Wecome to Hatfield PA

Excerpted from "History of Hatfield Borough, 1898 - 1998"
Published in 1998, Hatfield Museum and History Society.

Hatfield Township, founded in 1742, was named either after a Welsh village in Hertfordshire, England, or after an early Welsh settler of the area, John Hatfield. No early records document the existence of a "John Hatfield", however, so whether this latter theory is fact or folklore is left up to personal preference.

In the early 1800's, there were very few roads and buildings in the area that was to become Hatfield Borough. Even in those days, men of entrepreneurial spirit knew that the prime location for a business was at a major intersection, and that being near a railroad station would be an added bonus. Towamencin Ave. was, at that time, part of the Forty-Foot Road (which was one of the main roads through Hatfield Township), and where it intersected with the Cowpath Road a hotel/tavern was built around 1819. The former Bean's Store building, built in 1827 on the south-west corner of Main and Vine Streets, another main intersection, is believed to be the oldest building still standing in the Borough.

On July 7, 1857, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company completed construction of a railroad line from Philadelphia to Bethlehem, PA through the open farmland of Hatfield Township. The next day, the first passenger car traveled over these new rails, stopping at the Hatfield Station located on the east side of the Cowpath Road (across from what is now the Main Hotel), setting the wheels in motion that would eventually result in the creation of the Borough of Hatfield.

After the railroad was built, people began to build and settle in the area of the Hatfield Train Station, drawn by its convenience to public transportation. The village that developed in this area was known as Lower Hatfield (also South Hatfield). On April 1, 1873, land speculator Joseph Proctor bought nine acres from Jacob S. Leidy. This tract was located on both sides of the railroad tracks and ran from what is now E. Lincoln Ave. to Union St. On February 28, 1874, in a shrewd business deal, Proctor sold 2 1/2 acres of this land to the North Pennsylvania Railroad Company for $1 on the condition that the Hatfield railroad station be moved from its location at the Cowpath Rd. to the new railroad property.

Proctor knew that the relocated station would dramatically increase the value of his remaining 6 1/2 acres. He subdivided this land and had little trouble selling the lots that were now so convenient to the train station. The village that developed around the relocated station was known as Upper Hatfield (also Hatfield and Hatfield Station). The Upper & Lower Hatfields together were known as Hatfield Village.

In Edward Matthews' historical account of Hatfield Township written in 1896, he wrote of Hatfield Village: "Here, along the Cowpath and other highways, and about the chief railroad station, has grown up extensive interests, and a population rising above 300, with about 75 dwellings. It is only a question of time when the place will have grown to borough proportions. Among the business enterprises are the stores of Milton Gehman, C. J. Buckley, the grocery of D. L. O. Kulp, the clothing factory of Jacob Crouthamel, Snyder's two hay presses, mills and feed houses, Fretz's tin shop, Zepp's Bakery, Appenzeller's blacksmith shop, Kulp's wheelwright shop, the Hatfield Invincible printing office, two physicians, Albright and Cope, prescribe for and visit patients, and a public schoolhouse affords the educational advantages. The Christ Brethren Church on the Forty-Foot road and the newly erected Evangelical Church on the Cowpath afford convenient religious places for public worship. There are two postoffices, one in each, the upper and lower towns."

As Matthews had predicted, one year later on November 8, 1897, C. R. Addison, then the editor and publisher of the Hatfield Invincible newspaper, stated, "it has been suggested that we call attention of the citizens to the fact that it would be more pleasing if the town had more street lights. Now, we think it would be more to the benefit of the town if the citizens would get together and have the towns incorporated into a borough."

In early 1898, the more progressive thinking citizens of the town called a meeting at Chester Knipe's Hotel to get an opinion of the residents as to if they wanted a Borough. Some of these citizens were - from Upper Hatfield: Chester Knipe, Chauncey Buckley, George S. Snyder, Frank K. Zepp, Dr. Titus Albright (who officiated over this first meeting), Jonas S. Moyer, Edwin B. Benner, William R. Beisel, Frank Bealer and William B. Hedrick; and those from Lower Hatfield were: Jacob Crouthamel, Charles Myers, John Stoneback plus a few other citizens. A petition was prepared and signed by many of the residents of Lower Hatfield, stating that they were very much opposed to taking their part of the village into Borough government. Undeterred, the citizens in favor of a Borough hired an attorney to start the procedure of incorporation.

In May, 1898, the following legal notice appeared in the Hatfield Invincible:

LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of application for the incorporation of the towns of Hatfield and South Hatfield into a borough by the name, style, and title "The Borough of Hatfield."In the Court of the Quarter Sessions of the Peace in and for the County of Montgomery, of June Term, 1898.Notice is hereby given to all persons concerned, that an application has been filed with the Clerk of Quarter Sessions of the Peace of said county, under the general Borough laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the incorporation of the towns of Hatfield and South Hatfield, in the Township of Hatfield, in the County of Montgomery into a Borough by the name, style and title of "THE BOROUGH OF HATFIELD", and as such to have, possess and enjoy all the rights, benefits and privileges conferred by the laws of Pennsylvania, relating to the incorporating of Boroughs and that said application will be considered by said Court at the June term thereof, to wit - Beginning June 6, 1898 at 10 o'clock A.M. The boundaries of the land proposed to be included within such incorporated limits will be found fully described and set forth in the draft filed therewith. Any person interested, desiring to file exceptions to such application are hereby notified that such exceptions must be filed within thirty days immediately preceding said June 6, 1898.
E. J. BENNETT
Attorney for Petitioners

The June 30, 1898 edition of the Hatfield Invincible ran a story stating that on Monday, June 27, Judge Aaron Swartz affixed his signature to a decree, incorporating the towns of Hatfield and South Hatfield into a borough, under the name and style of "The Borough of Hatfield." Tuesday, August 2, 1898 was set by the Court for holding the first borough election with the polling place to be Knipe's Hall. In conjunction with the election, Judge Swartz made the following appointments:

Person to give notice of the election - Chester Knipe
Judge of Election - Jonas S. Moyer
Inspectors - Leidy L. Cope and Chauncey J. Buckley
Auditors - L. H. Texter, M. K. Gehman and Charles S. Moyer

Judge Swartz also suggested that no political party be mentioned on the ballot except the Citizen's Party, to eliminate animosity at the election along party lines.

The original size of "Hatfield Borough" was 176 acres, with the Borough lines established by surveyor, John C. Boorse, of Kulpsville, PA.

As ordered, Hatfield Borough held its first election on Tuesday, August 2, 1898 with the following results - Burgess: George S. Snyder; Council members, three year term: Chester Knipe, Chauncey J. Buckley and John H. Stoneback; Council members, two year terms: William R. Beisel and David R. Schoenly; Council members, one year term: Charles Myers and Edwin B. Benner;School Director, three year term: Titus Albright and Joseph Mininger; School Director, two year term: Enos Kriebel and John B. Schantz; School Director, one year term: Monroe Snyder and Conrad Frey; Justices of the Peace: Jonas S. Moyer and Milton K. Gehman; Auditor, three year term: Leo Horace Texter; Auditor, two year term: Leidy H. Shellenberger; Auditor, one year term: Frank Bealer; Assessor: Barney W. Kunz; Tax Collector: William L. Albright; Constable: John N. Wagner; Judge of Elections: George Trauger; Inspectors of Elections: William D. Nace and Leidy Gerhart.

The first meeting of the newly elected Borough Council was held on August 11, 1898. At this meeting, Chauncey J. Buckley was elected President of Council and Leo Horace Texter was elected to serve as Secretary. President Buckley appointed Chester Knipe, Charles Myers and John Stoneback to a committee with the duty to draft rules of order and government for the new Borough.

And thus, the Borough of Hatfield was born.

The First Year

The second meeting of the Hatfield Borough Council was held on August 18, 1898. At this meeting, the new Council adopted "Rules for the Government of and Conducting Business in the Town Council of the Borough of Hatfield," one of which was the imposition of a 50-cent fine for any member of Council failing to appear at a Council meeting. At the November, 1898 meeting, Council passed an ordinance allowing the Keystone Telegraph & Telephone Co. to erect poles and wires through the Borough after which the Telephone Co. offered to allow Hatfield Borough to string its future electric wires on their poles free of charge. At the December 5, 1898 meeting of the fledgling Hatfield Borough Council, the Inland Traction Company (ITC) presented an ordinance requesting a right-of-way through the borough on which they could operate a trolley system. The council took no action on the request at that time. During meetings over the next two months, additional discussion was held relative to road widths, sidewalk widths and center of street locations, with everyone on Council having a different opinion. Trying to balance the needs of the Borough with the concerns of property owners was a big problem. Several residents complained that the new streets would come too close to their houses, taking away much of their front yards. The matter was referred to the Ordinance Committee. During a March, 1899 meeting, the following streets were suggested as the proper ones to begin improvements on: Beginning at the northern Borough line on New St. (Penn Ave.) to Union St., to Market St., to Main St. (at that time E. Lincoln Ave. was part of Market St.), to the railroad, to the end of the proposed trolley line (Railroad Ave. & W. Vine St. to the Borough Line). This was the same route that the ITC proposed for the trolley line through the Borough. On April 3, after much discussion, the result of a vote on street widths was a tie. The President cast the deciding vote in favor of 44-foot widths. Also in April, an ordinance was passed allowing the Inland Traction Co. to install trolley tracks through the Borough

November 1902

Council approved the purchase of seventeen #2 Dietz oil lamps for the streets. Daniel Gehman was appointed to clean and light the lamps for which he was paid 14 1/2 cents per hour. By February 1903 there was a total of 25 oil lamps illuminating the Borough streets.

May 1908

Council began discussions on supplying the Borough with electric power. Later that year, Council authorized a ten-year contract with the West Telford Electric Light and Power Company for the furnishing of electricity to the Borough. On December 1, 1908, electricity came to Hatfield Borough. The new electric street lights were turned on at dusk and turned off at 10:30 p.m. The lights were turned on again at 5:30 a.m. until dawn. The rate for electricity was set at 12 cents per KW, less 20% if paid before the 10th of the month.

1926

On the recommendation of the Hatfield Borough Board of Health, Council hired a garbage hauler to remove the borough's garbage in 1926. Also that year: Hatfield Township requested that the Borough cooperate with them in the matter of police protection; Council discussed assigning numbers to all of the houses in the Borough, but no action was taken; After many years of maintaining the streets themselves, the Borough hired Good Roads Co. to oil & chip all of the Borough streets.

February 1927

Council instructed the Borough Secretary to notify representatives of the Lansdale Provision Co. to keep pigs off of private property when driving them through town or they would be liable for any damages.

March 1928

The Borough hired its first police officer, Allen Roth, to work two nights a week.

1930

The Borough began looking into the feasibility of constructing and operating its own electric generating plant. After much discussion, (and some heated controversy), it was decided to proceed with the construction of a diesel powered electric generating plant, and on July 6, 1931, the Hatfield Borough electric plant was placed in operation.

1940

The annexation of additional Township property on W. Broad St. was discussed, but decided against. Also that year, the Borough built a new water tower on N. Wayne Ave., on ground purchased from Bethany Church.

1942

Seven Borough residents submitted a petition to Council requesting them to prevent the opening of a slaughterhouse at 128 S. Main St. No action was taken at that time, although it started discussion of establishing a Zoning Committee to create a Zoning Ordinance for the Borough.

1943

Hatfield Borough joined the nation in the war effort with food rationing, War Bond Drives, Victory Gardens (sponsored by the Hatfield Chamber of Commerce), Gas Stamps, Fuel Oil Stamps, Food Stamps, and bans on pleasure driving. Collections were held for old silk & nylon stockings, paper, tin cans and used cooking grease. (Advertisements in the Hatfield Times reported that 1 teaspoon of used cooking grease would make enough gunpowder to produce five machine gun bullets).

August 14, 1945

V-J Day, was indeed a day of celebration. The fire siren sounded for about 10 minutes after which the Fire Company started a parade around town that grew quickly as it proceeded through the streets of the Borough. Bells and sirens sounded for hours in celebration of the day of victory they had long been looking for.

The early 1950's

A group of Hatfield Township residents approached Borough Council to discuss annexing properties on Cowpath Rd. up to Bergey Rd. Council conducted a survey that showed that most residents were not in favor of the annexation and the subject was dropped.

January, 1960

The Borough Sewer Treatment Plant was placed into operation in January, 1960, (the entire sanitary sewer system construction project was completed by September), and the Borough picked up resident's Christmas trees, at the request of the Fire Chief, to reduce the fire hazard. Also in 1960; Council adopted a resolution stating that connecting Union St. to Forty Foot Road with a straight road had merit and should be considered by the State Highway Department.

November, 1962

Because of the illness of Borough Secretary Fryer, Council advertised for a new secretary with the following advertisement: "MALE - BOROUGH SECRETARY, State age, qualifications, references & salary desired." The following month, David L. Leidy was hired as Secretary at $6500.

February, 1965

The Borough signed an agreement with Hatfield Township in February 1965, to jointly develop a pool & park on Chestnut Street in Hatfield Township.

January 1972

The Borough solicited bids to construct a new municipal administration building on Borough owned property on Edgewood Dr. at The Circle. Two months later, Council decided not to build a new structure for the Borough offices on Edgewood Dr., but to renovate the borough garage to include office space. Ordinance #219 was adopted in 1973, prohibiting the keeping of pigs and hogs in the Borough. This ordinance was amended in May, 1976, to prohibit the keeping of any livestock or farm animals, including pigs, hogs, horses, cows, chickens, ducks and sheep, within the Borough.

1977

The Borough discontinued generating its own electricity in 1977, and began purchasing all of its electric power from PP&L.

February, 1988

The sale of the Hatfield Borough Water System to the North Penn Water Authority was completed in February 1988. In June of that year, after 15 years of study and 2 years of intense negotiations, Hatfield Borough approved an agreement to tie-in with the Hatfield Township Municipal Authority's system, for treatment of the Borough's sewage. The Borough would, however, continue to own and maintain the sewer system.

June, 1992

At the June 1992 meeting of the Hatfield Borough Council, the Police Department reported that a four foot alligator was found loose in a stream in the borough. The reptile, a Borough resident's pet, had been tied to a tree but got loose. Some discussion was held relative to adopting an Ordinance restricting such animals but no action was taken.

1996

On January 7 & 8, 1996, the Blizzard of 1996 hit the area, dumping 30 inches of snow. Hatfield Borough used 60% of its 1996 snow removal budget on those two days!

1997

In the fall of 1997, after many years of planning and negotiations, the Borough purchased a tract of land behind the former Hanson Textile building with open space grant funds, and a contract was awarded to develop the property into a community park.