Customer Reviews

The Ford at the Schuylkill: A Glimpse of early Reading, Pennsylvania from Lenapehoking to Frontier Outpost : an illustrated history

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A short, interesting, easy to read, and well illustrated description of the beginnings of a pre-revolution frontier town, when frontier Pennsylvania was still a short distance from Philadelphia. Focus on one town gives a different, more human perspective than more general histories. Personal motivations are important. German settlers' and Native Americans' experiences and contributions are described, as well as the English settlers' experiences that made up most of the Pennsylvania history I was taught in high school. Tensions among the groups are examined. There are a lot of fun tidbits of information that I was unaware of, even growing up in Pennsylvania and loving history.

My opinion was certainly influenced by the fact that my own ancestors were among the early settlers in Reading, and are mentioned by name in the book, but I still believe that anyone interested in colonial history would find this book enjoyable.