Category: Industry
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Be a Berks Billionaire – The 1984 Berks County Monopoly Board Game
Read more: Be a Berks Billionaire – The 1984 Berks County Monopoly Board GameBe a Berks Billionaire is a fairly rare board game developed by a citizen of Berk’s County; Joan C. Zintak of Wyomissing. The game was developed and sold in 1984. It was originally intended to have a print run of 5000 games. There was some competitive drama surrounding the game as apparently an organization called…
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A 100 Year Review of Berks – Happy New Year 2020!
Read more: A 100 Year Review of Berks – Happy New Year 2020!Happy New Year Berks County! Not only is it a new year but also the beginning of a new decade. As we leave behind the 2010s, let’s look back on the beginning of the last 10 decades, and some of the events that we experienced together as a community during them. The past is important…
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On this day Nov 18th, 1959
Read more: On this day Nov 18th, 1959Future site of Western Electric purchased in Muhlenberg Township TV Stereo Advertisement from Pomeroys Dance to your favorite records plated on the 4-speed automatic record changer or simple add the space-saving stereo amplifier unit and enjoy life-like realism of stereophonic sound. Or just relax and enjoy this big-screen TV. Yours now for the first time…
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General Battery and Ceramic Corp
Read more: General Battery and Ceramic CorpThe roots of General Battery can be traced to 1921, when Bowers Battery & Spark Plug Co. was founded in Reading by Clarence P. Bowers. Bowers sold it in 1956 and it was renamed General Battery and Ceramic. Source General Battery was bought by Exide in 1987. Exide operated a lead smelter and recycled lead…
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Reading Rug Company – Lancaster Ave
Read more: Reading Rug Company – Lancaster AveReading Rug Co, pictured in 1961, was located on Lancaster Ave. As far as I can tell Reading Rug Co no longer exists, though it at the time boasted it was one of the most outstanding carpet specialist in the United States. I’m not sure of it’s exact location, but it appears it could be…
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On this Day – Reading Pattern Works Fire 1964
Read more: On this Day – Reading Pattern Works Fire 1964The Reading Pattern Works was a factory that made parts for the railroad, and was located at 715 Clinton Street. On October 27th, 1964 it suffered a fire. Today, the Pattern Works building is home to Reading Art Works, and is used as an event space.
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Metropolitan Edison Company – Eyler station
Read more: Metropolitan Edison Company – Eyler stationEyler station was coal fired then converted to oil. But the oil crisis in the 70’s made it too expensive to run so it was subsequently torn down in the late 70’s. Metropolitan Edison Building is a historic office building located at Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1926-1927, and is a 12-story, “L”-shaped, steel frame building…
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Red Building – Textile Knitting Mill / Vanity Fair
Read more: Red Building – Textile Knitting Mill / Vanity FairThe old red building was just demolished the other day, to make room for parking for what will be UGI’s new headquarters. Now is as good a time as any to take a look at it’s history, which encompasses over 100 years of use. What we currently know as the “Red Building” was the very…
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Glen Gery Brick Plant – Wyomissing
Read more: Glen Gery Brick Plant – WyomissingThe company’s unassuming origins can be traced back to Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1890, during the height of the Industrial Revolution when new construction was abound. A local businessman, Albert A. Gery, nicknamed AA, decided to try his hand at making fire brick. With financing from his father-in-law, Mathan Harbster, a prominent hardware merchant, Gery purchased…
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Berks County Christmas – Day 18 – Remnants of Toyland
Read more: Berks County Christmas – Day 18 – Remnants of ToylandThe 5’6″ Santa below stood in Pomeroy’s famous 6th floor “Toyland”.Do you remember this Santa from your visits to Toyland as a child? Apparently some Berks County resident inherited the Santa, and was curious on what it was worth, but needs proof that it indeed was from Pomeroy’s Toyland. You can read the dialog from…