Berks Places is a recurring feature that will focus on small villages and census designated places in the county. History, nostalgia and local voices will shed light on the quaint nooks and crannies of our area. Additional historical photographs accompany the online version of the articles.
At the intersection of Baldy Hill, Landis Store, Oysterdale and Forgedale roads in District Township, a thriving hamlet developed.
Landis Store as seen traveling south on Baldy Hill Road.
According to Berks County historian George M. Meiser IX, John Weller established the first public house in the area around 1800 and subsequently sold the property to Samuel Landis.
The deed records are a bit muddy. A deed recorded April 7, 1887, refers to an April 7, 1825, transaction from John Weller to Samuel Landis for 1,182 pounds in gold and silver. It involved 78 acres.
“Landis’ Store Post Office was established Aug. 20, 1853 — that’s early,” Meiser said, noting Nathan Landis was the first postmaster.
The U.S. Post Office had a disdain for apostrophes in postal name, so it forced many of them to close and be renamed. Landis’ Store followed suit on Dec. 4, 1894.
“It reopened the same day as Landis Store, without the apostrophe, Dec. 4, 1894, and it continued until April 30, 1956,” Meiser said.
When it reopened, John H. Landis was the postmaster.
The post office was operated in the general store, which was an annex to the right of the