Beckley & East Berlin, our own “Quiet Corner”
By The Berlin Historical Society at November 6, 2023 | 9:15 am | Print
If you’ve ever addressed mail to East Berlin and had it returned, you learned that East Berlin has its own zip code, 06023. That is only one of many unique characteristics of Berlin’s eastern hamlet, a part of Berlin, but in many ways its own place. Its village is our “Quiet Corner”, graced with New England style homes and Victorian cottages, many built for Berlin Iron Bridge workers. Clark’s Grove park, named for R.O. Clark of brickyard fame, is nestled safely in the center. The village is a place where residents can leisurely walk to church, to the post office, the library in the firehouse, Wilcox Cemetery or the deli – all these places of a scale you find only in a small rural town.
The greater East Berlin landscape was once covered with working farms, and much of that acreage is now the Pistol Creek trails, the Berlin Fair grounds, and country condos, though some farms remain. We’ll talk about early industries like Peck-Stowe-Wilcox, maker of tinsmith tools and Berlin Iron Bridge, manufacturer of iconic steel truss bridges. You’ll see slides of a bustling East Berlin train station and a smaller one in Beckley. We’ll also talk about The Beckley Quarter, an area of Berlin predating the first settlement on Christian Lane.
Join in the nostalgia and fun, Nov. 18th, 1-3 pm at the Berlin Senior Center, 33 Colonial Drive, Kensington. To register, call the Berlin Senior Center at 860-828-7006. The event is free and refreshments will be served. Together we’ll view a slide show from the Historical Society’s archives, sharing what we know and listening to what folks remember. If you have photos or memorabilia to share, we can scan them at the event or make an appointment to do so at the museum.
