Where in the Schuylkill Highlands Am I?!?

In January 2026, Estelle (Schuylkill Highlands Program Manager) braved the cold to visit this partner municipality in northern Berks County, which has more to offer than just its hamburgers. Where in the Schuylkill Highlands was she?!?

In the Borough of Hamburg visiting with partner organization Our Town Foundation, which has more to offer than just its annual Taste of Hamburger Festival. In addition to hosting this annual celebration of one of America’s favorite sandwiches, Our Town Foundation operates an Arts Alliance and The Strand movie theater. They also want you to know all of these sites and sounds are in close proximity to the Schuylkill River Trail, with Hamburg Borough having three trailheads in town, as well as a boat launch to the Schuylkill River.

Check out February’s partner site visit here and give it your best guess!

  • A mural on a building depicts historic street scenes from the 1800s at 4th and Pine, with a horse and carriage, storefronts, and the text “Lizzie Ney Mansion.”.
  • Sign for Schuylkill River Trail State Street Trailhead in a snowy parking lot with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
  • Row of colorful historic buildings along a quiet street on a clear, sunny day. A few cars are parked by the curb, and there are no pedestrians.
  • A gallery interior with wooden floors, displaying various artworks, pottery, crafts, and framed pictures on white shelves and glass cases.
  • A snow-covered outdoor stage area with a large shelter and several orange traffic cones under a blue sky with streaky clouds.
  • Street view of the Strand theater with a marquee displaying AVATAR and FIRE AND ASH above the entrance, movie show times listed on a sign below.
  • Street view of a historic building with a green awning labeled A. Adams & Bright Pharmacy, display windows, and a sidewalk with some snow.
  • A two-story white building with a sign reading Ladewith Foundry Office, situated on a paved lot under a bright sun with patches of snow on the ground.

In December 2025, Estelle took a hike in Chester County at West Caln Township’s Layton Park, where visitors can find the ninth-largest black oak in the commonwealth, according to the PA Champion Tree Program. Layton Park’s trails and scenic vistas offer a serene outdoor experience, in addition to a “Book Box” (Little Free Library), a playground, and ball fields. There is also ample parking and public restrooms (port-a-potties in winter).

  • A leafless tree stands beside a grassy path under a partly cloudy sky, with fields and distant woods in the background.
  • A grassy field with a worn path leads to a road, with trees and scattered buildings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
  • Leafless tree stands near a wooden fence by a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky. Two signs are posted on the fence.
  • A tree with a fence and grass.

In November 2025, Estelle found herself at Berks County Parks and Recreation Department’s Berks County Heritage Center, a historic park that includes the Distelfink sculpture, Mildred the Houseboat, the Gruber Wagon Works, Wertz’s Covered Bridge, the Deppen Cemetery, the Bicentennial Eagle Memorial, and many other buildings and sites of interest.

  • A red covered bridge spans across a calm river with autumn trees and bare branches on the riverbank under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A colorful bird sculpture on a concrete base is displayed outdoors, with trees, grass, and a white building in the background.
  • A weathered informational sign for Deppen Cemetery stands in front of an old graveyard enclosed by a wooden fence, with tombstones visible in the background.

In October 2025, Estelle visited Natural Lands’ Green Hills Preserve, which features rolling wooded hills, meadows, and a seemingly out-of-place gazebo. This site is now preserved open space due to a failed development project, and as evidenced by the abandoned backyard feature meant to lure homebuyers. Read more on the photo of the on-site interpretive signage.

  • Informational sign titled close call stands on a wooden deck in a nature reserve, with trees, a gazebo, and sunlight in the background.
  • A wooden bench sits on grass with tall dry plants and leafless trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
  • A wooden footbridge with railings leads to a small white gazebo in a lush, green, wooded area.

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