Category: 1800s
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30 North 6th Street
Read more: 30 North 6th StreetThis past summer I explored another of Reading’s long abandoned industrial spaces; 30 North 6th Street – directly across from the Courthouse. The bones of this building’s front section likely date to the 1840s. In its very beginnings it was utilized as a residential dwelling. Deeds from 1860 and 1880 describe it as a two-story…
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The Hawthorne & George F. Baer
Read more: The Hawthorne & George F. BaerIn the shadow of the Pagoda, at 1501 Mineral Spring Road, sits the Hawthorne; mansion of the late George F. Baer. A statement to his influence, the Baer moniker still echos throughout Reading to present day. You may recognize it as the namesake of a park at the far northwest reaches of the city and…
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Old Rajah Temple | 525 Franklin Street
Read more: Old Rajah Temple | 525 Franklin StreetThe beginning of the local Rajah chapter dates to 1892 when the Berks County members of the Lulu Temple were tired of making the journey to Philadelphia to attend meetings. They decided to pursue a local charter with the national Rajah organization. In August of 1892 they were granted their charter and purchased the former…
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Adeline Baver – One of Berks County’s oldest Unsolved Murders
Read more: Adeline Baver – One of Berks County’s oldest Unsolved MurdersThe 1857 unsolved murder of Adeline Baver is one that has echoed through time in the area of Mohrsville, Berks County. Her gravestone stands in the old Belleman’s Church graveyard. Written in stone is: Adeline Baver, born 15th of May, 1838, and murdered on 7th of October, 1857. Many have attempted at retelling the tale…
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Fleetwood’s Hand Grave
Read more: Fleetwood’s Hand GraveA follower directed me to the small, bizarre “hand stone” that sits in Fleetwood Cemetery along Arch and Laurel Streets. The writing on the stone has worn away in the 140 years since it was inscribed. However, with a little digging I was able to crack the mystery of J. Monroe Kelchner’s hand grave. According…
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Liberty Fire Co | Reading Area Firefighters Museum | 5th & Laurel
Read more: Liberty Fire Co | Reading Area Firefighters Museum | 5th & LaurelThe Liberty Fire Company was established on January 21st, 1854 to protect the southern section of the City. At that first meeting the members voted to name it the “Wyomissing Fire Company”, but at the next week’s meeting they changed it to “Liberty”. The City of Reading quickly purchased the lot on the southeastern corner…
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The Morbid Reality that Census Records teach us about Childhood Mortality
Read more: The Morbid Reality that Census Records teach us about Childhood MortalityCensus records are one of many genealogical resources that I utilize to bring you full accounts of Berks County’s architectural history. They help me confirm who lived in any given residence, and also provide context into their age, familial makeup and employment. While browsing some of Reading’s 1900 census records recently I noticed two boxes…
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Berks County’s introduction to Electric Light
Read more: Berks County’s introduction to Electric LightRecently I posted a “then & now” photo comparison of 1601 Perkiomen Avenue in 1905 and today that went fairly viral on nearly every social platform. A viewer on tiktok wondered if electric poles would have been present at that time. It’s a valid question…we know Thomas Edison patented his incandescent light bulb in 1879,…
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History behind the charred remains of 113-117 North 5th Street
Read more: History behind the charred remains of 113-117 North 5th StreetIn the early morning hours of September 3rd a three-alarm fire ravaged the two buildings north of the old Berkshire Hotel at 113-117 North Fifth Street. The cause of this fire is still under investigation, but there are reports that people heard an explosion at the rear of the two structures just before it began.…
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Staufer Building – 62 S. 6th Street
Read more: Staufer Building – 62 S. 6th StreetThe Staufer Building at 62 South 6th Street was constructed in Romanesque-style in 1897 by William M. Staufer. A large portion of the upper floors were devoted to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, who utilized the space to house young unemployed women who needed safe accommodations. A November 17th, 1897 Reading Eagle article about the…
