The Orange Car was a fresh fruit and produce business along the Schuylkill River waterfront in Reading PA. Specifically it was located at 30 N. Front Street, at the intersection of Front and Washington. It was right down from Stichter Hardware and Schindlebeck’s Coal Yard. All kinds of fresh fruit and produce were brought here from Florida by rail. As you can see the tracks went right past the Orange Car, and goods were unloaded right from the freight car. Did you ever grab some fresh produce from the Orange Car?
The tracks in the foreground are the Reading’s Schuylkill and Lehigh Branch, and the Pennsy’s Schuylkill Division, both continuing northbound along the river to pass by the Dana Parish Auto Frame Plant. – ReadingModeler.com
The Orange Car was heavily damaged during Hurricane Agnes in June of 1972. Everything on the west side of front street was eventually torn down in this area. RACC was later built and expanded to the ground where the Orange Car stood; which is now a parking lot next to the Yocum Library.
I remember also well Daddy and I used to go every week they had the best fruit
Jerrilyn Carter
Should have said all so well
Also my aunt lived at 50 North Front Street and none of that is there anymore
Brings back many wonderful memories of going there as a child with my mother and then as an adult with my own kids to buy naval oranges in the winter.
The Orange Car was my first job at barely 14. Born at 110 N.Front St, my mother knew the guys there would give me a job unloading citrus from the rail cars, we always had the best oranges at Christmas.
I remember very well! Miss that stand.