Category: Wyomissing

  • Old Iron Bridge Connecting Wyomissing & West Lawn

    This iron bridge was on 422/Penn Ave connecting Wyomissing and West Lawn. It was built in 1926 and replaced an older, smaller iron pony-truss bridge. Only two “overhead bowstring bridges” like it are known to have survived in the state of Pennsylvania.* One ended up being placed on the Horseshoe Trail at Scarlets Mill in…

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  • Berkshire Knitting Mill

    Berkshire Knitting Mills

    In 1892, “Textile Machine Works” was founded by Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen on Cedar Street in Reading. In 1896 they accepted an offer to relocate to Wyomissing, where they were sold a site for $1, in hopes their industry would spur interest in building lots. In 1899 they incorporated as the “Reading Glove and…

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  • Cleveland Ave, Wyomissing, 1905

    Pictured below is Cleveland Avenue in Wyomissing. These photos are courtesy of Wendy Sims. Her grandparent’s bought the house pictured in all of these images, 1173 Cleveland Avenue. As you can see, what is now quite a built up Wyomissing was just starting to be born around the turn of the 20th century. Thanks to Wendy for sharing…

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  • Berkshire Mall - center fountain - 1970s

    Center Fountain at the Berkshire Mall

    Before the upstairs food court was constructed in 1989, the Berkshire Mall had a wonderful light & water fountain in the center of the mall. Below are the few images I could find online. If you happen to have a nice image of this fountain, I would love to see it!… email me at [email protected]

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  • Reading Motor Inn - PA

    The Reading Motor Inn

    The Reading Motor Inn was opened over 50 years ago, and is currently still in operation as The Inn At Reading. The Hotel sits almost perfectly today at the Route 422/222/12 interchanges. Back when it was opened, the highway did not exist like today, it was only a two lane road. Unfortunately since widening this…

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  • Old Wyomissing High

    Wyomissing High School

    In 1908, the Wyomissing school district was founded, with classes being taught in a private residence. In 1909, the district’s first building was completed on Belmont Avenue. Students attended 1st through 11th grade at the building on the corner of Trent and Belmont Avenues. After 11th grade students had the choice of continuing their studies…

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  • The Vanity Fair Outlets

    The Vanity Fair Outlets were established first as Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company in Pennsylvania in October 1899. The H.D. Lee Company (now Lee) was acquired by the company in 1969 and the corporate name was changed to VF Corporation, a fictitious name that is not even legally registered, to reflect the more diverse…

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  • The Berkshire Mall

    Planning for the Berkshire Mall began in the late 1960s. Sears was announced as the first major planned tenant in November 1967; to replace its nearby Shillington location which had opened in 1956. Construction began in 1968, with an “official” kickoff in November of that year. The mall opened in February 1970, and it was…

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Berks Nostalgia