The Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville, is sponsoring a one day tour to explore Berks County on Wednesday, April 27. The tour will focus on the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and the natural beauty of the area.
The coach bus will depart from Hagey Bus Terminal at 8:45 a.m. with the first stop the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. The museum, founded in 1965, houses dozens of automobiles, trucks and motorcycles that were manufactured in Pennsylvania while the industry was still in its infancy. Prior to that time, the region produced multitudes of horse-drawn vehicles, of which many examples can be found at the Museum. The main gallery of the Boyertown Museum is in the former main factory building of the Boyertown Auto Body Works. From 1926 until 1990, the Boyertown Auto Body Works manufactured truck bodies for commercial and government use. Other popular museum artifacts are two examples of roadside architecture: the original 1938 Fegely’s Reading Diner and a 1921 Sunoco gas station.
Their current exhibit is Lightweights: Cycle and Light Automobiles. Popular for a short period of time in the 1910s, cycle cars were something of a midway point between cars and motorcycles. With small engines, no-frills bodywork and lightweight construction, cycle cars were unique and varied. Four cars are on display from this era, including a three-wheeled 1910 Kelsey Motorette.
Leaving Boyertown, the bus will travel to the Kutztown/Lenhartsville area for a driving tour of Pennsylvania Dutch bank barns painted with hex signs. These 19th to 20th century post and beam structures are beautiful and imposing symbols of Berks County farmsteads.
Following the drive-by barn tour, the tour group will go to Janelle Hall, Mertztown, for another favorite part of the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage – great cooking! The lunch buffet menu will include chicken pot pie, boova shenkel (filled noodles), schnitz n’ knepp (ham with dried apple and dumplings), potato filling with gravy, baked corn, green beans, rolls and homemade pie.
In the afternoon, the tour will travel to Hawk Mountain, Kempton. Hawk Mountain is a raptor sanctuary whose mission is to conserve birds of prey worldwide by providing leadership in raptor conservation science and education. The group will have a half hour “Raptors Over the Ridge” introduction with a live bird presentation by one of their educators and then have free time to take the short walk to the South Lookout and see the Visitor’s Center.
Our final stop for the day will be Dietrich’s Meat and Country Specialities where you can stock up on smoked sausage, fresh rendered lard, pies and other PA Dutch specialties.
Wear comfortable shoes, but the walking will not be difficult. Tour cost includes all admission fees, gratuities and lunch. To register, go to www.mhep.org or call 215-256-3020. Deadline for registration is April 15.
