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The land on which the borough of Cleona
is situated was part of a 1741 land grant from William Penn to John
Kreider, a Swiss-German Mennonite who emigrated from Germany. The
land, a part of North Lebanon Township, remained in the Kreider
family until 1883.
In that year, Henry Lentz Long of North Cornwall Township, Lebanon
County and William L. Kreider, Londonderry Township, Lebanon County
purchased four (4) acres of farmland from Michael K. Kreider and
wife Sarah. In succeeding years and now in partnership with his son,
John Henry, additional farmlands were purchased from Michael Kreider
totaling 138 acres. At present this land comprises the north side of
Cleona which has been developed as well as the farmlands and
buildings north of the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad.
The first building was a warehouse built by the Longs on the
original four acre purchase of farmland in 1883 which became the
nucleus of the town of Cleona. This warehouse provided building
supplies, coal, and feed for animals for the surrounding area. In
1922, it became the John H. Long and Sons Lumber Company, continuing
to supply lumber for the building trades to the growing community.
This building, located on the north side of West Pine Street, is at
present used for storage. |
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In 1890, John H. Long (see photo
below) built the first
house in Cleona on the southwest corner of what is now North Center
and West Pine Streets in which he and his wife, Fannie Kettering
Long, began to rear their family. Their first child, Virgie Cleona
(1890-1892) was the first child born in Cleona. This house is still
a residence today.
Plans were drawn for the town (circa 1883), south of the
Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad and north of what is now U. S.
Route 422. Early blueprints show 4 and 1/3 city blocks east to west
divided by Main Street (Center Street also known as Railroad
Street). Streets running north and south were named for presidents
of the United States. Those running east and west were named for
trees. Alleys, with few exceptions, were named for birds, insects,
shrubs, and seasons. Each block was divided into building lots. The
first post office was established in 1890 and a water company a few
years later to provide for the needs of the growing community.
The Michael Kreider farmlands containing the house, barn and other
out-buildings were purchased in 1901 by the Longs. This farm,
located north of the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad, was never
developed, but was owned and operated by Henry L. Long until his
death in 1923, at which time his son, John H. began operation. From
1930-37 the farm was tenanted by the Henry Dourte family and from
1937 through the early 1940's by the Victor Hoffer family.
Eventually, the farm passed to Mary Long Bowman, wife of Ammon
Bowman whose son J. Alfred and wife, E. Fay Ginder Bowman, began
operation. This beautiful, productive farm is still operated by them
at the present time. On the farm located in a field to the east of
North Center Street extension is the Kreider family cemetery. The
cemetery plot is enclosed with a substantial iron fence and measures
approximately 20 x 42 feet. It contains about 17 burials from 1805
to 1866, all Kreiders except two, a Daily and an Elliot. There are
two rows of graves running north and south, one row adults, one row
children, mostly with German inscriptions.
In 1928, in partnership with his son, John C. Long, J. H. Long with
George Darkes and John C. Houck purchased a 160 acre tract of
farmland south of U. S. Route 422 (Penn Avenue-Berks and Dauphin
Turnpike) in North Cornwall Township. This land was also planned
into city blocks and building lots for the further expansion of
Cleona.
There was a great sense of community. As early as 1894, a school was
established and small businesses began to develop. People took pride
in their small town. As it grew, churches were established,
businesses continued to multiply, playgrounds were developed, a new
school was built to accommodate the growing population, and sports
programs were begun. Incorporated into a borough in 1929, Cleona,
over the years, has grown from a small town to a borough of more
than 2100 citizens. |
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John Henry Long,
founder of Cleona (1862-1944), was the eldest son of Henry Lentz and
Mary Gingrich Long. As a very young man, he worked as a drover of a
six-horse team hauling railroad ties for the Cornwall and Reading
Railroad. In 1880, he joined his father in purchasing and developing
properties in Lebanon County. They purchased 1500 acres of
timberland from the Coleman Estates which they cleared and sold the
timber for railroad ties. They owned and operated a sawmill and a
lumber mill in the Mt. Gretna-Colebrook area, supplying customers in
both Lebanon and Berks Counties.
In the 1880's they became partners in a lumber business, established
in what would become the town of Cleona. John H. Long operated the
lumber business until 1922 at which time it became the John H. Long
and Sons Lumber Company with the addition of his sons John C. and
Harry A. The business through the years continued to expand and
grow.
John H. Long planned and developed the northern section of Cleona
and in 1928 began development of farmland south of what is now U. S.
Route 422. He established the first post office, a water company,
and operated several farms. He succeeded his father, Henry L. Long,
to the Board of Directors of the Farmers Trust Bank of Lebanon in
1923. He attended the Church of the Brethren. He was an able
businessman, forward looking and contributing to the growth and
stability of the town of Cleona. He was married to Fannie Kettering
and the father of nine children: Virgie Cleona, Ada K., John C.,
Mary 8., Harry A., Larena E., Raymond C., Herman R. and Florence M.
At his death in 1944 he resided at 34 North Center Street. |
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1890s - First homes
erected.
1902 - Fire Company
established as the “Cooperative Fire Company of Cleona.”
1912 - Cleona
Elementary School built.
1922 - Center
Street railroad built.
1929 - Cleona
Borough is incorporated.
1938 - Five acres
of land is purchased for a playground on the north side.
1946 - Borough
Council appoints “special officers” to police the Borough streets.
1953 - Borough
Council buys the old Cleona Elementary School on Penn Avenue
1953 - The zoning
ordinance is adopted
1956 - The Police
Department is organized.
1965 - Cleona
playground moved to South Garfield Street.
1968 - Lebanon Co.
Planning Comm. began to enforce Borough zoning laws & prepare
plans.
1971 - Recycling
program began.
1977 - Construction
of “Cleona Acres” development, between S. Garfield St. and Dairy
Road.
1987 - Council
established the Cleona Borough Sewer Authority.
1987 - Construction
began on Walnut Mill Development on South Center Street
1996 - Borough
moves into remodeled fire hall.
2004 - North Center
Street Bridge closed for 1 year while being replaced. |
