Category: Culture
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Nichols Discount City
Read more: Nichols Discount CityNichols Discount City had three locations in Berks, one being located at 3001 St. Lawrence Ave, one on 5th Street in Muhlenberg and another in Shillington on Lancaster Ave. They are credited with being one of the first major “Drug Stores” in the mid-Atlantic, with having over 40 stores at one point in the region. If…
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The Strand Theatre – 9th & Spring St.
Read more: The Strand Theatre – 9th & Spring St.Located at the corner of NE 9th Street & Spring Street. The Strand Theatre was opened February 21, 1920. By 1941 it was owned and operated by Goldman Theatres of Philadelphia. It was a fairly large theatre with a balcony, and had a huge wrap-around neon lit marquee. For years it was a neighborhood double…
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On this Day… Feb 14th, 1970s
Read more: On this Day… Feb 14th, 1970sHappy Valentines Day! Lets take a look at past Reading Eagle’s to see if love was in the air in Berks in the 70s. If you recognize any of the faces in this article, comment! 1972: Valentine’s Day is extra special this year for Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Wendling of 111 2nd St., Shillington.…
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Sights of North Side Penn Street in the 1940s
Read more: Sights of North Side Penn Street in the 1940sPenn Street – North Side – 400 Block….1940s…Reading: We look to the Northeast corner to the landmark Saylor food business stand. In the foreground is car 809 as it appeared in 1947, end-of-the-line year for city trolleys. Looking to the background is an imposing grey-stone structure built as Reading Girls’ High School. At this juncture,…
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Franklin Street Station
Read more: Franklin Street StationThe Franklin Street Station served the railroad from 1930 until 1981 when SEPTA diesel service ceased operations. From 1981 until 2013, the building sat vacant until BARTA acquired and refurbished the building for bus services. The plan was to alleviate overcrowded services at the BARTA Transportation Center located about a block away. –Wikipedia Barta refurbished the building, but it…
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600 Block Penn Street, North Side 1941
Read more: 600 Block Penn Street, North Side 1941Penn Street….600 Block, north side…..READING: – Taken Around 1941, we see parts of 653 to 665 Penn. Faintly and partly visible on the extreme left is Lowe’s Theatre. Hardly visible next door is Robette Hats at 661- Followed by Sterns at 663 and Carlson Hats and Shoes at 665. Notice the railroad gate on the…
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Berks County Christmas – Day 25- 1969 Christmas Day Snowstorm
Read more: Berks County Christmas – Day 25- 1969 Christmas Day SnowstormMerry Christmas Berks County!!! In 1969 there was a “White Christmas” in Berks County! Do you remember? We had over a foot of snow! All images courtesy of the Reading Eagle. Who Said There Was a Downtown Traffic Problem? A traffic light continues to carry out its duties despite the lack of vehicles as one…
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Berks County Christmas – Day 24 – Blinking Pagoda
Read more: Berks County Christmas – Day 24 – Blinking PagodaMerry Christmas Eve! When I was a child, I was always told to look to the Pagoda on Christmas Eve, and when it blinked, Santa was spotted nearby. That marked bedtime on Christmas Eve for countless children over the decades. According to this WFMZ article, This Reading Eagle article goes a little into the history…
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Berks County Christmas – Day 22 – Railroad Travel
Read more: Berks County Christmas – Day 22 – Railroad TravelBefore planes were the main means of traveling during the holidays, many people took trains. If you traveled as a passenger on the Reading Railroad, it would have been in a car like the one pictured below: Did you ever use the railroads to travel for the holidays?
