Memorial Day Weekend – On this Day

In 1960, Fleetwood dedicates its new swimming pool

In 1960, a drunk driver causes a fatal accident in the parking lot of the Sante Fe Inn Restaurant on route 422 in Exeter Township

In 1961, pile in the trunk – its time to see a flick at the Drive-Ins

In 1960, Armed Forces Day Parade on Penn Street

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Centre Park Historic District

Spring has sprung, everything is coming back to life and in my opinion it is the most wonderful time of year. I went to visit Centre Park Historic District to capture some of what I find to be the most beautiful residential architecture within the city limits. 

Some of the most prominent mansions on Centre Ave date back to the 1870s, when the industrialists of that time were the first to build their estates on land then considered to be country.… Read Full Article

Wernersville Train Station

Wernersville’s passenger rail history began in June of 1857 when the Lebanon Valley Railroad initiated service from Reading to Lebanon. Service was extended all the way to Harrisburg the following year when the Lebanon Valley Railroad was bought out by the Philadelphia and Reading Company (later became Reading Railroad). 

The first Wernersville train station was built on this site in 1881 and was replaced by this current structure in 1927. … Read Full Article

John Updike’s Childhood Home

On Saturday September 10th I had the pleasure of visiting John Updike’s childhood home at 117 Philadelphia Avenue in Shillington. John lived here from his birth in 1932 until he was 13 years old. It is widely known that Shillington and the city of Reading were the inspirational foundation behind many of his stories and novels.

His most famous 4-part “Rabbit” novel series was set around a character living in Reading; though the locations were renamed in the book.… Read Full Article

Berks Nostalgia