Small Town Surprise: Hamburg, PA

I love this small Americana town: 

Hamburg, PA

Named by Pennsylvania Germans after Hamburg, Germany.

This Berks County small town is big on charm. 

It has a historic district of over 400 buildings! 

That's a lot of charm. 

There's also railroad charm at the 

Reading Railroad Heritage Museum 

which is sure to please the railroad buff. 

But the most charming spot I found was the 

Adams and Bright Drug Store c.1902

which installed a soda fountain in 1927.

This Adams and Bright Drug Store retains so much of the old time feel 

with valuable shelf space 

reserved for antique pharmaceutical paraphernalia. 

Other shelves are lined with candies, 

small gifts, toys and sundries. 

I just loved it there. 

In the very back you can get your 

modern day prescriptions filled. 

Why in the world would you go to 

CVS or Walgreens? 

While there, I didn't have a fountain soda, 

but I did have Heisler's ice cream 

in a waffle cone. 

Yum. 

(Due to Covid, there is no indoor seating, 12/20.)

This town is uniquely located 

near Cabella's, Yuengling Brewery, 

the Appalachian Trail, the Schuylkill River

and lots of state game lands 

near the Pocono foothills. 

So there are lots of outdoor activities nearby.

Get yourself to Hamburg and visit the Adams and Bright Drug Store 

for a fountain soda.

Adams and Bright

306 State Street
Hamburg, PA 19526

A Different Kind of Traffic Jam

In rural Big Valley, Pennsylvania (aka Kish Valley) - 

located in a valley in the Appalachian Mountains - 

and you can still find a traffic jam. 

Waiting to Pass Safely

Somehow, this kind of traffic jam doesn't bother me, 

but maybe that's because I wasn't in a hurry. 

The valley has a relatively large population of Amish (3,000+) and Mennonite - 

thus the common sight of a horse and buggy. 

No Snow Tires...or Snow Shoes

Seeing the Amish population in Pennsylvania is just another 

super cool thing about living here. 

Making Good Time

You might think, "Look at that fancy yellow buggy." 

But there isn't color choice when it comes to your buggy. 

You own the color of your Amish church affiliation. 

It is dictated along with many other things affecting your life. 

At the Dry Goods Store

In this region, a yellow buggy is the Byler Amish. 

A black buggy is the Renno Amish 

and a white top is the Nebraska Amish. 

The Buggy Dealership

Each affiliation practices a different degree of technological conservatism - 

thus no cars and other modern conveniences. 

Most people think of the Pennsylavania Amish in Lancaster County - 

but this settlement from 1791 is in Mifflin and Huntingdon Counties and

 is about 2 hours away from Lancaster. 

I Wonder What They Keep in the Garage

This was my second stop here en route to picking up my non Amish 

son from nearby Penn State for Christmas.  

May he enjoy his modern day conveniences. 

Click on any photo to go to my Big Valley gallery. 

Four Barns

Four Barns, Chalfont, Bucks County, PA

1/200s, f8, 200ISO, 33mm

Canon 5D II, Canon 24-70 2.8 L 

Edited: Lightroom and Topaz Impression

I stole this shot...kind of. 

My friend had seen this scene

and took me with her to photograph 

the four barns together. 

It was her idea, 

her vision, 

and she shared it with me. 

The Party's Here! Where I am linking these days.

            

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