Update No. 1 to "Up at The River" Story

Based on the release of “Up at The River” story, some new historical facts have come to my attention. These mostly pertain to the Dietrich period of ownership of Willow Bank Farm, off of Stoudt’s Ferry Bridge Road; and to a 1971 proposed subdivision development behind my grandparent’s house.

The Dietrich update is fascinating because 1964 plans have been found that document the laying out of building lots for bungalows along their shoreline of the Schuylkill River. The 1971 subdivision proposal calls for townhouses(?) in the cornfields!

All of these plans have been found in the files of Muhlenberg Township. Municipal archival records are an excellent source of land development history.

The text and slideshow PDF’s linked below are only for the updates. A new updated version of the full "Up at The River" story and the historical documents slideshow are uploaded to the original post.

Update No. 1 to Up at The River Story
Update No. 1 to Up at The River Story in Historical Documents

Both Plans, Courtesy Muhlenberg Township

“Up at The River”

Introduction

From the time I was about 8 years old and through my late teens, there was one place that was central in my life experience, and that was "up at the river" at my maternal grandparents house and property. This is a story not only about those times but also how historical events along that river made this experience even possible. It is also a story of the changes in the landscape since that time, and what I experienced lives in photographs, and, in the absence of photos, in my memory.

The full experience of this story is best with the accompanying slide presentations; one entirely using family photos, and the other using newspaper clippings, aerial photographs, maps, plans, government reports, postcards, and webpages. The full experience is also best on a computer or laptop screen rather than on a phone screen.

Each link below opens a PDF, the first one is the story in text, and the other two are PowerPoint Slideshows.

Up at The River Story

Up at The River Story in Family Photos

Up at The River Story in Historical Documents

Profile - Expanded

As an archivist, historian, and genealogist I share a love of history and family stories, travel, the ocean beach, walking, architecture, and old movies with my wife Anne. I am from Reading, PA. In fact, my entire family heritage in the U.S. is in three Pennsylvania counties: Berks, Lancaster, and Philadelphia (city). When I moved to Boston to attend graduate school, I fell in love with Boston, Anne, and New England, pretty much in that order.

Professionally, I am an archivist and historian, work which never ceases to excite me throughout the day. I have been an archivist for more than 28 years. Personally, I enjoy watching documentaries, and old movies on Turner Classic Movies (especially film noir), reading the print edition of the Boston Globe every morning and listening to my wide-ranging musical tastes, mostly when I am alone in the car.

Stories in Archives, History and Life will both look back as I share insights from my life experiences; and will look forward as I talk about what I am trying to accomplish in life and as an archivist/historian. Some stories will be short, sometimes very short, while others will be long. It will also include academic-style stories and articles about family history and historical subjects that interest me personally and professionally, that are connected to me personally, and through my work as an archivist.