Following the construction of the Mill in 1747, a small community known as Cambria began to form. By the 1860s, commercial companies specializing in dairy, iron ore, and grain lacked a quick and cost-effective way to transport their goods from Cambria to larger markets.

Many prominent citizens, including miller John Oberholzer, realized the need for a rail line to run through the community to the main station in Phoenixville. By the winter of 1869, a commission was formed to secure funding and oversee plans for construction of the Pickering Valley Railroad. The rail line officially opened in September 1871, and the community became known as Cambria Station.

In addition to the railroad Oberholtzer partnered with Isaac Hartman and built a store which sold local commodities and operated a mail-order business. This small store continued to grow throughout the 1870s, and by 1884 had grown into a large general store.

With the addition of the railroad and general store, the postal service began to confuse mail intended for Cambria Station with the town of Cambria near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Sometime shortly after 1886 the name was changed to Anselma, but the origin of the name remains unknown.

Pickering Valley Railroad documents and photographs

Anselma Community documents and photographs