The Grand Hotel Fire – On this Day 1953

The Grand Hotel, on the northwest corner of Seventh and Franklin Streets, and the Weidner and Bucks magazine store on the right show no outward signs of a fire in which one man died, two others were sent to a hospital and $22,500 damage resulted early today. The fire was confined to the interior of the hotel in about the center of the structure, and to the roof and third floor of the magazine store.Read Full Article

Pomeroy’s Proposed Expansion – On this Day 1957

Pomeroy's expansion 1957

An architect’s drawing of the proposed $1,500,000 expansion and modernization project at Pomeroy’s, Inc., is shown in the top photo, while below inside the outlined area, are the five buildings which will be razed and the diner, at 6th and Cherry streets, which will be moved to make way for the new construction. (Eagle Staff Photo)

Pomeroy's expansion 1957

Pomeroy’s expansion planning and acquisition of the adjacent structures south of it on Sixth Street took roughly three years.… Read Full Article

Hurricane Agnes – Berks County’s Worst Natural Disaster

Hurricane Agnus - Reading PA 1972 - Schuykill River

50 Years Later –

Article originally published on June 22, 2017

Hurricane Agnes caused extreme damage to Berks County residences and businesses when it hit June, 22nd 1972. In Reading, the Schuylkill River crested to a record high of 31.3 feet. Hundreds of people were evacuated and over a hundred homes destroyed. By the time the storm ended on the 23rd about 8.6 inches of rain had fallen on Berks in only a little over 24 hours.… Read Full Article

503 Penn Street

The building located at 503 Penn Street in its footprint dates back to the 1800s and has hosted numerous businesses over the proceeding centuries. In 2016 this building was purchased by Weidenhammer Systems Corp and redeveloped by Muhlenberg Greene Architects.

In 1872 there was a fire which wiped out the entire north side 500 block of Penn Street. The fire originated in the Stichter’s Hardware Store building next door.… Read Full Article

Berks Nostalgia