• The Magazine
  • Win It!
Berks County Living
No Result
View All Result
  • Everything Berks
    • Around Town
    • Education & Business
    • Family
    • Fashion & Shopping
    • Health & Wellness
    • House & Home
    • Seasonal
    • Travel
    • Web Exclusives
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drinks
    • Recipes
    • Restaurant Directory
    • Restaurant Profiles
  • People
    • Faces of Berks
    • Interesting People
    • People’s Choice
    • Profiles
    • Select Dentists
  • Things to Do
    • B Scene Party Pics
    • Event Calendar
  • Best Of
  • Blogs
    • Calm Eats
    • Phoebe Savors Berks
  • Weddings
    • Inspiration
    • Local Weddings
    • Wedding Vendor Directory
  • Guides
    • Beauty & Wellness
    • Family Businesses
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Newcomer’s
    • Restaurants
Subscribe
  • Everything Berks
    • Around Town
    • Education & Business
    • Family
    • Fashion & Shopping
    • Health & Wellness
    • House & Home
    • Seasonal
    • Travel
    • Web Exclusives
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drinks
    • Recipes
    • Restaurant Directory
    • Restaurant Profiles
  • People
    • Faces of Berks
    • Interesting People
    • People’s Choice
    • Profiles
    • Select Dentists
  • Things to Do
    • B Scene Party Pics
    • Event Calendar
  • Best Of
  • Blogs
    • Calm Eats
    • Phoebe Savors Berks
  • Weddings
    • Inspiration
    • Local Weddings
    • Wedding Vendor Directory
  • Guides
    • Beauty & Wellness
    • Family Businesses
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Newcomer’s
    • Restaurants
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Berks County Living
No Result
View All Result
Home Everything Berks Around Town

A Storied Past & Crafty Present: The Brinton Lodge

Ali Bechtel by Ali Bechtel
February 4, 2019
in Around Town
A Storied Past & Crafty Present: The Brinton Lodge
The Historic Brinton Lodge in Douglassville is a 300-year-old landmark with a modern twist. Its unusual architecture and local legends have been preserved and are open for the public to experience – if you dare.
The Lodge with Many Lives

The original structure at the Brinton Lodge was not nearly so grand as the stone mansion that stands today. It was first a small farmhouse built by the Millard family, one of the earliest to purchase land from William Penn in the area. In 1796 the property was purchased and became the Kirlin Homestead. During their ownership the Schuylkill Canal was constructed — right through the property.

In the early 1900s the property changed hands again to the Wittmans, a wealthy iron family from Philadelphia. They expanded the simple farmhouse into an opulent 28-room mansion, but rather than knocking down the original structure and starting over, the Wittmans built their mansion around it. It still stands today as part of the Lodge. During Prohibition, the Lodge came under the ownership of Reading hotelier Caleb Brinton, who opened it as an exclusive gentlemen’s club. It is said that Brinton handpicked his clientele from only the most rich and famous, who visited from far and wide.

In its more recent history the Lodge operated as Covatta’s Brinton Lodge Restaurant for many years before inheriting its most modern inhabitant yet – Hidden River Brewing Company.

Brinton’s Crafty Tenants

Brothers-in-law Kevin Margitch and Douglas Reeser saw Brinton Lodge not as a strange and run-down old building, but rather as an opportunity to take their brewing skills to the next level. The two had been homebrewing for about eight years before turning their passion for brewing (and drinking) beer into an award-winning brew pub.

Today the pub features a rotating selection of 12 to 18 creative craft beers and ciders produced on-site, as well as a weekly, locally-sourced dinner menu. Everything at Hidden River reflects the flavors of the area; many of their brewing ingredients and all their menu items are sourced locally.

Enter if You Dare

Any visitor to the historic lodge will find history lovers and beer aficionados alike enjoying the outdoor patio or meandering through the shadowy house, but many believe Hidden River Brewing isn’t its only inhabitant. The Lodge has also been named one of the top 10 most haunted buildings in Pennsylvania.

Mediums have confirmed that at least five spirits have taken up residence during the long history of the Brinton Lodge — and haven’t left. Among the residents are former owners Katharine Wittman and Caleb Brinton, as well as the Lodge’s infamous Dapper Dan. Skeptical? Book a tour to meet them for yourself! The Brinton Lodge Preservation organization runs public tours every weekend, and private tours are available anytime by request. Tours last approximately 90 minutes and include plenty of time to tour on your own.

In addition to its spooky tours and offbeat events, the Lodge is also home to a full calendar of community happenings, theater productions, classes and workshops, with all proceeds benefiting the ongoing restoration of the area landmark. For a full schedule visit brintonlodge.com.

Tags: Around TownPhotos Courtesy The Brinton Lodge
Ali Bechtel

Ali Bechtel

Related Posts

Explore Berks County’s Sweet & Salty Trail

Explore Berks County’s Sweet & Salty Trail

by Jon Fassnacht
April 28, 2025

Discover the stops on Berks County's Sweet and Salty Trail tour.

Berks LaunchBox Supports Business Dreams

Berks LaunchBox Supports Business Dreams

by Sarah Matarella
March 28, 2025

Learn more about the services offered by Berks LaunchBox.

Berks County Benefits to Get on your Calendar in 2025

Berks County Benefits to Get on your Calendar in 2025

by Jon Fassnacht
March 26, 2025

A round-up of local fundraising events planned for Berks County in the coming year.

Shelves of pet food

Feeding Hope: Humane Pennsylvania’s Spike’s Pet Food Pantry Program

by Sarah Matarella
February 28, 2025

Learn more about Humane PA's pet food pantry program.

The Reading Musical Foundation’s Enduring Impact on Berks County

The Reading Musical Foundation’s Enduring Impact on Berks County

by Sarah Matarella
January 29, 2025

Since its inception in 1926, the Reading Musical Foundation has supported students interested in music in countless ways.

Win It!

Become a BCL Insider

Get an inside look at what’s hot and happening each month with our FREE e-newsletter. Includes notification of each new edition, details on events around town and special promotions.



We will never share your data with a third party without your permission. Adjust your email preferences at any time, and unsubscribing is quick and easy.

Read the Magazine

READ MORE

How Can Hormonal Imbalance Impact Health?
Health & Wellness

How Can Hormonal Imbalance Impact Health?

May 6, 2025
Fashion’s Comeback Kids
Fashion & Shopping

Fashion’s Comeback Kids

April 30, 2025
Read the May 2025 issue of Berks County Living!
Uncategorized

Read the May 2025 issue of Berks County Living!

April 28, 2025
Berks County Living

Navigate Site

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Careers & Internships
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe Now

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Everything Berks
    • Around Town
    • Education & Business
    • Family
    • Fashion & Shopping
    • Health & Wellness
    • House & Home
    • Seasonal
    • Travel
    • Web Exclusives
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drinks
    • Recipes
    • Restaurant Directory
    • Restaurant Profiles
  • People
    • Faces of Berks
    • Interesting People
    • People’s Choice
    • Profiles
    • Select Dentists
  • Things to Do
    • Event Calendar
    • B Scene Party Pics
  • Best Of
  • Blogs
    • Calm Eats
    • Phoebe Savors Berks
  • Weddings
    • Inspiration
    • Local Weddings
    • Weddings Vendor Directory
  • Guides
    • Beauty & Wellness
    • Family Businesses
    • Home Improvement
    • Newcomer’s
    • Restaurants

Skip to content
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase TextIncrease Text
  • Decrease TextDecrease Text
  • GrayscaleGrayscale
  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Readable FontReadable Font
  • Reset Reset