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Recent Posts
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Gadgets Restaurant
Read more: Gadgets RestaurantLets talk about Gadgets, the lesser-known and not as successful (as the likes of Showbiz Pizza Place and Chuck E. Cheese) animatronic themed restaurant from the early 1980s. From 1982-1984 this cutting edge restaurant was upstairs at the Berkshire Mall. It featured animatronic singing robots…
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On this Day – Reading Pattern Works Fire 1964
Read more: On this Day – Reading Pattern Works Fire 1964The Reading Pattern Works was a factory that made parts for the railroad, and was located at 715 Clinton Street. On October 27th, 1964 it suffered a fire. Today, the Pattern Works building is home to Reading Art Works, and is used as an event…
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Ye Olde Spring House
Read more: Ye Olde Spring HouseThe Ye Olde Spring House building is now Bean Funeral Home, and its address is 3825 Penn Avenue. The restaurant’s address was formerly 425 Penn Avenue. According to Bean’s website, “Our Sinking Spring funeral home has a fascinating history. The two story early-colonial structure was…
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Freeman’s Esso – Sinking Spring – 1954
Read more: Freeman’s Esso – Sinking Spring – 1954Anyone know where this gas station stood? The addresses have changed since the 50s so it doesn’t pinpoint a location, though I’m thinking on the corner of Penn and Cacoosing Ave’s, where Lesher’s Service Center once stood.
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Movie Premiere Street Parade – Astor Theatre – 1948
Read more: Movie Premiere Street Parade – Astor Theatre – 1948Street parade for the opening of “Hollow Triumph” at the Astor theatre in Reading, Pennsylvania, where Lester Stallman is the manager of the theatre. Were movie premiere parades common back in the mid century?
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Carsonia Park Aerial – Then and Now – 1937
Read more: Carsonia Park Aerial – Then and Now – 1937Carsonia Park opened in 1896 and operated until 1950. It’s extensive history can be read here. It appears that the only thing that remains is the pool and lake. The main midway was built over by housing many years ago.
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Carvel Dari-Freeze – Sinking Spring
Read more: Carvel Dari-Freeze – Sinking SpringThis Carvel was located in Sinking Spring, possibly on Penn Avenue in 1954. Does anyone remember the location and can shed light on where exactly it stood?
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Brown’s Diner
Read more: Brown’s DinerA reader wrote to me about Brown’s Diner (Later changed to “Restaurant”) that sat at the bottom of the hill, on the curve of Penn Avenue, just before the Penn Street Bridge. Currently, it would have stood where the interchange to the 422 bypass is…
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Bon-Ton / Pomeroy’s at the Berkshire Mall
Read more: Bon-Ton / Pomeroy’s at the Berkshire MallEveryone has heard that Bon-Ton had declared bankruptcy and was subsequently closing all of it’s stores back in April. Liquidation began immediately, and finally after 4 months of sales the location at the Berkshire Mall is closing for the final time today, August 28th 2018…
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Boston House Restaurant – 950 Penn Street
Read more: Boston House Restaurant – 950 Penn StreetThe Boston Restaurant opened in 1927. It was owned by Gust L. Hatza and his father, Louis. It was the former Marathon Restaurant, 807 Penn St. The restaurant was later moved to 950 Penn St. and renamed The Boston House in 1951. It suffered a…
