Category: 1950s
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Socialist Park in Sinking Spring
Read more: Socialist Park in Sinking SpringSocialist Park, now known as Willow Glen Park, was created in 1929, under socialist Reading Mayor, J. Henry Stump. In it’s heyday, it boasted a dance hall, and a roller-skating rink. Today, the park hosts large local events, including the Apple Dumpling Festival in June, Berks Celtic Fest in July, and Shocktoberfest, a halloween scare…
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100 block Penn Ave: Before the Bypass
Read more: 100 block Penn Ave: Before the BypassWe all have driven on route 422…the stretch of highway that runs past Reading and along the Schuylkill River down to Pottstown. This stretch of road did not always exist. In fact it wasn’t until the 1960s that US 422 in the Reading area was rerouted from surface streets through downtown Reading onto bypasses built south…
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Miss Shillington – 1958
Read more: Miss Shillington – 1958Came across this image of Miss Shillington and Miss Greater Reading standing next to an antique car. The image is from 1958, and taken in the parking lot of the Shillington Shopping Center. It appears to be some sort of antique car show going on in the parking lot. If you have any more information…
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Trolley Tuesday
Reading Trolley LinesRead more: Trolley TuesdayTrolley car was a popular means of travel starting in the late 1800s when they were introduced. Fairs were reasonably priced for the working families, and for the first time they could easily and quickly get to other parts of the city. This form of transportation became particularly popular when places like Carsonia Park were…
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West Reading Hotel
Read more: West Reading HotelThe West Reading Hotel was built in 1819 on land originally owned by John and William Penn. For 145 years in was a meeting place and social scene for locals and travelers. It stood at 527 Penn Avenue until July of 1964, when it closed its doors for good. A development firm demolished the hotel…
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Danny’s Den and the Berks County Record…
Read more: Danny’s Den and the Berks County Record…I was sent this image a few months ago by a reader. The picture/content is interesting in itself, a relic of the 50s. However I noticed that it wasn’t from the standard Reading Eagle. It looks like there was some sort of weekly paper called the Berks County Record? It was formerly called the Reading…
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Schell’s Mini-Golf, Restaurant and Dairy Swirl
Read more: Schell’s Mini-Golf, Restaurant and Dairy SwirlNothing says summertime like a trip to Schell’s for some minigolf and ice cream at the Dairy Swirl. Schell’s has been a landmark on 5th Street Highway in Muhlenberg Township since 1952. The Mini-golf course opened in 1953, and was made larger in 1969. Many generations of Berks Countians have enjoyed summer evenings at this…
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Blankenbiller’s Diner
Read more: Blankenbiller’s DinerBlankenbiller’s Diner sat on the corner of Lancaster Ave and Museum Road in Shillington, across from the Shillington Diner. Currently, a Wallgreen’s and Wine Spirits store strip mall sit in it’s place. For many years, this space was occupied by a Blockbuster Video store, CVS and Your Place restaurant and bar. I do not know…
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Sinking Spring Railroad Station
Read more: Sinking Spring Railroad StationThe Sinking Spring Station served as a major pedestrian stop for many decades. My grandmother, who grew up on Columbia Ave in the 40s and 50s has fond memories of catching trains to Hershey or into the city. By the 70s the Station house was in disrepair. Eventually the Sinking Spring Historical Society moved the…
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The Bellevue Diner
Read more: The Bellevue DinerThe Bellevue Diner was located on route 222 and Bellevue Ave, in Muhlenberg, 3 miles north of Reading.
