Category: 1970s

  • On this Day – August 24th, 1970

    Executives of C.K. Whitner Co. hold the doors open for early-bird shoppers as Whitner’s new store in the Berkshire Mall formally opened today. The men are, left to right, James B. Mercer, vice president, F. Ward Coburn, treasurer, and Calvin K. Whitner, secretary.   (Left) The progress of contruction of a relocated and wider Lancaster…

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  • Solar Eclipse – February 26th, 1979

    As we gear up for Eclipse day, lets take a look back to the last Solar eclipse that was viewable from Berks County. It occurred on Monday, February 26th, 1979. Moon coverage began at 10:57 am, with peak coverage being around 12:13pm. Where were you during the solar eclipse of 1979? Before and after the…

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  • Fleetwood Centennial Celebration August 1973

    Fleetwood Centennial Celebration Fleetwood was founded in 1873, and celebrated it’s first 100 years which a week’s worth of festivities between August 19th to 26th, 1973. They held a large parade down Main Street, Fleetwood. The video above shows a great deal of that very parade. The welcome sign pictured below, pays homage to Fleetwood’s…

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  • On this Day – August 17th, 1976

    Above the fold in the August 17th, 1976 Reading Eagle Local girl is crowned bowling champion.. Issues arise with city development… Kutztown Fair kicks off… Microwaving…the next big thing?

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  • Fifth and Penn Reading

    Below are various images of the southeast corner of Fifth and Penn Streets in downtown Reading. The southeast corner of Fifth and Penn, previously the site of Reading’s well-known Mansion House, as it appeared in the 1940s. On April 3rd, 1977 the building housed a McDonalds when a fire broke out around 10:30pm. Famous Maid…

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  • Orange Car – Produce

    The Orange Car was a fresh fruit and produce business along the Schuylkill River waterfront in Reading PA. Specifically it was located at 30 N. Front Street, at the intersection of Front and Washington. It was right down from Stichter Hardware and Schindlebeck’s Coal Yard. All kinds of fresh fruit and produce were brought here…

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  • Reading Railroad – Sinking Spring – 1972

    Below are a few pictures of the main Reading Railroad line tracks that follow 422 out West, in Sinking Spring. These images were taken at the Woodrow Avenue crossing. Notice the old Sinking Spring school building in the background. Also the old station building before it’s restoration in the last image. FM Brown’s Sons (image…

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  • Linette Candies

    Linette Candies is a local chocolate candy company especially known for their “Betcha Life” candy bars. They used to be located at the building shown below at 105 Washington Street in Reading. At some point they moved to a larger location in Womelsdorf. According to yellowpages.com; Linette Quality Chocolates was founded in 1927 as a…

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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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  • On this Day… July 12th, 1973

    Above the fold in the July 12th, 1973 Reading Eagle   The Warren Street bypass begins to change as the Berkshire Mall begins to garner more traffic. The 4-lane State Hill Road bridge was replaced with a new structure that would carry 6 lanes, which we still use today. (click image to expand) Berks County…

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