CEMETERY HISTORY
About the Founder
Charles Evans, Founder
1768-1847
Lawyer, Philanthropist, and Public Benefactor, Charles Evans lies buried near the entrance of the beautiful cemetery he founded; a life-size statue is an enduring memorial to his vision and generosity.
Any historical sketch of the Charles Evans Cemetery Company would be incomplete without some enlightening picture of its founder. Charles Evans was born in Philadelphia on March 30, 1768, the son of Quaker parents, David and Letitia Evans. At the age of 20, he began the study of law in the office of Benjamin Chew, one of the commonwealth’s foremost lawyers. Benjamin Chew had been attorney general of the colony and later became chief justice of the Supreme Court.
In 1791, at the age of twenty-three, Charles Evans moved to Reading and was admitted to the Berks County bar. His success, gradual rather than rapid, was assured from the first. Three years later he married a Philadelphia girl, Miss Mary Keene, with whom he spent forty-four happy years.
Left in his advanced age without a family, Charles Evans’ one determination was to make it possible for the people of Reading to have a nonsectarian cemetery removed from the city’s noise and bustle, where friends and relatives might linger and meditate. Most important, he decreed that it be a cemetery amply endowed, free from debt, unmarred by commercialism and perpetually cared for. To this end, in 1846, Charles Evans donated the original twenty-five acres of ground and the sum of two thousand dollars. Upon his death, a year later, on September 5, he further bequeathed in his will the sum of ten thousand dollars, and three-quarters – or almost sixty-seven thousand dollars – of the residue of his estate.
Charles Evans lies buried in the cemetery of his endowment, where a fitting monument marks his final resting place.
The Beginning
The Cemetery was founded in 1846 by Charles Evans, a prominent local lawyer and philanthropist who desired to establish a nonsectarian cemetery where the friends and relatives of those departed might linger and meditate. Employing unusual vision, Charles Evans selected and purchased 25 acres of land on a prominent hilltop situated, at that time, a mile outside the City limits. It was to be for all people of Reading, a dignified place of interment where natural beauty would be preserved and enhanced with the years He provided money for a Trust Fund to be used solely for the purpose of making the Cemetery even more beautiful with the passing years – to provide perpetual maintenance of its buildings, trees, shrubbery, and spacious lawns.
The Architecture
The most prominent architectural feature of the Charles Evans Cemetery is the sand-stone Entrance Way which adorns the main access along Centre Avenue. Completed in 1852, this impressive structure reflects the Gothic Revival style which was popular at that time. Located immediately north of the main entrance gate, the Tudor-style office building was constructed in 1927. It provides space for administrative staff, the secure storage of records and an appropriate setting to discuss the services offered by the cemetery.
A Crematorium, Chapel, and Columbarium are all housed in a handsome Italiante-style structure situated in the eastern portion of the Charles Evans Cemetery, in the vicinity of Perry Street. Added in 1939, this building features a stately bell tower, a majestic bronze entrance door and artistically designed windows. The impressive Chapel is available for quiet meditation or for services during inclement weather when graveside attendance is impractical. To the side of the Chapel is the Columbarium, where memorial urns find an everlasting resting place, safe from the elements. Imperishable bronze niches of various sizes are available for individual or family use. The original cremation chambers were replaced in 1993, utilizing the latest technological advancements. The Chapel Garden Mausoleum was built in 1972 and the Hillside Mausoleum was added in 1981. These two free-standing structures provide granite-faced crypts and niches for above-ground interment.
The Cemetery Today
More than a century and a half old, the Charles Evans Cemetery is now surrounded by urban development, but still retains the quiet, stately grandeur of a long-established and well cared for interment facility. In addition, its central location makes it readily accessible to all the residents of Berks County. The Cemetery now includes 119 acres of well-maintained grounds, with more than seven miles of paved roads which make the extensive grounds convenient to visitors. It continues to be a virtual arboretum, with over 2200 trees of impressive variety and maturity, as well as an abundance of flowering shrubs. The exquisite landscaping and extensive charm make the Cemetery an appropriate setting for quiet reflection and soothing contemplation.
OUR MISSION
Dedicated to Public Service
“All income shall be used solely for beautification and perpetual maintenance of Charles Evans Cemetery…”
That phrase from the original charter, perhaps more than any other, indicates the foresight and public spirit of the founder. Charles Evans Cemetery was to be more than what was commonly known as a “burying ground.” It was to be, for the people of Reading, a dignified place of interment whose natural beauty would be forever preserved and improved with the years.
Since its establishment in 1846, the founder’s wishes have been reverently carried out by the Board of Trustees. The office of Trustee has been regarded as an opportunity to perform a civic service. So it is that Charles Evans Cemetery Company has attracted so many of Reading’s leading citizens, who have served long years without compensation – rewarded only be the satisfaction of a worthy service well done.
Permanence is Assured
The impressive character and beauty of the cemetery is forever assured by a Trust Fund, into which goes all income above actual administration expenses. No profits can ever be distributed. Instead, the money is used solely for the purpose of making the cemetery even more beautiful with the passing years… to provide for perpetual maintenance of its trees, shrubbery and spacious lawns.
Serving Future Generations
The original donation of twenty-five acres has been increased, from time to time, by additional purchases of adjacent land. Today, the cemetery comprises more than 127 acres of enclosed land. Much of the developed area is still available and many undeveloped acres are reserved for future needs. Although more than 62,000 persons are now buried here, this beautiful cemetery will be able to meet the requirements of Reading and Berks County families for generations to come.
Incorporation
Charles Evans Cemetery Company was incorporated by the Act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, approved February 24, 1846. The incorporators were the Hon. John Banks, president judge of our courts, John S. Hiester, Dr. Isaac Hiester, James L. Dunn, Esq., Samuel Bell, Dr. Hiester H. Muhlenberg, William Strong, Esq., later a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Matthias S. Richards, Esq., William Darling, Esq., Dr. Diller Luther, William Eckert, Benneville Keim, and Peter Filbert, Esq.
They were authorized by the Act to establish upon land donated by Charles Evans on the Centre turnpike road – about one mile from the borough of Reading – a rural burying place to be called the Charles Evans Cemetery and, as trustees for future generations, “to lay out, ornament, plant and embellish the lands as a place for public interment.” Furthermore, to the end that the graves of persons buried therein should never be disturbed, the Legislature provided that “no street, lane or road shall hereafter be opened through the lands so occupied as a cemetery and that the cemetery should be totally exempt from all taxation.”
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Present Board of Trustees
William S. Laubach
Elected 1976
Fred deP. Rothermel, Jr.
Elected 1992
Michelle Lynch
Elected 2003
Katie Hannon
Elected 2006
Kent W. Davis
Elected 2010
Rick Burkey
Elected 2011
Eva Eisenbrown
Elected 2013
Heather Adams
Elected 2020
Tadd K. Casner
Elected 2021
Carolyn M. Bazik
Elected 2023
Mahlon Boyer
Elected 2024
Keri Shultz
Elected 2024
Charter Members
John Banks
Served 1846-1864
John S. Hiester
Served 1846-1849
Isaac Hiester
Served 1846-1855
James L. Dunn
Served 1846-1874
Samuel Bell
Served 1846-1863
Hiester H. Muhlenberg
Served 1846-1886
William Strong
Served 1846-1862
Matthias S. Richards
Served 1846-1862
William Darling
Served 1846-1862
Diller Luther
Served 1846-1890
William Eckert
Served 1846-1861
Benneville Keim
Served 1846-1872
Peter Filbert
Served 1846-1864
Elected Members
Isaac Eckert
Served 1846-1873
Adam Leize
Served 1857-1875
James Milholland
Served 1861-1886
Gustavus A. Nicholls
Served 1862-1886
Charles B. McKnight
Served 1862-1878
William I. DeBorbon
Served 1862-1892
Charles H. Hunter
Served 1863-1870
J. Pringle Jones
Served 1864-1874
Horatio Trexler
Served 1865-1900
William M. Hiester
Served 1870 – 1878
Augustus F. Boas
Served 1873-1894
Warren J. Woodward
Served 1874-1878
Henry S. Eckert
Served 1874-1894
George D. Stitzel
Served 1874 – 1889
John S. Pearson
Served 1875-1885
Hiester Clymer
Served 1876-1884
Henry M. Keim
Served 1879-1899
Thomas D. Stichter
Served 1879 – 1892
Daniel Ermentrout
Served 1879-1899
Edwin F. Smith
Served 1885-1894
David McM. Gregg
Served 1885-1916
Henry A. Muhlenberg
Served 1886 – 1906
Isaac Heister
Served 1886-1921
William D. Smith
Served 1890-1911
John Rick
Served 1891-1900
Frank S. Livingood
Served 1892 – 1931
Charles Breneiser
Served 1893-1909
George B. Eckert
Served 1894-1899
George F. Baer
Served 1895-1914
James H. Sternbergh
Served 1895 – 1913
Gustav A. Endlich
Served 1899-1929
Prince R. Stetson
Served 1900-1921
William McIlvain
Served 1900 – 1914
Charles Rick
Served 1900-1909
M. Brayton McKnight
Served 1907-1910
Frederick H. Muhlenberg
Served 1900-1924
Edwin A. Quier
Served 1910 – 1939
William S. Mohr
Served 1911-1934
William Seyfert
Served 1912-1935
Jonathan C. Illig
Served 1913-1919
John H. Craig
Served 1915 – 1927
Daniel N. Bertolette
Served 1915-1929
Howard J. Potts
Served 1916-1927
Hunter Eckert
Served 1917-1949
Samuel R. Seyfert
Served 1920 – 1939
Hiester H. Muhlenberg
Served 1921-1926
John J. Kutz
Served 1921-1935
Edward H. Knerr
Served 1926-1934
William McIlvain
Served 1927 – 1939
Harry F. Kantner
Served 1929-1934
Philip S. Zieber
Served 1929-1940
Ferdinand Thun
Served 1932-1949
Frederick Willson
Served 1932 – 1953
John R. Hendel
Served 1932-1941
Levi W. Mengel
Served 1935-1941
Charles H. Muhlenberg
Served 1935-1959
Arthur C. Roland
Served 1935 – 1942
David M. Gregg
Served 1938-1941
J. Heber Parker
Served 1938-1956
Thomas Iaeger Snyder
Served 1940-1955
Andrew M. Balmer
Served 1940 – 1953
Harold M. Leinbach
Served 1941-1966
Clair G. Spangler
Served 1941-1960
John E. Livingood
Served 1941-1977
J. Lee Bausher
Served 1941-1976
James W. Bertolet
Served 1941-1982
Paul N. Schaeffer
Served 1942-1968
Frederick W. Nicolls, Jr.
Served 1949-1961
Ferdinand K. Thun
Served 1949-1991
Charles M. Boardman
Served 1954-1961
William R. McIlvain
Served 1954-1980
George B. Balmer
Served 1957-1969
Sidney D. Kline
Served 1957-1986
Charles H. Muhlenberg Jr.
Served 1959-1969
George B. Gaul
Served 1962-1992
James Rick, 3rd
Served 1962-1991
Fred deP. Rothermal
Served 1962-1988
Charles R. Spang
Served 1967-1983
David H. Roland
Served 1970-1975
Frederick R. Shenk
Served 1970-1987
Harold O. Leinbach
Served 1977-2005
Richard M. Palmer
Served 1982-1991
Edward D. Trexler, 3rd
Served 1980-1994
Carl L. N. Erdman
Served 1969-1999
Calvin E. Smith
Served 1988-2002
Alex Cameron IV
Served 1999-2004
Jordan Bausher
Served 1976-2006
Sidney D. Kline, Jr.
Served 1987-2007
David L. Thun
Served 1991-2007
Elizabeth B. Gaul
Served 1995-2008
Karl H. Hemmerich
Served 1984-2008
Edward T. Lentz
Served 2008-2011
G. Garrett Wilkinson
Served 1988-2013
John C. Woodward
Served 2008-2013
Daniel B. Huyett
Served 2007-2018
Allison McCanney
Served 2017-2019
Jay R. Wagner
Served 2017-2019
Christopher Bausher
Served 2005-2022
David F. Rick
Served 1992-2024
Elizabeth B. Rothermel
Served 1992-2024
Presidents
John S. Hiester
Served 1846-1849
Isaac Hiester
Served 1849-1855
Hiester H. Muhlenberg
Served 1855-1865
J. Pringle Jones
Served 1865-1872
Diller Luther
Served 1872-1890
David McM. Gregg
Served 1891-1916
Isaac Hiester
Served 1916-1921
Frank S. Livingood
Served 1921-1931
Edwin A. Quier
Served 1931-1939
Frederick Willson
Served 1939-1952
John E. Livingood
Served 1952-1965
J. Lee Bausher
Served 1965-1969
James Rick, 3rd
Served 1969-1991
Carl L. N. Erdman
Served 1992-1999
Harold O. Leinbach
Served 1999-2000
Jordan L. Bausher
Served 2000-2004
Elizabeth B. Rothermel
Served 2005-2024
Fred deP. Rothermel, Jr.
Served 2024-
Superintendents
William Clemson
Served 1847-1867
Alexander Burnett
Served 1868-1880
John C. Hepler
Served 1880-1907
John A. Hepler
Served 1907-1918
Peter L. Scholl
Served 1919-1963
Nelson S. Farr
Served 1963-1991
James C. Hart
Served 1992-2009
James R. Stubblebine
Served 2010-2011
Michael J. Nally
Served 2013-