East Berlin Historic District

East Berlin is a borough on the Conewago Creek in Adams County, Pennsylvania, laid out in 1764 by John Frankenberger. Its historic district contains a concentration of 18th century log and stone dwellings, many with original siding and interior features, alongside brick and frame houses of the late 19th century. Settled principally by people of German descent, the town shows the building traditions of the Pennsylvania Germans in its plan, fenestration and detailing. Its late 19th century buildings display a window and door trim with wide molded architraves, arched tops and modified crossettes, which is regarded as distinctive to East Berlin. The town grew as a small commercial center serving local farms, with a grist mill near the creek and a railroad spur completed in 1877. Because few later changes were made, the district conveys its evolution from the 18th through the early 20th century. Only nine of 186 properties are noncontributing.