Category: Industry

503 Penn Street

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The building located at 503 Penn Street in its footprint dates back to the 1800s and has hosted numerous business over the proceeding centuries. In 2016 this building was purchased by Weidenhammer Systems Corp and redeveloped by Muhlenberg Greene Architects.

In 1872 there was a fire which wiped out the entire north side 500 block of Penn Street. The fire originated in the Stichter’s Hardware Store building next door.… Read Full Article

C.K. Whitner’s Department Store

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After 103 years in business on Penn Square, the C.K. Whitner’s department store will close in January 1981. The board of directors issued a brief statement today saying the closing was “due to declining customer traffic in downtown Reading,” but would not affect the operation of the Whitner store in the Berkshire Mall, or its Fifth and Cherry Streets store. – Eagle Photo by James R.
… Read Full Article

Berks Beryllium Lands on Moon – On this day in 1969

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On November 14th 1969 the second crewed flight to the moon, known as Apollo 12, launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It successfully made contact with the moon on this day, November 19th 1969. When it landed, so did small but significant pieces from Berks County.

Berks Beryllium
Nov 19th 1969 Reading Eagle

A number of components on the lunar lander Intrepid were made from beryllium supplied by Kawecki-Berylco Industries, Inc.… Read Full Article

Ronco’s Pharmacy

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Ronco's Pharmacy
Penn Avenue location in West Lawn in 1975

Michael Ronco, RPh first opened his pharmacy in June of 1956. The original pharmacy was located at the corner of Dwight Street and Cleveland Avenue in West Lawn. In 1967, the pharmacy moved to 3311 Penn Avenue in West Lawn, where it remained for nearly half a century.

Michael retired from his pharmacy business in 2014, and passed away in 2015.… Read Full Article

BERKS NOSTALGIA