Cressona, Friedensburg home to peaceful, close-knit communities

Jan. 21—Located between some of the county's most prominent hubs and communities, Cressona and Friedensburg are two towns known for their idyllic, unassuming nature and proximity to sprawling farmland.

The location of the communities in Wayne and North Manheim townships has made them a popular choice for residents seeking a quiet, small-scale community where everyone knows each other.

Valeria Wicker made her homestead in Cressona in 2017 after living in Bucks and Montgomery counties for several years. A native of Italy, Wicker said she stumbled upon Cressona by "pure chance" when she and her husband sought a home in rural Pennsylvania.

Although neither Wicker nor her husband, Mike, who is originally from Wrightstown, Bucks County, had any prior ties to Cressona, they quickly became enamored with the area and the people who live there.

"From my experience, Cressona is the perfect balance between town and country," said Wicker, an author and illustrator of children's books. "It's a really small, tight-knit community where we kind of all know each other."

As it turns out, the Wickers are among scores of families who have moved to the borough in recent years in search of a more peaceful and affordable area to live.

Regina Sonon, borough secretary and treasurer, said Cressona has many desirable qualities that have drawn "a lot of younger people" into town.

"Properties here aren't for sale very long," Sonon said. "It's affordable, and very centrally located. ... It's a convenient location."

In recent years, she said, the borough has organized an increasing number of family-oriented events, such as trunk-or-treats and movie nights, to accommodate the younger population.

A changing town

Linda Schuetrumpf, vice president of the Cressona Historical Society, said the borough, like any small community in America, is faced with the task of adapting to the changing times.

With much of its population aging and businesses closing, Cressona's fate will largely be determined by what Schuetrump sees as the more "transient" population taking hold over the borough.

While she laments the loss of Cressona staples, such as Sites Luncheonette and Scott Millwork Inc., she said the area has potential with new ownership and new ventures setting up shop.

In August, Hydro-Extrusions North America launched a $50.6 million expansion of its Cressona plant, a move the company said will ensure its presence in Schuylkill County for decades to come.

The aluminum extrusion facility, which employs about 1,100 workers, has operated under several owners almost continuously since World War II.

The new addition — a 42,000-square-foot plant to the rear of the main building — expands Cressona's casting capacity by more than 50,000 tons, and includes a state-of-the-art 45-ton melting furnace.

Schuetrumpf said Hydro is among the largest and most important employers in Schuylkill County, with a mix of locals and workers from outside the immediate area.

Friendly community

On the other side of town, the new Werner Lumber Ace Hardware has opened for business and is preparing for its formal opening as it undergoes renovation work.

An outgrowth of Craig Werner's Ace Hardware store in Pine Grove, the new facility brings a dedicated hardware store to the area under the nationally recognized Ace brand.

Werner Lumber replaces one of Cressona's longstanding businesses, Scott Millwork Inc., which at one time was the premier hardware store in Schuylkill County.

Craig Werner's son, Justin Werner, serves as general manager for the Cressona store, which they believe will be vital to expanding the customer base in central Schuylkill County.

The Werners' original store in Pine Grove began in the late 1800s; it was later rebranded as True Value Hardware and, more recently, as Ace Hardware.

In the midst of nearby hardware giants such as Lowe's and Home Depot, Justin Werner believes small-scale stores like Ace are needed in communities like Cressona.

He said that Ace Hardware, in comparison, provides a more personal experience for the customer and reinforces the friendly, close-knit feeling that many affiliate with Cressona.

"Right out of the gate, the number one comment we get is we have a knowledgeable staff," he said. "When you're talking quality, knowledge, I like to think that you get a much more personal experience. ... Those are the things that I want people to come here for."

Meanwhile, another longstanding business, R&J Transportation, remains an area fixture and a vital anchor to the greater Cressona community.

In addition to charter services and motor coach tours, the company provides school bus and other transportation for Blue Mountain and Schuylkill Haven Area school districts, as well as for Nativity BVM High School.

The company's president and co-founder, Jay L. Newswanger, said the small, closely integrated nature of the community has made his job enjoyable over the years.

"It's a nice little quaint town. ... You get to meet people locally," he said. "Sometimes, that's more important than the bigger cities."

Not far from Cressona's main thoroughfares, the village of Friedensburg continues to house one of Schuylkill County's most peaceful and laid-back populations.

Surrounded by miles of farmland, Friedensburg is a sparsely populated community, far removed from the hustle-and-bustle and activity of larger cities.

Carl Yeich, a Friedensburg native, delights in the friendly, easygoing nature of the town and the people who live there.

While many in the town are longtime residents, he said, people who move to the area are welcomed and appreciated by all.

"It's a very peaceful place," said Yeich, 83, a member of the Wayne Twp. Historical Society. "I think it's easy to move here and become accepted. It has just about all the good qualities. These homes around here are quiet in the country, but you're not too far away from whatever you want or need. ... My sister calls it 'Sleepy Hollow.' That's, I think, a good analogy of where it is."

Schools and businesses

Friedensburg is home to the new Blue Mountain Elementary West, which opened in August and houses kindergarten through fifth grade.

The $27 million building is the latest addition to a school system which Yeich believes is among the best in the region. Yeich, a 1957 graduate of Blue Mountain School District, said the schools represent a "very good," progressive educational system, bolstered by high-end technology and resources.

"Their education system and the technology that they've used and accepted has gone over well," he said.

While not a breeding ground for businesses, Friedensburg is home to a handful of staples known to everyone in the community.

The Friedensburg Country Restaurant, along with its neighboring C&C Candy and Country Store, are a pair of family-run businesses that have become virtually synonymous with Friedensburg over their 25 years in town.

C&C is known for its selection of homemade confectionery and candy-making supplies, and it also functions as a grocery and general store.

Linda Clauser, the store's owner, has been passionate about candy-making from an early age and decided to bring her interest to the greater community.

"A lot of people in the area like to make their own candy, so we sell the ingredients," she said.

Customers visit the establishment every day to check out the candy selection and its adjoining bakery section, lined with an assortment of cakes, doughnuts, homemade bread, cookies and other treats.

"(Friedensburg) is a very close-knit, friendly town, and we've made a lot of good friends in the last 20-some years," she said.

Her son, Christopher Clauser, is co-owner of the restaurant, which specializes in Pennsylvania Dutch fare, with a smattering of Italian.

"It's been an enjoyable time serving the community," Linda Clauser said.

On the other side of Long Run Road, another business, Zimmerman Machine Inc., employs a dedicated base of 16 workers.

The machine shop is owned and operated by lifelong Friedensburg resident Tim Zimmerman, who originally started the business in 2008 in a small garage.

In 2018, Zimmerman built the 12,000-square-foot building that houses the shop today. The property is part of a 40-acre farm owned by his family.

With 14 machinists and two welders employed, Zimmerman hopes the business will continue to grow and become a mainstay in the community.

"We have skilled jobs here," he said. "We have high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment."

Zimmerman believes Friedensburg itself is a draw to workers like himself, who prize the town's quiet, unassuming nature. Although the town has remained largely the same during his lifetime, he joked that he "(doesn't) want it to change any more."

Along with the land that encompasses his home and his machine shop, Zimmerman owns a burial plot nearby. At 39, he is a man at peace with his livelihood and his plans to stay in his native Friedensburg.

"It's a nice, quiet little town," he said. "Not too much people, not too much traffic."

Yeich noted that as Friedensburg's population grows, there will inevitably be change, for better or worse.

He believes, however, that the town can retain its fundamental character, much like it has in the past. He said that small to medium-size businesses, like Zimmerman's, set the stage for positive change and progress in Friedensburg.

"Friedensburg hasn't changed much, and I think that's why I'm so proud of the place," Yeich said. "It was put here by a lot of hard-working people. ... I do think we have maintained part of where we were."

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085