The village of Shartlesville is located off exit 23 of I78, midway between Harrisburg and Allentown. Nestled among fertile farms, in the heart of “Pa. Dutch” area of Northern Berks County at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Mountains, Shartlesville has long been famous for “Pa. Dutch” meals served at two of the local hotels in town.

Shartlesville is named after the Shartle family who in the year 1765 built the first building, the Shartle Log Cabin Inn.

The early settlers built homes around the inn, seeking protection from savage Indians whom after the French and Indian War still harassed them by burning their buildings and crops and by taking their children captive. Two area families were massacred by Indians; the Moyer family who lived 1 mile North in 1754 and the Hochstettler family 1 mile West in 1757.

Most of the early settlers were of German and Swiss decent. They were skilled carpenters and craftsmen. The town grew rapidly.

In 1830 a post office was established. By 1885, there were three inns, three blacksmith shops, a wheelwright shop, feed mill, milk creamery, two country stores as well as an undertaker shop, a church, and 2 one-room schoolhouses.

The population in 1885 was 225. In 1965, Shartlesville’s bicentennial year it was 378. In 2004 our population increased to 410 and growing.

In the early 1900’s came the automobile and with it improved roads. Main Street, now Old Rt. 22 was then on the main route from New York City to Pittsburgh. Gradually as more people owned cars and as tractor-trailers replaced the railroad cars, Main Street, Shartlesville became a heavily traveled highway. Soon it because unsafe to walk across the street. In 1953 a small child was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer. The heavy traffic was both good and bad. While many residents complained about the noise of heavy trucks rumbling down Main Street, the gas station operators who stayed open 24-7 were glad when they filled up. The Shartlesville Diner at 2nd & Main Street was a popular truck stop serving food and coffee 24-7. There were 7 gas stations on Main Street in 1950. Interstate 78 was completed to Allentown in 1957. By 1960, the Diner had closed and only 4 gas stations remained. Today there are no gas stations in town. There are 2 stations at Exit 23 of I-78.

Gift, craft and antique shops replaced those that closed.

The former Seyfert’s Garage at 3rd & Main now features shops for Crafts & Gifts and Antiques. The former Shartlesville Shirt Factory also houses antique shops.

What had been Shartlesville Hotel Country Store is now a craft shop. Patrons of Haag’s Hotel and Shartlesville Hotel enjoy browsing through these shops after a “Pa. Dutch” style dinner. The former John Hix Store, later Tryon’s Gay Dutch Store is now the Shartlesville Post Office.

What was J. R. Kauffman’s Farm Implement Shops on North 5th is now the Upper Bern Township Building. The P.O.S. of A. Hall at 5th and Main Street is now apartments. At the West End of town are Stoudt’s Roadside Market and the Bashore & Stoudt Winery. Farther west on Roadside Drive is a branch of National Penn Bank. There is a sheepskin shop next to the Blue Mountain Family Restaurant, the Fort Motel, the Towne Crier, and Roadside America.

Just North of town across I-78 you can find Appalachian Campsite and the Shartlesville Fish & Game Association. Travelling farther East on our scenic route along Mountain Road you will find Mountain Springs Camping Resort and Stoudt’s Dollhouse Miniatures. Bee Tree Trail Carriage & Wagon Tours offers horse-drawn wagon & carriage rides.

Continue on our scenic route and you will find the State Game Lands #110 which offers hunting & hiking with the famous Appalachian Trail running across the top of the mountain where the famous Ney’s Hotel once stood.

The Northkill stream and the Mill Creek offer excellent fishing.

On North 4th Street next to the Shartlesville Grange Hall is the beautiful Shartlesville Park. The late James & Clara Lesher donated the land for the park, former owners of the Shartlesville Hotel. A plaque in their memory can be found on the Bicentennial monument erected in 1965 next to the beautiful Upper Bern Veterans monument. The park has three ball fields, tennis and basketball court, two pavilions, a bandshell, and a barbecue pit.

Organizations and Churches which provide a variety of interests include: Friedens Church, Grange #1512, Fire Company, Park Association, Frieden’s Aid Society, Fish & Game, Upper Berne Vets, Lions Club, Dutch Hex Tour Association, and the Shartlesville Community Association.

The Shartlesville Dutch Bicentennial Celebration on August 20, 21, & 22, 1965 featured a three hour parade, a historic pageant and Badolia or Militia drill sand inspections which was a re-enactment of the Badolia (batallion) Days which were observed each year from 1776 to 1913. The Badolia drills were so popular that it was decided to have a Badolia Days Celebration the following year 1966. Badolia Days were held for 15 years until 1980.

On August 19th, 1990 Shartlesville observed its 225th Anniversary with ceremonies at the park. A plaque was placed on the bicentennial monument.

Shartlesville has much to offer to its residents as well as the thousands of visitors who enjoy the easy going feeling they get when they visit.

A brief message about the Author John Messner who owns Messner's Dutch Corner...

Messner’s Dutch Corner is located at 2nd and Main Street in Shartlesville. Homegrown fruits & vegetables are sold in season. Handcrafted items such as birdhouses & feeders, wishing wells, windmills, wooden stools, benches and lawn ornaments are custom made.
Pa. Dutch gifts such as hex signs, trivets as well as many handcrafted items such as quilts, afghans, bonnets, aprons and rugs are also available.
Antiques and flea market items make the Dutch Corner a place where you can find almost anything.