Category: Reading
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3rd & Washington Street – On this Day 1970
Read more: 3rd & Washington Street – On this Day 1970The empty stalls tell the story. When parking meters were in use on the 3rd and Washington streets parking lot, this 9:30am scene would have been different, with all the spaces occupied. Today marked the first time the new ticket system, similar to that used at Franklin Plaza, was in use. The higher cost that…
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Temple Oheb Sholom Explosion – On this Day 1969
Read more: Temple Oheb Sholom Explosion – On this Day 1969On Saturday night, May 24th 1969 someone detonated a small bomb behind the Temple Oheb Sholom on Perkiomen avenue in Reading. Windows were shattered all along the 200 block of South 13th Street, and the exact spot of detonation was quickly determined to be right behind the synagogue. The bomb went off at the very…
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The Haag Hag – Mt. Penn’s Mysterious Maiden
Read more: The Haag Hag – Mt. Penn’s Mysterious MaidenIt was once a beautiful mountain resort nestled atop Mount Penn, right off of Hill Road. In the late 1800’s when the popularity of the Gravity Railroad was in full swing, Sphuler’s Hotel was a very popular winery and also served as lodging for those who needed a place to stay. It was just one…
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503 Penn Street
Read more: 503 Penn StreetThe building located at 503 Penn Street in its footprint dates back to the 1700s 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…
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C.K. Whitner’s Department Store
Read more: C.K. Whitner’s Department StoreOn December 2nd 1980 management announced that the 103 year old C.K. Whitner’s Department store located on the 400 block of Penn Street would be shuttering permanently in January of 1981. Declining foot traffic downtown was cited as the reason why the business was no longer having success in that location. At this time Whitner’s…
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West Shore Bypass New Exchanges – 1963
Read more: West Shore Bypass New Exchanges – 1963On this day in the Reading Eagle – 1963 Traffic is rolling over the newly opened West Shore Bypass. Several motorists commented on the time saved in using the new road. One reported reaching the center of Reading from the bypass junction at the Philadelphia Pike in seven minutes, a saving of about 13 minutes.…
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On this Day – Dec 1st 1984
Read more: On this Day – Dec 1st 1984A fire rips through the building at 527 Penn Street destroying a photography studio on the upper floors which caved into Ciao Restaurant, a pizza shop, on the main level.
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Santa Lands a Helicopter in City Park – On this day in 1955
Read more: Santa Lands a Helicopter in City Park – On this day in 1955Happy Thanksgiving Berks Nostalgiacs! The holiday season is here, so here is a peek back to that time that Santa Claus flew a helicopter and landed it at City Park in Reading. It happened on this day, November 25th, 1955. Two little girls served as a reception committee for Santa Claus after he landed his…
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Reading’s Christmas Balloon Parade – On this day in 1953
Read more: Reading’s Christmas Balloon Parade – On this day in 1953On this day, November 21st, 1953, over 50,000 gathered to watch the first ever Christmas balloon parade make its way down Penn Street in Reading. Public transportation was swamped, and it was reported that adults and children walked from as far as Wyomissing to see the spectacle. The upper photo shows what City Park looked…
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Warren Street Bypass | 1959 and Today
Read more: Warren Street Bypass | 1959 and TodayBefore the Reading Motor Inn, or Berkshire Mall, there was sprawling farmland and a highway system that was still being integrated into the rural roads of Spring Township. On this day in 1959 the Warren Street Bypass reopened after the construction depicted below closed the roadway for an extended period. The bridge branching off from…
