Category: Decades
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Spring Street Subway
Read more: Spring Street SubwayFor over a century the Spring Street Subway has stood as one of the city’s most controversial infrastructure landmarks. Built in 1909 to eliminate a deadly grade crossing where pedestrian traffic intersected with the bustling Reading Railroad yard; this landmark’s journey from concept to reality was defined by fierce public debate, scandal, lawsuits and a…
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The Dunkel Farm 416 Snyder Road
Read more: The Dunkel Farm 416 Snyder RoadThe land that makes up this historic Ontelaunee Township farm was purchased by Conrad Dunkel from Leonard Stein in 1790. Stein acquired this property directly from John Penn. Conrad then sold it to his brother Jacob in 1797. The home was constructed in three separate sections. The oldest, likely dating the 1790s, is a primitive…
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When the Bells of Revolution Rang out in Philadelphia, Berks County Answered
Read more: When the Bells of Revolution Rang out in Philadelphia, Berks County AnsweredOn July 4, 1776 fifty-six members the Continental Congress signed and adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. News traveled at the speed of horseback, and within four days the radical document was rushed northwest to the frontier town of Reading. It was delivered directly to the steps of the original 1761-built stone Berks County…
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Christ Episcopal Church – 200 years
Read more: Christ Episcopal Church – 200 yearsFor over 160 years the brownstone Cathedral of Christ Episcopal Church has towered 180 feet above the heart of Reading. The body of this church dates to 1763, when enough settlers decided they wanted a church for the english-speaking citizens of the city, who were far outnumbered by Germans. Local attorney James Read petitioned the…
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The Textile Inn, Birthplace of Wyomissing Borough
Read more: The Textile Inn, Birthplace of Wyomissing BoroughThere is more drama coming out of Wyomissing Borough this week, but this time it is not about the mall. On Tuesday May 12th, Wyomissing Borough Council voted 4-2 to approve a conditional use request for a development project at 915 Penn Avenue. Currently the property is a parking lot, but the owner wants to…
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Jacob Keim Homestead & the return of the Cherry Fair
Read more: Jacob Keim Homestead & the return of the Cherry FairA few weeks ago my friend Beth Glick took me on a tour of the Oley Valley, and we ended up stopping by the Keim Homestead near Lobachsville. It was our lucky day, because John Bixler of the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County was there getting the property ready for the Cherry Fair on…
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Mobil Station at the Berkshire Mall
Read more: Mobil Station at the Berkshire MallChances are you have noticed the long-abandoned garage at the corner of State Hill road and Woodland Avenue in front of the Berkshire Mall. You also may be wondering why a gas and service station couldn’t survive on such a prominent corner in Wyomissing. Spoiler alert; it wasn’t because they didn’t have business. The Mobil…
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5th and Penn Redevelopment
Read more: 5th and Penn RedevelopmentI have spent the better part of a year advocating for the long-awaited sale and redevelopment of the buildings on the northwest corner of 5th and Penn, that the City of Reading has sat on and let deteriorate for well over a decade. Finally, last month the city decided to sell the Farmers National Bank…
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George Boone IV Estate – 371 Old Tulpehocken Road
Read more: George Boone IV Estate – 371 Old Tulpehocken RoadThis property at 371 Old Tulpehocken Road has a three century old history. The oldest section of the house dates to about 1725, when George Boone IV built a small stone dwelling, summer kitchen and gristmill to settle lands that eventually would become parts of both Exeter and Amity Townships. George was the eldest brother…
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Reading’s First Natatorium – 134 N. 5th Street
Read more: Reading’s First Natatorium – 134 N. 5th StreetOn April 6th, 1904 it was announced in the Reading Times that William Luden had purchased a property at 134-136 North 5th street with the intention to construct a Natatorium. It would be Reading’s first indoor swimming pool, managed by the Fifth Street Swimming Club, which was formed for the endeavor with Luden as President.…
