Category: Reading
-
Moore’s Diner & Queen City
Read more: Moore’s Diner & Queen CityIn the 1930’s and ’40s, Walter J. “Bill” Moore operated Moore’s Restaurant chain in Reading. He opened the first location in 1937 at the present site of Reading’s post office. The post office was constructed only two years later in 1939, in which he moved to 421 Penn Street. In addition to the 421 Penn…
-
Triangle Factory Outlets
Read more: Triangle Factory OutletsThis interestingly shaped building is located at 1010 N. 9th Street, right where 8th and 9th streets split on the north end of the city. At one point it apparently held outlet stores. This was likely due to the close two block-proximity to the Reading Outlet Center, which has long been abandoned, but is currently…
-
Spring Street Subway
Read more: Spring Street SubwayIn 1909, the city leaders celebrated with much fanfare the opening of the Spring Street Subway, a rail bridge that eliminated a dangerous Reading Railroad crossing – first for pedestrians and later for cars. The Reading Railroad was well established in the area before city engineers considered building the subway. So to construct it, crews…
-
On this Day: October 20th, 1973
Read more: On this Day: October 20th, 1973Reading’s 7th Street isn’t really a street, it’s railroad tracks. And these railroad tracks will cut through the purposed Penn Mall. Edward Sulzberger, the proposed mall developer, has said he would prefer the tracks not be there but can live with them. Meanwhile, other redevelopment officials feel the tracks may become an asset in the…
-
Ritz Theatre
Read more: Ritz TheatreThe Ritz Theatre was located at 819 Penn Street, across from the Kissinger-Farmer’s Market. It was originally called the Crescent Theatre when it opened: The Crescent Theatre was opened in 1910. In 1913 it was renamed Princess Theatre. It was re-named Arcadia Theatre in 1928, taking the name of the Arcadia Theatre which had burnt…
-
Farmers-Kissinger Market
Read more: Farmers-Kissinger MarketThe Farmers-Kissinger Market sat on the 800 block of Penn Street, taking up the entire block to Cherry St in Reading. It was opened around Memorial day of 1871. In 1930, they opened a law suit against the city of Reading, due to a dispute about the market building a driveway across the sidewalk of…
-
Court Street 1940s
Read more: Court Street 1940sThis view from the 1940s, looking east up Court Street in Reading. Pictured to the left is the Courthouse, notice the lights were lit atop the building. In fall 2012, the lights were discontinued due to the rising cost of operations and other factors. There are currently efforts to get the lights relit to their former glory.…
-
Northmont School
Read more: Northmont SchoolThe Northmont School was built in 1922 and opened for Reading School District’s 1923-24 school year with six grades in each of its six classrooms. Kindergarten was added for the 1929-30 year but discontinued after 1935. In 1955 the Reading School District discontinued use of the building, but leased the building to Muhlenberg Township for…
-
Chubby’s on Penn St 1969
Read more: Chubby’s on Penn St 1969At 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:
-
Reading’s Outer Station and Swinging Bridge
Read more: Reading’s Outer Station and Swinging BridgeReading’s Outer Station Reading’s Outer Station was opened in 1874 on 6th street between Buttonwood and Greenwich streets. Previously the city’s passenger station was a small waiting and room and ticket office on the northwest corner of 7th & Franklin Street. The Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad was the veins of the newly budding industrial city,…
