Peaceful living in Reilly Township near busier cities and jobs
There are busy cities in Schuylkill County, where homes are tightly packed together and traffic gets heavy during rush hour. Reilly Township is different, where there is more room between homes and next to no traffic on the long, two-way roads. There are two residential hubs in this quiet township: Newtown and Branchdale. The busiest these areas get is when people grab dinner at the Branchdale Diner or the volunteer fire departments hold fundraisers. Robert Butensky, a lifelong resident and chairman of the township, said he prefers Reilly's laid-back atmosphere. “I just like having the freedom to do what you want to do,” Butensky says. “I like going for walks, hunting, fishing and going for a drive in the woods. It’s small-town living. We don’t have the problems that cities have.” Anyone who works in cities like Pottsville or Schuylkill Haven has short commutes using U.S. Route 209.
Older and recently renovated homes on sidewalk-free streets
Only a few homes in Reilly are listed for sale because residents stay for the long haul. “People have lived here all their lives, but we have had some young people who have moved in,” Butensky says. Ranch-style homes, bungalows and American Foursquares with front porches line the sidewalk-free streets. Some homes have attached garages, but many residents park on unpaved driveways, under carports or in front of detached garages. Homes here were built in the early 1900s and sell for $44,000 to $100,000, though some with recent renovations can sell for closer to $120,000 to $200,000.
Kids learn in Minersville schools
Reilly Township is served by the Minersville Area School District, which receives a C from Niche. Kids attend prekindergarten through kindergarten at Minersville Early Childhood Center, rated C-plus. Minersville Area Elementary Center offers first- through sixth-grade classes and also earns a C-plus. Minersville Area Junior/Senior High School gets a C.
Newtown Playground and Brandchale Park have room for fun
The Newtown Playground neighbors the fire station and features a paved basketball court and covered picnic tables. Some Branchdale residents are steps away from Branchdale Park’s baseball field, playground and basketball court. Hunters and hikers might visit the State Game Lands Number 229, south of Newtown, which has nearly 3,000 acres of land that stretches across the hills and valleys of Red Mountain.
Getting breakfast at Branchdale Diner; shopping in Minersville
The Branchdale Diner serves home-style meals for breakfast and lunch, and the desserts are housemade. Residents drive into nearby Minersville to dine at Palermo Pizza & Restaurant, and Pottsville has The Crimson House and Roma Pizza. Minersville and Pottsville also have the nearest grocery stores, like Coal Town Supermarket and Boyer's Food Market. Route 209 cuts through Newtown and Branchdale, leading all the way into Pottsville. Commuters have an 8-mile drive to medical jobs in Pottsville at locations like the Geisinger St. Luke’s Health Center or the Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street. The Harrisburg International Airport is roughly 55 miles away using Interstate 55, a trip that takes about an hour.
Supporting local fire companies by buying dinners and raffle tickets
While people can keep to themselves, Reilly has a few ways for neighbors to get together. “People intermingle with the fire company when they have fundraisers,” Butensky says. The Newtown Volunteer Fire Company raises money by selling homemade meals, from chicken barbecue to sandwiches. The company also hosts raffles and the annual cornhole tournament in June. The Citizens Fire Company of Branchdale has a similar fundraising schedule, including selling flowers on Mother’s Day and penny auctions. The Branchdale Ladies Booster Club supports the fundraising events by selling tickets, but the group also organizes holiday events like the Memorial Day Parade and the annual Christmas party held at the fire station. Life in Reilly slowed down when churches closed and the school system was absorbed into the greater Minersville Area School District. Saint Mary's Church of Branchdale was closed for several years until a new owner worked with residents to make repairs and reopen.
DEP asks residents to report strong odors
The Commonwealth Environmental Systems Keystone Landfill is close to Reilly Township, just northwest near Interstate 81. Residents of the township and nearby Tremont can occasionally smell a strong odor from the dump. The Department of Environmental Protection has met with residents in the past and encourages anyone bothered by the smell to call and submit a report.
