About Perry Township
In 1732, Perry Township was established by Indians. After the agreement between John Penn, Richard Penn, and the Indians in 1732, the Indians moved northward and westward beyond the Blue Mountains, and the white man and their families moved in to buy and settle the land. Between 1755 and 1757, the Indians did make raids south of the Blue Mountains, often killing and kidnapping these early settlers. Settlers moved northward from Philadelphia and founded homes along the streams and in the hills. By 1752 many settlers had come to the Windsor Township area. A list of taxables in 1754 lists about one hundred names in variations of spellings recognized in the area today.
Some men who lived in Windsor Township served in the war of 1812. When a new township was carved out of the Windsor Township area, there were men who had enough influence to have the name of the hero of Lake Erie selected as the name of the newly created township. Thus it was called "Perry", in honor of Commodore Oliver H. Perry. Captain John May and 35 men of his company came from Perry Township.
Perry township was part of Windsor Township from 1740 to 1851. An act passed in 1821 provided that Perry Township should be seperate election district, but it was not until 1852 that the Township would actually be established. The village of Shoemakersville was the largest town in the Township. It was governed by township officers from 1851 to 1921, a period of 70 years. Township citizens choose by vote the following officals, road supervisors, school directors, a tax collector, a justice of peace, a constable, and auditors.
The old turnpike formerly known as Route 122, which started from Reading and extended to Sunbury, was completed by the Centre Turnpike Company in 1812. A toll was collected until 1884. It was replaced as a main highway in 1954 when the state constructed Route 61.
As early as 1821, citizens accepted the "public school" for their children. In 1854 Perry Township had nine school buildings with a total enrollment of 417 pupils. In 1865 the school board was established. Today several of the original school houses still remain. Today students from Perry Township attended classes in the Hamburg Area School District.
Some men who lived in Windsor Township served in the war of 1812. When a new township was carved out of the Windsor Township area, there were men who had enough influence to have the name of the hero of Lake Erie selected as the name of the newly created township. Thus it was called "Perry", in honor of Commodore Oliver H. Perry. Captain John May and 35 men of his company came from Perry Township.
Perry township was part of Windsor Township from 1740 to 1851. An act passed in 1821 provided that Perry Township should be seperate election district, but it was not until 1852 that the Township would actually be established. The village of Shoemakersville was the largest town in the Township. It was governed by township officers from 1851 to 1921, a period of 70 years. Township citizens choose by vote the following officals, road supervisors, school directors, a tax collector, a justice of peace, a constable, and auditors.
The old turnpike formerly known as Route 122, which started from Reading and extended to Sunbury, was completed by the Centre Turnpike Company in 1812. A toll was collected until 1884. It was replaced as a main highway in 1954 when the state constructed Route 61.
As early as 1821, citizens accepted the "public school" for their children. In 1854 Perry Township had nine school buildings with a total enrollment of 417 pupils. In 1865 the school board was established. Today several of the original school houses still remain. Today students from Perry Township attended classes in the Hamburg Area School District.