It was the first settlement in Lower Heidelberg Township. To … There were many farms and 18th and 19th century homes. Blue Marsh park ranger Jonah Eckert inspects a few of the new stake trees structures prior to them being placed in the lake last September. Blue Marsh was the name of the village that was located where the lake now is. Description. It was the first settlement in Lower Heidelberg Township. “Those who enjoy Blue Marsh Lake for its recreational activities today may not realize the dam destroyed a rich agricultural region with family farms that extended back into the 1700s,” Swope said. A living-history farm museum located in the Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area of Berks County, Pennsylvania. We had only a rather superficial encounter with Blue Marsh National Recreation Area . Material and … , Historical Survey of Blue Marsh Project Area, Exhibit: Berks County Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Blue Marsh Lake was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1978 and has prevented more than $90 million in flood damages. Most of the vestiges from that enterprise still existing in our county are found in this area. The land was very fertile. The graph visualizes station information over the history and shows if and when any of this information has changed. Farm, which most of its buildings were relocated out of the village. Blue Marsh Lake. The following names figure prominently: Obold, Haag/Haak, Deppen, Gruber, Reber, Fisher, Dundore, Kalbach, Zerby, Conrad, Bright, Hiester, Stoudt, etc., etc. Find both history and wildlife at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Blue Marsh Lake 1268 Palisades Drive, Leesport PA, 19533 • Get Directions Blue Marsh Lake is a man-made lake along the Tulpehocken Creek that features numerous boating, hiking, biking, and birdwatching opportunities. This has been the cradleland of families conspicuous in the development of our county. There were many Farms, and 18th and 19th century homes. Schuylkill River Greenways NHA 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464 Phone: 484-945-0200 Fax 484-945-0204 The Schuylkill River Greenways National & State Heritage Area is managed by the Schuylkill River Greenway Association (SRGA), a 501(c)3 non-profit. Lake History. Here, from early times, had been established business stands and varied industries facilitated. Construction of the dam began in 1974 and was completed July 5th, 1979. Blue Marsh Lake Trail Hikers, mountain bikers, geocachers, and even equestrian enthusiasts enjoy Blue Marsh’s plethora of trails. Residents were put under eminent domain and had no choice but to move out. Blue Marsh, which opened July 5, 1979, was created to prevent a repeat of the massive flooding that came with Tropical Storm Agnes seven years earlier. Some buildings were spared, such as Gruber Wagon Works, which was originally in Obold village (present day … The National Recreation Trail at Blue Marsh is a loop trail that encircles the lake, while Skinners Loop and Foxtrot Hiking Trail bring you closer to the water’s edge. The Blue Marsh Lake Visitor's Center features educational information on the project, which was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1978 and has prevented more than $95 million in flood damages. It is a lovely and impressive complex - an artificial lake, beach and walking area. It has 36 miles of trails and 1,147 acres of water. Below are some images of Pleasant Valley before the dam. The Blue Marsh Lake Multi-Use Trail loops around a manmade reservoir just outside of Reading in southeastern Pennsylvania. The “collector’s limited edition” of the Blue Marsh book can be ordered for $59 if picked up at the authors’ home or $68 shipped by USPS mail. ... History & Background ... in Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area #1764 Overall. Parts of Blue Marsh Lake have reopened after flooding forced it to close. Blue Marsh is a multi-use trail system so IMBA rules of the trail are in affect. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, Blue Marsh Lake is located northwest of Reading, Pennsylvania. It was also a heavily forested area with abundance of wildlife. It contains pioneer homesteads and early settlements largely unchanged in their basic characteristics—affording one the increasingly rare opportunity to sample rural living of a prior era. Length 23.3 miElevation gain 2253 ftRoute type Loop View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. The recreation program at the project attracts almost 900,000 visitors a year. It was busy but not crowded, some boaters, lots of fishermen. Blue Marsh Lake Visitors Center, located in Leesport, PA, provides information on Berks County area attractions, sights, accommodations for guests and travelers. [2], Blue Marsh was the name of the village that was located where the lake now is, and locals called the area Pleasant Valley. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. [3] The Pennsylvania Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act provided funding and permitted the eminent domain acquisition of the land that would later become the lake with the governor's permission in 1969. The lake is a popular recreation area in the summer, where people can fish, swim, and boat. We did not stay on the beach . Blue Marsh was the name of the village that was located where the lake now is, and locals called the area Pleasant Valley. Blue Marsh Today The process was stalled briefly in 1972 with Hurricane Agnescausing flooding. 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