Category: 1960s

  • Chubby’s on Penn St 1969

    At the far left is the well-known Jimmie Kramer’s “Peanut Bar”, at 332 Penn St, besides which is Chubby’s Italian Sandwiches, a business also once operated on Lancaster Pike, beyond Shillington. This view dates from April 1st, 1969. pictures courtesy of the Passing Scene Today:

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  • JFK Campaign Stop Berks | 1960

    John F. Kennedy (JFK) made a campaign stop in Berks County PA on September 16th, 1960. He was a presidential candidate at the time of the visit, and went on to win the presidency. JFK spoke the a huge crowd in Penn Square after making a parade all the way into town down Route 422.…

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  • Swinging Bridge to Reading’s Outer Station

    It was deemed the “Swinging Bridge” Built in 1874 by the same firm that designed the Brooklyn Bridge, Reading’s rail bridge was heavily used by pedestrians to get over the train yard to Reading’s Outer Station. According to this Reading Eagle article, The Outer Station, which stood off North Sixth Street, handled passenger and freight…

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  • Reading Hospital Garden Party

    The Reading Hospital Garden Party has been a staple event in June for over 80 years. Though, some might say it is not the event it once was. The purpose of the event is to raise money for a variety of medical causes. Did you ever attend this event? A look into the Garden Party of…

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  • The Reading Fair

    The Reading Fair had it’s first fair in 1854 at Penn’s Commons, in what is now City Park. It wasn’t until 1915 that the Fair was held at it’s most remembered location in Muhlenberg Township. They built a Horse Race Track and grandstands which were opened to the public in 1916. The fair was hugely successful,…

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  • West Reading High School

    West Reading High School

    The West Reading High School building was built in 1914 at the corner of 4th and Franklin Streets. It was the beginning of the secondary education for youth in the Borough of West Reading. It housed 7th-12th grades. In 1923 an addition to the original building was added to accommodate an expanding population. An auditorium,…

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  • Fleetwood Hill Climb

    The Fleetwood Hill Climb was an event that took place over 10 years from 1961 to 1971 on Labor Day weekend. Some of the best cars in the region came to partake in this race. Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course. This event was…

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  • Schell’s Mini-Golf, Restaurant and Dairy Swirl

    Nothing 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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  • Old Iron Bridge Connecting Wyomissing & West Lawn

    This iron bridge was on 422/Penn Ave connecting Wyomissing and West Lawn. It was built in 1926 and replaced an older, smaller iron pony-truss bridge. Only two “overhead bowstring bridges” like it are known to have survived in the state of Pennsylvania.* One ended up being placed on the Horseshoe Trail at Scarlets Mill in…

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  • Sinking Spring Station 1960

    Sinking Spring Railroad Station

    The 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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Berks Nostalgia