Category: Reading
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“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,…
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Centre Park Historic District
Read more: Centre Park Historic DistrictSpring 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…
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Charles Evans Cemetery
Read more: Charles Evans CemeteryIn 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…
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Joseph John Wiater – Reading’s Untamable Boy
Read more: Joseph John Wiater – Reading’s Untamable BoyForewardAs usual, subject matter seems to find me. I was searching for information on Green Hills Theater; a popular destination on Route 10 to see theatrical performances in the mid-20th century. Look for that article sometime in the future. However, during the course of research, I found the curious case of Joseph John Wiater, a…
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Witch’s Hat & Neversink Mountain Hotel
Read more: Witch’s Hat & Neversink Mountain HotelLike Mt. Penn, Neversink had its own railroad loop that started at South 9th street and wrapped all the way around the mountain to Klapperthal Junction. The other resorts on Neversink mountain were Centennial Springs Hotel, Glen Hotel, and the Highland house; which famously had the vertical rail known as “Ganser’s Incline” going from 13th…
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The Grand Hotel Fire – On this Day 1953
Read more: The Grand Hotel Fire – On this Day 1953The 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…
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Metropolitan Edison Co. Signed Removed – On this day in 1953
Read more: Metropolitan Edison Co. Signed Removed – On this day in 1953This dismantling operation which eliminated a skymark in Reading attracted the attention of hundreds of pedestrians this morning. Workmen took down the 50 letters which spelled out Metropolitan Edison Co. in northerly and southerly directions for many years. This is the second time the letters were taken down. But this time it’s permanent. The letters…
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George Field
Read more: George FieldReading High’s First Home Field George Field is located at 1801 North 5t Street. The land for this field was purchased by Reading High School’s Athletic Association on May 28th, 1909. The field was dedicated officially three days later on May 31st, 1909. At this time the Boys and Girls High Schools were separate entities,…
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Pomeroy’s Proposed Expansion – On this Day 1957
Read more: Pomeroy’s Proposed Expansion – On this Day 1957An 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…
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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…
