Category: Americana
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Zeswitz – 812 Penn Street
Read more: Zeswitz – 812 Penn StreetZeswitz is a music store that most Berks Countians recognize, but some of you may remember when one of the locations was in downtown Reading on the 800 block of Penn Street. Zeswitz was founded in 1923 by Philadelphia native William “Bill” Zeswitz Sr. According to Zeswitz’s website he was, “master luthier and maker of…
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Jake’s Sandwich Shop – Mt. Penn – Then & Now
Read more: Jake’s Sandwich Shop – Mt. Penn – Then & NowJake’s was opened in 1946 and sits at 232 Carsonia Avenue in Mt. Penn. It will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The establishment was opened by Jake Meyers at its original location on Perkiomen Avenue. By the 1960s it was located in its current spot on Carsonia. The menu started out with burgers,…
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On this Day – Feb 7th 1967 – Blizzard Staggers Berks
Read more: On this Day – Feb 7th 1967 – Blizzard Staggers Berks16 inches of snow dumps on Berks, closing schools across the county. Lets see a movie…
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Bowl-O-Rama
Read more: Bowl-O-RamaBowl-O-Rama opened its doors in 1957; a dream of its five shareholders who bought the land and built the alley on Perkiomen Avenue in Exeter Township. It was home to local bowling leagues, social events and gatherings over the years. There was a bar and grille in the establishment as well as 40 bowling lanes.…
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Looking to 2021
Read more: Looking to 2021We have made it to the end of 2020, though not without great turmoil. People, businesses, places and experiences have all been casualties of the year whose days and weeks stretched seemingly into decades. New Year is generally a time for reflection and introspection. 2021 looks promising, and for myself personally the beginning of a…
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Marvel Ranch – Then & Now
Read more: Marvel Ranch – Then & NowMarvel Ranch is a restaurant located on the northwest corner of 4th & Penn Street in Reading. It opened in 1959 as a breakfast and lunch joint where many Berks natives have enjoyed a hot meal for the past 60 years. The establishment has changed hands over the course of its existence, but the mantra…
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Meckley’s Hat Shop
Read more: Meckley’s Hat ShopIf you ever visited Sinking Spring to purchase a hat from Meckley’s Hat Shop, you may have been acquainted with my great-grandfather, Ernest Meckley. He grew up in Fritztown and his career began in 1938 at Bollman Hat Factory in Adamstown. Ernie’s career with hats didn’t begin in retail but the manufacturing of the product.…
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Wilbur “Lefty” Reeser –
Sports Star to Sporting GoodsRead more: Wilbur “Lefty” Reeser –Wilbur “Lefty” Reeser was born on June 28th 1918 in West Lawn to Herbert and Mary Reeser. Judging from Lefty’s senior yearbook excerpt below, he was an all-around athlete during his adolescence. During his senior year at Wilson he led Berks County in boys basketball scoring and also took the Prexies baseball team to the…
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Distelfink Freeze – Rigg’s Drive-In
Read more: Distelfink Freeze – Rigg’s Drive-InDistelfink Freeze aka Rigg’s Drive In was another 1950s and 60s refreshment establishment and was located near Fleetwood. It was located on route 222 roughly 2 miles southwest of Kutztown. It was located along route 222 near the old Lincoln Tavern in part of the area torn down to make room for the Kutztown exit…
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Mary’s Dog House Luncheonette
Read more: Mary’s Dog House LuncheonetteMary’s Dog House Luncheonette was a food establishment in St. Lawrence. Some of the favorite menu items were the hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, steak sandwiches, Bar-B-Cue and of course milk shakes. It was open between 11 a.m. and midnight seven days a week. It was located along Boyertown Road. Looking at the photos, it…
