July 2, 1907: Wallach Mansion to Be Sold at Public Auction

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

July 2, 1907: The property of Jacob Wallach at 59 North Reading Avenue in Boyertown, will be offered at public auction. This magnificent mansion is described as a “model of modern architecture.”

The Queen Anne style house with a Mansard roof, built in 1882, is constructed of brown sandstone faced with green stone. The first floor features five commodious rooms, a large tiled vestibule and a hallway that is open to the third floor. It is large enough to comfortably entertain 60 people at a sit-down dinner party.

The second floor has four bedrooms and a bathroom and the third floor has five bedrooms. There are large closets in every bedroom, a beautiful porch on the side and rear of the building and a full cellar.

Wallach, a native of Germany, arrived in the United States “to seek his fortune” when he was 17 years old. He is now “one of the most successful horse traders” in the eastern United States. He amassed great wealth because of his business acumen and integrity, and he became one of the America’s largest shippers of draft horses to the European markets.

Wallach and his wife felt that they did not need such a large home anymore and they lived at the Union House the rest of their lives! The mansion was converted into apartments by the new owners.

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• July 4, 1914: Gang of Pickpockets Thwarted But Released Before Arrest Although the robbers were caught in action, they were let go before being reported to officials.