Trexler
Trexler is located less than a mile north of the WK&S Kempton station and is the only town along the WK&S that predates original construction of railroad. At the northwest corner of the grade crossing (Old Philly Pike) is a log home dating from the Revolutionary War. It is the largest log home in Berks County. Once an inn, now it's a private residence. The large building at the southwest corner was an agricultural warehouse and once had its own rail siding. It also served as a manufacturing facility and is now home to the Albany Township Historical Society (www.albanyths.org). The ATHS plans to turn the building into a museum. A small train station was located at the southeast corner. The picture at the top of the page shows the historical society building at left and the log home across Old Philly Pike.
A southbound Santa train from 2004 rolls through Trexler. One side of the log home can be seen on the left.
Old time photos of Trexler rail facilities seem hard to come by. But such a photo is shown below. The picture looks north toward the log home. Trexler station is right of the main line and the warehouse siding is to the left. The warehouse is out of frame further left. This was a single-ended siding. The switch was behind the photographer.
Looking north toward the log home and Trexler station.
Same view from 2012.
This picture is from 1949 and shows that the station had been replaced by a small shelter. Passenger service along the line ended in 1949.
This image of the log home appeared in the first WK&S brochure from 1963. Also shown is the end of the Trexler siding.
This picture is from around 1964. The WK&S moved a small shanty to the northeast corner of the crossing. In the early 1970s the shanty or "relay house" was equipped with support circuitry for an automatic flasher system at the grade crossing. The system was destroyed in 2012 by falling trees from hurricane Sandy. The relay house still stands, but the lights have been dismantled.
In 2009 Albany Township acquired about 60 acres of Trexler farm land. On the east side of the railroad tracks the property extends from the Kempton Community Center to Old Philly Pike and includes a derelict stone bank barn at Trexler. The property continues from the west side of the tracks to Creek Road. Long, long, long term plans call for the land and barn to be developed for public recreation and Albany Township business. For the time being the land is a "passive recreation area".
New signs were erected along Creek Road for 2013. But it's still only an overgrown hayfield.
A portion of Albany Township's new property is now occupied by the "Peter Jones House". The building dates from 1772 and was originally located along Rt. 422 in Douglassville. Threatened by development, the house was dismantled and saved by the Amity Heritage Society in 2005. The house was subsequently moved to Trexler around 2011. Reconstruction is in progress and managed by the Amity Heritage Society. After years of searching for a site, the AHS achieved their goal of keeping the building in Berks County. Nevertheless, Albany and Amity Townships are in opposite corners of the county. Plans call for the first floor of the house to be restored to original appearance and used as exhibit and meeting space. The second floor will be office space. Trexler is becoming a neighborhood of historical societies. Another local attraction can't hurt. Hopefully this all works out to everyone's mutual benefit.
Peter Jones House as it appeared in Amity Township before being dismantled in 2005.
Peter Jones House reconstruction picture from 2011.
Reconstruction picture from 2012. Albany Township's "new" barn is at left.