aulenbach’s can use all the financial help it
can muster. Vandals savaged this historic site mercilessly a
number of times in recent years.

At present, the cemetery continues, in large measure, through
the volunteer efforts of historians and genealogists. State
Representative Tom Caltagirone, a once-upon-a-time history
teacher, has worked to preserve Aulenbach’s---as has County
Commissioner Judith Schwank.

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