Category: Americana
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When the Bells of Revolution Rang out in Philadelphia, Berks County Answered
Read more: When the Bells of Revolution Rang out in Philadelphia, Berks County AnsweredOn July 4, 1776 fifty-six members the Continental Congress signed and adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. News traveled at the speed of horseback, and within four days the radical document was rushed northwest to the frontier town of Reading. It was delivered directly to the steps of the original 1761-built stone Berks County…
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Berks Nostalgia is now Berksiana
Read more: Berks Nostalgia is now BerksianaHey everyone, whether you’re new here, or if you’ve been following this website for a while—I wanted take a moment to properly reintroduce myself and share some news. My name is Alexa. For years, I’ve been the photographer, researcher, and writer here at Berks Nostalgia. What started nearly a decade ago as a deep love…
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Jacob Keim Homestead & the return of the Cherry Fair
Read more: Jacob Keim Homestead & the return of the Cherry FairA few weeks ago my friend Beth Glick took me on a tour of the Oley Valley, and we ended up stopping by the Keim Homestead near Lobachsville. It was our lucky day, because John Bixler of the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County was there getting the property ready for the Cherry Fair on…
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Liberty Fire Co | Reading Area Firefighters Museum | 5th & Laurel
Read more: Liberty Fire Co | Reading Area Firefighters Museum | 5th & LaurelThe Liberty Fire Company was established on January 21st, 1854 to protect the southern section of the City. At that first meeting the members voted to name it the “Wyomissing Fire Company”, but at the next week’s meeting they changed it to “Liberty”. The City of Reading quickly purchased the lot on the southeastern corner…
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Sinking Spring History
Read more: Sinking Spring HistoryThis is the first article in a “Towns of Berks” series which I will be tackling this summer to look more in-depth into Berks County’s communities. This is an overview of Sinking Spring History. Sinking Spring is a borough located in south-western Berks County. It sits along major roadway route 422, also called Penn Avenue,…
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Red Caboose Park
Read more: Red Caboose ParkGrowing up I spent a lot of time at Red Caboose Park in West Wyomissing. My Grandmother lived at the corner of Reading Boulevard and Harrison Avenue above Owl’s Grove and Field. It was pretty much my second home. I was always fascinated by the big red authentic Caboose. The caboose always seemed like it…
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Reading Pagoda – History, Present & Future
Read more: Reading Pagoda – History, Present & FutureFor nearly 120 years the Pagoda has served as a beacon to generations of us who have called Reading and greater Berks County home. What is its story? How does such a unique Japanese structure end up on a mountain in Pennsylvania? What’s happening now? You have likely noticed the building has been closed and…
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McGinty Motorcars
Read more: McGinty MotorcarsBack in October Pat McGinty of McGinty Motorcars was kind enough to give me a tour of his building at 1041-43 Washington Street in Reading. The structure sits on the east end of Washington near the foot of City Park. In 1882 the deed for this property was transfered to a George Schroeder, who died…
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Blind Hartman’s Tavern
Read more: Blind Hartman’s TavernBlind Hartman’s Tavern was established in 1822 by Jacob Hartman on Pricetown Road in Alsace Township. Hartman was blinded in 1786 at age four while he was playing with his baby brother when the child grasped an awl, and playfully jabbed it into Hartman’s eye, resulting in total blindness in both. This tragedy didn’t appear…
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Harry Truman Visits Reading On This Day 1948
Read more: Harry Truman Visits Reading On This Day 1948On October 7th, 1948 President Harry S. Truman made a campaign stop in Reading where he addressed a crowd of roughly 20,000 on Penn Square at 10:45am. He spoke from a platform which was erected on the southeast corner of 5th & Penn. The city was already decorated in celebration of Reading’s Bicentennial anniversary, and…
