Category: Nostalgia
-
The Shamrock Serenade – Reading’s St. Patrick’s Day Tradition
Read more: The Shamrock Serenade – Reading’s St. Patrick’s Day TraditionIt is Reading’s Saint Patrick’s Day tradition that dates back to a pact made between two men, Tom Hannahoe and Alvah Schaeffer, in 1893 at an Irish bar called The Stars and Stripes Saloon on South 11th Street. Nearly 130 years later this midnight tradition continues at Hannahoe’s grave in St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery,…
-
Miller’s Ice Cream, Candy & 5 – 10 – 1.00 Stores
Read more: Miller’s Ice Cream, Candy & 5 – 10 – 1.00 StoresMiller’s is an establishment that has eluded me for the entirety of my six-year “career” chronicling beloved places of the past in Berks County. I came to know of the name through my Mother telling me of her own memories at the Miller’s Drive-In which was located in Sinking Spring at 4700 Penn Avenue. Today…
-
Showbiz Pizza Place & Major Magic
Read more: Showbiz Pizza Place & Major MagicShowbiz Pizza Place incorporated in 1980 and entered the Berks County market in 1982. Its location was in Muhlenberg Plaza on the northern Belleview Avenue side. Showbiz Pizza featured an entertaining cast of animatronic characters including Billy Bob Brockali, Looney Bird, Fatz Geronimo and Mitzi Mozzarella. This main stage animatronic show was called “The Rock-afire…
-
Memorial Day Weekend – On this Day
Read more: Memorial Day Weekend – On this DayIn 1960, Fleetwood dedicates its new swimming pool In 1960, a drunk driver causes a fatal accident in the parking lot of the Sante Fe Inn Restaurant on route 422 in Exeter Township In 1961, pile in the trunk – its time to see a flick at the Drive-Ins In 1960, Armed Forces Day Parade…
-
“Stoneman Willie”: A Search for the Truth
Read more: “Stoneman Willie”: A Search for the TruthHave you heard of the name Stoneman Willie? Have you lurked at the front entrance of Auman’s Funeral Home, working up the courage to ring the bell and ask for a peek? Are you a part of the exclusive club who have actually seen him? If you are or ever were local to Berks County,…
-
On this Day, March 13th, 1993 – “The Storm of the Century”
Read more: On this Day, March 13th, 1993 – “The Storm of the Century”30 Years has passed since the Blizzard of 1993. It was initially described as “The Storm of the Century“, but only three years later the Blizzard of 1996 hit which easily topped this storm for that title. Late on the night of Friday, March 12th, 1993 the storm hit Berks County. In the days before…
-
V&S Sandwich Shop Holdup – On this day 1969
Read more: V&S Sandwich Shop Holdup – On this day 1969This is the V & S Sandwich Shop in the Antietam Valley Shopping Center, where a woman bandit got away with $545 in a daring late Saturday afternoon holdup. – Eagle Photo
-
John Updike’s Childhood Home
Read more: John Updike’s Childhood HomeOn 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…
-
Linette Candy Tin – Mystery Monday
Read more: Linette Candy Tin – Mystery MondayHappy Labor Day! A viewer found my blog and wrote me asking if I wanted this Linette Candy tin and was nice enough to mail it to me. I am unsure of its purpose or exact time of origin. A google search yields that there are plenty of these out circulating, but with quite a…
-
Mineral Springs Hotel
Read more: Mineral Springs HotelThe structure known as the Mineral Springs Hotel was built around 1815 as a “woolen factory” or a textile mill. That venture failed within the first three years. It was turned into a privately owned hotel, restaurant and resort in 1818 which it would remain for the better part of two centuries. The Reading Water…