PENNSBURG PA – The early 1900s connection between Pennsburg and a Pennsylvania Dutch community in Berks County, 26 miles away, is the subject of a free history lecture scheduled for Sunday (April 12, 2026) at 2 p.m. in the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St.

Author and researcher Richard Adams, a native of St. Lawrence village – located just outside Reading PA – will speak about his findings of a “strong connection” between the community there and Pennsburg. The link is between the village’s one-room schools, the reborn Perkiomen Seminary in Pennsburg, and its Schwenkfelder families of the period.

The event is open to the public at no cost, thanks to sponsorship of the Friends Local History Fund. Reservations are appreciated, and can be made by Friday (April 10) by 5 p.m. online or by calling the heritage center at 215-679-3103.

Adams, a St. Lawrence native, is the author of “In the Village: A History and Memoir of the Pennsylvania Dutch Community of St. Lawrence.” Published during 2025, his book shares how Rhine Valley German immigrant families, who settled west of old Philadelphia County, adapted to their circumstances.

They found religious liberty and land of their own, Adams writes. They became farmers and innovators who built roads, businesses and local institutions.

The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center serves as the regional history museum for the Upper Perkiomen Valley. It is open Tuesdays through Sundays, with free admission to visit exhibits or research in the library.

Photo by Daria Glakteeva on Unsplash, used under license
Book cover image provided by Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center

Start Your Garden at May 2 Plant Sale in Barto

BARTO PA – Kick off your gardening season, starting May 2 (2026; Saturday) from 9 a.m. to noon with a spring plant sale, held by the Washington Township (Berks County) Parks and Recreation Board.

Board Chair Mark Bedle reports the sale will provide a wide selection of vibrant annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and indoor house plants. The event will be held at the township municipal complex, 120 Barto Rd.

Additionally, the board’s Facebook page notes that other growers are “welcome to come and setup a stand to sell their own plants.”

A second similar sale also is scheduled for May 9 (Saturday), again from 9 a.m. to noon at the township complex.

Photo provided by Washington Township Parks and Recreation

Our entertainment reporting covers the arts and culture, shows, exhibits, performances, festivals, and community-related activities within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. Find more entertainment articles here. Also, see and join the Pottstown Arts and Cultural Alliance group on Facebook.