Author: Alexa Freyman
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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 now standing, and would have been demolished to make way…
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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 at 5:00 pm. Bon-Ton occupied the center anchor at the…
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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 fire in 1967 but stayed in business. It still remains…
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Stoudt’s Restaurant
Read more: Stoudt’s RestaurantStoudt’s Restaurant was located at 602 Penn Avenue in Sinking Spring (now the 4000 block and a parking lot). It was opened in 1951 and owned by Edward and Ada Stoudt. Edward’s son, also named Edward, worked for his father starting in 1960, and eventually split off and opened Stoudt’s Black Angus; which is still…
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Monday Mystery: The Hot Air Balloon
Read more: Monday Mystery: The Hot Air BalloonFound this image in my family’s album, but no one seems to have a recollection of what, where or when this image was taken. It was likely taken in the late 60s/early 70s, and appears to be summertime by people’s apparel. It looks to be some sort of fair or carnival at a local park.…
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5th Street – 1971 Then & Now
Read more: 5th Street – 1971 Then & NowBelow are Aerials shots from 1971, showing what Fifth street highway/Route 61/Kutztown Road looked like just north of the city. A few of the notable structures are the Reading Fairgrounds, Bellevue Diner, and Gethsemane Cemetery. The Warren Street Bypass was also noticeably not extended past 5th street at the time of this photo. Five years…
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Wyomissing Swimming Pool – Happy Hollow
Read more: Wyomissing Swimming Pool – Happy HollowHappy Hollow Park still sits tucked away in Wyomissing, though the swimming pool is no longer in existence. Happy Hollow was built with community bonds sold, and the land was donated by Henry Janssen and Thun, prominent owners of the Wyomissing Industries in 1910. The land for the pool was also donated by Thun and…
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West Lawn Elementary School
Read more: West Lawn Elementary SchoolTake a look at how West Lawn and West Lawn Elementary School looked in 1932: The school looks like it was fairly new at the date of this photo, but I could not find an exact date of build. It sat at Riegel Ave and Nobel Street, a block in from Penn Ave. It functioned…
