Harry Rentschler

Harry Rentschler grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania. A physician practicing in Reading, PA, Dr. Rentschler and some friends founded the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club in 1916. A decade later Dr. Rentschler learned of Benton MacKaye’s dream to create a trail stretching through the wilderness from Georgia to Maine. Under his leadership, BMECC stepped up to build 102 miles of the A.T. from the Susquehanna to the Lehigh River. Dr. Rentschler led the work trips during the five years that it took to build the Trail. Rentschler’s property in the Reading suburb of Bernville became the headquarters for BMECC’s construction of their portion of the A.T. and later maintenance projects. Two A.T. shelters were constructed there and then transported to the Trail. Dr. Rentschler died in 1942. He willed his property to BMECC and today the Rentschler Arboretum is the headquarters of that club, by far the oldest one based in the Keystone State maintaining the Trail.

Dr. Rentschler passed away in 1942. Barry Webb of BMECC accepted his 2023 induction into the Appalachian Trail Museum Hall of Fame for him.

https://www.atmuseum.org/2023-class.html

The above information was provided with permission, compliments of the Appalachian Trail Museum and its manager Julie Queen