Category: Industry
-
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…
-
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…
-
Rosedale Knitting Mill
Read more: Rosedale Knitting MillRosedale Knitting Mill was once Berks County’s third largest knitting mill, behind Berkshire and Textile. It was opened in 1914 as a manufacturer of men and women’s stockings by a man named William C. Bitting. By 1921, Rosedale employed nearly 3,000 people who settled close to the site of operations within areas that eventually became Laureldale…
-
Schmeck’s Food Market
Read more: Schmeck’s Food MarketSchmeck’s was a Pennside food market at the corner of Carsonia and Harvey Avenues. In December of 1970, owner Donald Schmeck sold his market to Earl Redner, founder of Redner’s food stores. He operated it as an IGA grocery store for some time before changing the name to the standard “Redner’s”. Today it is still…
-
Linette Candies
Read more: Linette CandiesLinette Candies is a local chocolate candy company especially known for their “Betcha Life” candy bars. They used to be located at the building shown below at 105 Washington Street in Reading. At some point they moved to a larger location in Womelsdorf. According to yellowpages.com; Linette Quality Chocolates was founded in 1927 as a…
-
Sunshine Brewing Company
Read more: Sunshine Brewing CompanyThe origins of Sunshine Brewing Company can be traced to Peter Barbey & Son Brewing which was established in 1880 at West Elm and Gordon Streets in Reading. Peter Barbey, who started his first brewing company in 1859, died in 1889, leaving the his son John at the helm of their joint venture. In 1933…
-
Reading Brewing Company
Read more: Reading Brewing CompanyReading Brewing Company was founded by Philip Bessinger in 1886 in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was located at 9th & Laurel Streets. It brewed and canned various beers during its existence. Old Reading Beer and Reading Premium Beer were amongst the most popular. Reading produced a Pennsylvania Dutch Lager at a volume of 1,200 barrels a…
-
Berkshire Knitting Mills
Read more: Berkshire Knitting MillsIn 1892, “Textile Machine Works” was founded by Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen on Cedar Street in Reading. In 1896 they accepted an offer to relocate to Wyomissing, where they were sold a site for $1, in hopes their industry would spur interest in building lots. In 1899 they incorporated as the “Reading Glove and…
-
Then & Now, 700 Lancaster Ave
Tom Sturgis PretzelsRead more: Then & Now, 700 Lancaster AveOne of the local favorites, Tom Sturgis Pretzels used to be located at 700 Lancaster Ave. They moved to their current location at 2267 Lancaster Pike in 1970. Photo courtesy of Tom Sturgis Pretzels
Tom Sturgis Pretzels -
Did you Boscov today?
Read more: Did you Boscov today?Hey guys, it’s April, and you know what that means…
