Joseph John Wiater – Reading’s Untamable Boy

Foreward
As usual, subject matter seems to find me. I was searching for information on Green Hills Theater; a popular destination on Route 10 to see theatrical performances in the mid-20th century. Look for that article sometime in the future. However, during the course of research, I found the curious case of Joseph John Wiater, a very tenacious boy turned convict from Reading.… Read Full Article

John Updike’s Childhood Home

On Saturday September 10th I had the pleasure of visiting John Updike’s childhood home at 117 Philadelphia Avenue in Shillington. John lived here from his birth in 1932 until he was 13 years old. It is widely known that Shillington and the city of Reading were the inspirational foundation behind many of his stories and novels.

His most famous 4-part “Rabbit” novel series was set around a character living in Reading; though the locations were renamed in the book.… Read Full Article

Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway Plaque Dedication

On Saturday May 21st, 2022, a plaque commemorating the Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway was ceremonially dedicated to the drivers who lost their lives there.

The brainchild of Jeff Hartman, Saturday’s event has been over a decade in the making, with a few bumps along the way. He originally pursued the idea back in 2010, when he approached the PA Historical Marker Commission about placing a marker somewhere on the grounds of the Fairgrounds Square Mall.… Read Full Article

Berks Nostalgia