In the early 1920s there was no easy way to get to Reading proper from the east; the direction of metropolitan Philadelphia. Traffic generally came through rural Exeter Township, into Mount Penn, and down the two lane Perkiomen Avenue. By 1925 with the increasing availability of the automobile it was clear that the small residential road was becoming dangerously overrun with traffic.… Read Full Article
Have you heard of his name? 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, Pennsylvania you have likely heard the legends, but what is his truth?… Read Full Article
Spring has sprung, everything is coming back to life and in my opinion it is the most wonderful time of year. I went to visit Centre Park Historic District to capture some of what I find to be the most beautiful residential architecture within the city limits.
Some of the most prominent mansions on Centre Ave date back to the 1870s, when the industrialists of that time were the first to build their estates on land then considered to be country.… Read Full Article
Despite being less than two miles away at the Shillington Farmers Market when the explosion occurred; I felt and heard nothing. It wasn’t until I got home after 5:00 that I found out the way I assume the majority of you did; from social media. Particularly an update at the top of my Facebook feed which was trending from Fire Alerts of Berks County.… Read Full Article
In 1846 Charles Evans donated the first 25 acres that became the cemetery. His goal was to create a nonsecular place of rest for Reading’s citizens that was removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. The site sits one mile north of Reading’s city center, which was in the mid-19th century safely rural land.
In the 177 years since Charles’ first donation, the cemetery added 94 more acres and has interred 62,000 bodies.… Read Full Article