Category: architecture
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C.K. Whitner’s Department Store
Read more: C.K. Whitner’s Department StoreOn December 2nd 1980 management announced that the 103 year old C.K. Whitner’s Department store located on the 400 block of Penn Street would be shuttering permanently in January of 1981. Declining foot traffic downtown was cited as the reason why the business was no longer having success in that location. At this time Whitner’s…
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5th & Penn – 1962
Read more: 5th & Penn – 1962FLASHBACK FRIDAY: The traffic circle in the center of Reading as pictured in 1962; notice WEEU on the north side of the 400 block.
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The Trexler Mansion / Reading Elks Lodge 115
Read more: The Trexler Mansion / Reading Elks Lodge 115The mansion that sits at 5th and Franklin streets was built in 1869 by a man named Horatio Trexler. He used the home as a private residence for his family until his death on March 19, 1900 at 87 years of age. After his passing his two surviving children, daughters Mary Ann Eckert and Emma…
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The Luden Family & the Ghost of Bon Air
Read more: The Luden Family & the Ghost of Bon AirLast summer I wrote an extensive article on Central Catholic High School as a part of a greater “Defunct Schools of Berks” series. It has been a decade since the merger of Central Catholic and Holy Name into Berks Catholic. So it is time to dive into some tangible research to answer a few of…
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On this Day – February 21st 1977
Read more: On this Day – February 21st 1977100 Block of Penn Street is Demolished Buildings along the north side of the 100 block of Penn Street, next to the Penn Street Bridge, are being demolished. The properties are being razed by Fred E. Erb, Pequea, Lancaster County, under a contract with the Reading Redevelopment Authority (RRA). The area is part of the…
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Wyomissing Post Office Explodes – On this Day 1979
Read more: Wyomissing Post Office Explodes – On this Day 1979At about 9:50 p.m. on Tuesday February 20th 1979 a gas leak caused the Wyomissing post office to explode. UGI workers were searching for the leak at the time, and luckily no workers were present in the building when the incident occurred. One witness said he had just dropped a letter in the mailbox out…
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Pagoda Lion Heads – On this Day | Oct 8th 1971
Read more: Pagoda Lion Heads – On this Day | Oct 8th 1971Pagoda’s Lion Heads Removed & Replaced In Oct 1971 the 20 original stone lion and dragon heads were removed from the roof of the Pagoda. They sat at the corner of each point of the roof partially to ward off evil but mainly to protect each corner where tile could not be fastened. There are…
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Fleetwood Fire Company – Then & Now
Read more: Fleetwood Fire Company – Then & NowThe building pictured above at Franklin and Washington Streets in Fleetwood in 1966 served as the Fleetwood Fire Company’s station and social quarters since it was erected in 1928. It was built at the cost of $65,000. The auditorium was used as a theatre, at least in the 60s and showed films for the community.…
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Muhlenberg Greene Architects – 100 Years
Read more: Muhlenberg Greene Architects – 100 YearsForwardMuhlenberg Greene Architects, Ltd. was founded in 1920 by Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg II. Since 1920 they have been responsible for designing some of the most well-known buildings in Berks County. Happy 100 years, MGA, this article is dedicated to your legacy. Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg II Frederick A. “Fred” Muhlenberg II was born in Reading on…
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6th & Penn Street Reading
Read more: 6th & Penn Street ReadingPictured above is 6th & Penn Streets in 1949. On the immediate right is Pomeroy’s Department Store. A block north in the background is the Berks County Court House. All of the buildings between the photographer and the Court house were razed in the 1970s as a part of downtown Reading’s revitalization efforts. Can you…
