On Tuesday, July 16th, 2025, leaders from Bernville Heritage and Cultural Center, Rentschler Arboretum, Bernville Area Community Library, Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church and Christ Little Tulpehocken Church welcomed Berks County Community Foundation team members to their spaces to discuss community programming initiatives.
The Foundation visited these institutions, as some have received gifts from various funds the foundation manages, and others simply enrich the cultural, educational, or religious life of the Tulpehocken area.
The program team of Berks County Community Foundation, comprised of experts in their fields of interest, started their Tulpehocken area tour at the Rentschler Arboretum.
The arboretum is a sprawling 34-acre tract of land, pictured below. Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (BMECC), a grantee of Berks County Community Foundation, owns and maintains the arboretum. BMECC leads hikes on the Appalachian Trail, schedules bike rides and camping trips, and hosts various cultural and educational events throughout the year.
When Berks County Community Foundation staff arrived at the Rentschler Arboretum, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (BMECC) member Linda Enders greeted the team and led them on a tour of the grounds.
Linda highlighted the club’s non-native flower planting initiative that encourages biodiversity, as well as their kestrel nest box, which helps protect the small falcon’s declining population. A source of pride for the club is its youth camp offerings that allow kids to camp in tents on the Rentschler Arboretum land, learn about environmental protection, and form healthy connections to nature.
A grant from the Conservation Equity Fund of Berks County Community Foundation was awarded to BMECC in 2022. The club used the money to install a new Wayfinding Mural, pictured below.
To learn more about the climbing club and Rentschler Arboretum, visit BMECC’s website.
The next stop on the Tulpehocken tour was the Bernville Area Community Library. The director of the library, Jen Franklin, gave a presentation on the library’s history and its position as a vital public institution.
Residents can visit the library for resources beyond books and media. The foyer features a food pantry, the technology section boasts public computers and hotspot rentals, and the library itself hosts over 200 programs each year. Franklin and the library’s website commit to creating a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. To learn more about the programs and resources available at the library, visit their website.
Then, Marisa and Tom Vanzin, members of the Bernville Heritage and Cultural Society, gave a detailed presentation on Bernville’s history. Nestled in rural Berks County, Stephanus Umbenhauer founded Bernville; the borough was officially incorporated in 1851. Stephanus’ children were laid to rest in the Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church’s graveyard, a historical site in Bernville. Impressive stained-glass windows and a Dieffenbach organ adorn the inside of the church. Much like Bernville Area Community Library, Friedens Church offers public resources and lends its basement to other organizations to congregate. To learn more about Friedens Church, visit their website.
a graveyard holding many Revolutionary War soldiers and notable Berks County residents rest
in the church’s backyard. One such notable soldier is Balzer Umbenhauer, the son of Bernville
founder Stephanus Umbenhauer. Pictured above is Balzer’s final resting place at Friedens Church.
of stained glass.
The Tulpehocken tour concluded at Christ Little Tulpehocken Church, another religious institution that dates to the 18th century.
Despite fire damage and other structural issues, congregants have rebuilt and maintained the historic site for more than 250 years. On the upstairs balcony, a Kantner organ extends to the ceiling. This is where Christ Church member Carol Dieffenbach Kantner played hymns for the foundation and other visitors. To learn more about the storied history of Christ Little Tulpehocken Church, visit their website.
Kantner organs are famous classical instruments, known for their expert craftsmanship and the rigorous preservation efforts.
This Kantner organ moved to Christ Little Tulpehocken Church in 1863.
Berks County Community Foundation extends their gratitude to all the organizations, volunteers, and congregations that hosted us for our first Tulpehocken area tour.
Meeting our community friends and partners strengthens our connections and provides learning opportunities to expand our knowledge of various parts of Berks County.
To learn more about our areas of focus and grantmaking, visit our website: Community Initiatives
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