Bernville Borough

08/14/2026

OFFICE CLOSURE NOTICE

The office will be closed August 17–24.

To reach the secretary, please call 484-769-8594 and leave a message. Messages will be checked daily.
Thank you for your understanding.

08/06/2026

Bernville Borough page Notice

Welcome to the official page of Bernville Borough.

To better serve our residents and ensure compliance with the Borough's Official Social Media Policy, comments and direct messaging on this page have been disabled.

This page is intended to provide official Borough announcements, meeting notices, project updates, and other public information.

If you have questions, need assistance, or wish to contact the Borough, please use one of the following methods:

• Phone: 484-769-8594
• Email: [email protected]
• Office: Bernville Borough Hall, 6602 Bernville Road, Bernville, PA

Thank you for your understanding and for following the official Bernville Borough page.

Send a message to learn more

08/06/2026

Official Notice – Social Media Policy Adoption
At its regular meeting on August 4, 2026, the Bernville Borough Council adopted an Official Social Media Policy governing the Borough's use of social media platforms.
The purpose of this policy is to establish consistent guidelines for the use and management of the Borough's official social media accounts and to ensure that these platforms are used to provide timely and accurate information to the public.
In accordance with the adopted policy, comments and direct messaging on this page have been disabled. This page is intended to serve as an official source for Borough announcements, meeting notices, public information, and community updates.
Residents who have questions, need assistance, or wish to contact the Borough should do so by telephone, email, or by visiting Borough Hall during normal business hours.
The Borough appreciates your understanding and looks forward to continuing to keep residents informed through this page.

Send a message to learn more

06/25/2026

There are still some 175th anniversary garden flags remaining. Stop by borough hall tomorrow, Friday, June 26th, from 6-8 p.m. to purchase one. Flags are $20 and holders are $10. The garden flags are also available to purchase at the library during their regular hours; the library is closed on Fridays. Cash or checks only. Please make checks payable to Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society. Thank you for your support.

06/24/2026

The Borough is requesting your cooperation. Several 175th anniversary banners were blown off their hardware installations on Main Street during recent high winds. One banner (as shown below) has not yet been returned to the Borough so that it may be reinstalled. If you are in possession of the banner (or know who is), please contact Borough Hall or kindly return it. Should high winds blow any other banners off their hardware installations, and you find them, please return them to Borough Hall. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Bernville Borough: 484-769-8594.

06/22/2026

They’re here! Now you can celebrate Bernville Borough’s anniversary with a garden flag showcasing the colorful 175th anniversary logo. Garden flags are $20.00 and measure 18 ½” x 12”. Metal holders are available for $10.00. Supplies are limited, so please don’t wait.

To purchase a garden flag and/or holder: Stop by borough hall Tuesday evening, June 23, from 4-6 p.m; a few anniversary t-shirts will also be available. Garden flags and anniversary t-shirts are also for sale at the Bernville Library during their hours of operation. Cash or check only; please make checks payable to Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society. Proceeds benefit the Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society.

06/18/2026

There were over one hundred people who attended Tuesday night’s presentation by Paul and Kathy Miller. The hour-long presentation showcased many incredible photos from Blue Marsh and the Pleasant Valley, including Bernville. Thanks to all who were able to attend this anniversary event.

06/10/2026

BERNVILLE BOROUGH RESIDENTS ONLY - This is a friendly reminder that the Bernville Borough's Spring Cleanup will take place this Saturday, June 13, 2026. Please place any bulk items at the curb on Friday evening, as collection will begin early Saturday morning. They will only take bulk items weekly trash will still be picked up Monday June 15, 2026. Thank you for your cooperation!

*Items We Will Collect:*

- Furniture (mattresses, box springs, tables, sofas, chairs, bicycles,
etc.)
- Appliances (refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers)

Please ensure that all items are empty and free of trash or other contents.

*Items We Will Not Collect:*

- Construction debris
- Batteries
- Hazardous materials
- Tires

Send a message to learn more

06/10/2026

Just a reminder that the Bernville Heritage & Cultural Society will be sponsoring another free event to celebrate Bernville Borough's 175th anniversary. Please join us as local historians and authors, Paul and Kathleen Miller, present "Blue Marsh and the Pleasant Valley: One Last Look" on June 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Friedens Church in Bernville.

05/21/2026

Today’s photos take us back to the beginning and pay tribute to the founder of Bernville, Stephanus Umbenhauer. (There were various spellings of the last name in those early years.) He and his much younger brother Edwin left their native land of Switzerland and landed on these shores in 1737 when it was still a British colony.

The Umbenhauers found their way to Lancaster County where, unfortunately, unmarried Edwin died. Stephanus, his wife and children, then moved from their farm with poor soil to this area after discerning good farming soil. He bought 220 acres from Richard and Thomas Penn, William Penn’s sons. Stephanus diligently farmed, built a log cabin, and raised his family here. His grandson, Johann Thomas Umbenhauer, is credited as the Founder of Main Street because, upon realizing that a canal would be built nearby, he sold off land for building lots in 1819 that became Bernville’s Main Street.

For a time, Bernville was informally known as Umbenhauerstown. Eventually, the family decided on “Bernville,” after Bern, the capital of their ancestors’ homeland of Switzerland. Bernville officially received its new name in 1820. In 1851, Bernville became a borough, and it’s this moment in history that we commemorate this year.

These two photos show the Umbenhauer homestead and barn; we do not know the years in which the photos were taken. (Stephanus died in 1755 and never saw these prominent buildings because they were built by his descendants.) This house (built 1870) and barn (built 1839) survive. The house is privately owned, and the barn is home to Mario’s Pizzeria. For more information about the Umbenhauers, consult the 1976 Bernville History Book; there’s a copy in the Bernville Area Community Library.

This brings to an end our up-close look at a few items from the Heritage & Cultural Society’s collection. If you’ve enjoyed viewing these historic photos and objects, consider joining us for our Open House on Saturday, Oct. 17th and Sunday, Oct. 18th. The Open House will be held at Friedens Church, and the hours will be announced here later. Please mark your calendar. We’d love to see you there!