Why UNION Studios?
A bit of history about Bernville, Pennsylvania, and how Union Studios got its name.
3/2/20262 min read
Why UNION Studios?
William Penn, the founding governor of Pennsylvania, first proposed uniting the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Rivers in 1690 to make it easier to transport goods to Philadelphia. A century later, in 1791, the Society for the Improvement of Roads and Inland Navigation expanded that vision, proposing a canal system that would connect Lake Erie with the Atlantic seaboard. Construction began in 1792 under President George Washington, and although financial setbacks delayed progress, the canal was finally completed in 1828. Known as the “Golden Link,” the Union Canal became a vital route for shipping anthracite coal and lumber eastward toward the coast.
As the canal grew, so did the communities along its path. One of those towns was Bernville, Pennsylvania. Founded on land purchased by Swiss immigrant Stephanus Umbenhauer, the town took shape in 1819 when his grandson, Johann Thomas Umbenhauer, divided 46 acres into 62 lots. Within a year, the first lots were sold, the first home was built, and the town was named after Umbenhauer’s birthplace: Bern, Switzerland. Bernville soon became a thriving canal port, home to Union Canal Guard Lock #36, Lock #36, and a mule bridge that allowed boats to cross Northkill Creek on their journey toward the Atlantic.
Though the canal closed in 1881, its legacy remains woven into the identity of Bernville—a small, welcoming town perfectly situated away from the rush of larger cities, yet historically connected to the movement of goods, people, and opportunity.
That legacy is exactly why Beth chose the name Union Studios.
Just as the Union Canal once brought essential goods and services from bustling cities into rural Berks County, Union Studios brings beauty, style, and wellness services into the heart of our small community. The canal united towns, resources, and people—and the studio carries that spirit forward by uniting independent professionals under one roof. It’s a place where creativity flows, businesses grow, and clients can access high‑quality services without traveling far from home.
Union Studios honors the history of the land it stands on while creating something new: a modern hub of talent, connection, and opportunity—right here in Bernville.