The Bozeman courier., 1926-09-10
GREAT READING DAM
WILL FLOOD GRAVES
Reservoir viii Cover Two
Old Cemeteries.

Reading, Pa.-COnstruction OF the |
huge Maiden creek dam by the city
Of Reading, the contract for which |
was awarded to the Mclean Construc-
tlOn company of Baltimore, at bid
Of $39S,OOO, will wipe out two rural
cemeteries. Actual work viii be start
ed shortly and the dam will back up
the waters Of the creek, covering
parts Of three townships, to serve as
an impOunding reservoir to take care
of Readings water needs for many
yeara
The descendants Of the Maiden
creek pioneers feel keenly the desc
Grafton Of their cemeteries. Many OF
~the residents Of Maiden Greek, Onte-
launee and Richmond townships have
relatives buried in the plot at the
Friends meeting house or in TOrney's
cemetery, both Of which are inclad-
ed In the area proposed to be flooded
Goes Back to 1880.
The burial plot Of the Friends
meeting house dates back to I7S0, with
interments as recently as two years
ago. The first burials were made in
wOrshiping there fOrbids any showing
whatsoever, with the result that no
tombstones were erected to mark the
last resting place Of the pioneer set
tiers OF the section. Since the ceme-
terry is to be relocated Il will mean
that the entire plot to a depth Of ct
least six or seven feet will have to
be gone over, as 1t is impossible to
locate all the graves. Only the more
recent are marked. 1t is this that
disturbs those who have relatives IN
TERED there.
The parents Of State Secretary of
Agriculture Frank P. Willis and VII
liams Willis, an implement dealer, at
Calcium, are buried In the old grave
yard. Both men made a plea before
the state water power and resources
board to save the cemetery, but the
board granted the permit to the city
to proceed with the work Of erecting
the dam. Many other descendants Of
the pioneers Of the Maiden creek re-
giOn had representatives at the hear
ing before the state board, some Oi
the oldest families in that section be-
ing represented. The board, however
refused to delay the matter Of water
supply.
FOrney's graveyard is a family plot
and is located on the farm OF jacob
FOrney. The entire farm will be taker
by the city and the burial plot will
have to be relocated. This has beer
the burial place for the family for {
number of generations and always hai
been maintained in flrst-class con
dltion.
Historic Landmark.
The destruction Of the Friends
meeting house Will remove an histOri
landmark. 1t was erected in 1870 b,
the Society Of Friends and has wealth
cred the storms Of almost two centu
ries. In late years II has been use
as a place Of worship, but hardly
day passes that one or more descend
ants of those responsible for it's ere
alton do not visit the hallowed spot
Down through the ages the old NEE
ing house has stood as a mOnumer
to the efforts Of the LightfOots, Starr
Parvins, Wylers, Penroses, Lees, HOu
tons and others, who were among tn
first settlers. They blazed the ira
In an uncleared land and, after man
years, were successful in givin
Berks one of the most productive al
ricultural sections, only to have the
descendants view the disturbance
the remains resting for more than
century in the burial plot.
The erection Of the impOundfng da
is a big undertaking and has bet
under consideration for some time
the city council 1t will solve Rea
ings water-supply problem for maj
years to come.
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