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Pictures were taken by my Grandfather of the 1970 Grand Opening of the Volkswagen Dealership as “Dick Horrigan Volkswagen” located at 1211 Lancaster Ave in the late 1960s. Before this is was under the name Nick Ciliberti. It was diagonally across the street from the…
Before 4th and Penn was torn down in 1980 to give way for the construction of CNA, there were multiple businesses on the block. On the corner all the way on the left was Saylor Food, a fresh produce and goods store. To the right…
There were quite a few Carrols Restaurants in Berks County. They were located in Sinking Spring on Penn Avenue. Also on North 5th Street in Reading, 5th Street Highway in Muhlenberg, and on Lancaster Avenue. Carrols was a typical fast food chain that served hamburgers,…
Nichols Discount City had three locations in Berks, one being located at 3001 St. Lawrence Ave, one on 5th Street in Muhlenberg and another in Shillington on Lancaster Ave. They are credited with being one of the first major “Drug Stores” in the mid-Atlantic, with having…
Located at the corner of NE 9th Street & Spring Street. The Strand Theatre was opened February 21, 1920. By 1941 it was owned and operated by Goldman Theatres of Philadelphia. It was a fairly large theatre with a balcony, and had a huge wrap-around…
Happy Valentines Day! Lets take a look at past Reading Eagle’s to see if love was in the air in Berks in the 70s. If you recognize any of the faces in this article, comment! 1972: Valentine’s Day is extra special this year for Mr.…
Penn Street – North Side – 400 Block….1940s…Reading: We look to the Northeast corner to the landmark Saylor food business stand. In the foreground is car 809 as it appeared in 1947, end-of-the-line year for city trolleys. Looking to the background is an imposing grey-stone…
The Franklin Street Station served the railroad from 1930 until 1981 when SEPTA diesel service ceased operations. From 1981 until 2013, the building sat vacant until BARTA acquired and refurbished the building for bus services. The plan was to alleviate overcrowded services at the BARTA Transportation Center located about…
In the late 1920s, people were expanding outwards from the city, into what is now Muhlenberg Township. According to this article, The petition to create the borough of Laureldale was made Feb. 29, 1929. Leading that effort was Frederick W. Shipe, a housing developer frustrated…
Below are aerial photos of Weiser Lake aka the Mine Hole near Wyomissing/West Reading. The first was taken in 1932, when the Reading Hospital Building was brand new. Pictured in the distant right is the Berkshire Knitting Mills. Before the Hospital expanded there was a…