8 04, 2025

From Reading to Allentown, Pennsylvania: The Legacy of Early’s Old Fashioned Chocolates

2025-04-08T05:58:23-04:00April 8th, 2025|Confectionery|0 Comments

At 1428 Amity Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, a sweet chapter in American confectionery history began. It was here, in 1938, that Josh Early IV and his wife Millie opened a small candy shop and factory within their family home. Under the sign that [...]

4 04, 2025

The Epic Saga of Reading Outlets: From Rags to Riches to Rags Again

2025-04-05T19:49:39-04:00April 4th, 2025|Outlets, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Gather ‘round, ye seekers of discounted fleece, for the tale of the Redding Pennsylvania outlets—er, Reading Pennsylvania outlets (curse that silent “a”)—is a yarn spun from the looms of history, greed, and polyester blends. Once the crowned jewel of America’s bargain empire, this [...]

17 02, 2025

The Legacy of Jackson Rope Company: 150 Years of Manufacturing in Reading, Pennsylvania

2025-02-18T09:13:45-04:00February 17th, 2025|Businesses-Industry|0 Comments

Jackson Rope Company was one of Reading, Pennsylvania’s longest-standing manufacturers. Founded in 1829 by English ropemaker Thomas Jackson, the company grew from a small operation along the Schuylkill Canal into a nationally respected rope manufacturer. For 150 years, Jackson Rope adapted to industrial [...]

14 02, 2025

Hollenbach, Dietrich & Co.: From Whiskey Wagons to Iconic Enterprise

2025-02-14T21:12:10-04:00February 14th, 2025|Businesses-Industry|0 Comments

Hollenbach, Dietrich & Co., a celebrated name in Reading, Pennsylvania’s history, owes its beginnings to the ambition and hard work of Benjamin F. Hollenbach. Born in January 1871 in Slatington, Pennsylvania, Hollenbach grew up with a strong work ethic, likely inspired by his [...]

14 02, 2025

Sarge’s Japanese Ice Cream Parlor: 932 Penn Street

2025-02-14T08:16:04-04:00February 14th, 2025|Businesses-Industry, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Sarge's Japanese Ice Cream Parlor opened its doors on June 24, 1916, at 932 Penn Street in Reading, Pennsylvania. Designed with an Oriental-inspired facade, the building reflected the early 20th-century fascination with Japanese aesthetics fueled by cultural phenomena like Puccini's Madame Butterfly and [...]

6 02, 2025

The Story of Augie’s Original Sandwich Shop

2025-02-06T22:41:22-04:00February 6th, 2025|Businesses-Industry, Restaurants-Diners, Sandwich Shops|1 Comment

In 1946, Sebastian Ninfo, born August 17, 1899, in Italy, who immigrated to America in 1916, purchased the property at 401 North 10th Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, and later opened the Stardust Luncheonette. The restaurant quickly became a neighborhood favorite, drawing long lines—especially [...]

17 01, 2025

The Environmental Legacy of Beryllium Copper Production in Muhlenberg Township

2025-01-17T20:39:57-04:00January 17th, 2025|Businesses-Industry, Uncategorized|0 Comments

The Beryllium Corporation was established in 1933 and relocated in 1935 to 150 Tuckerton Road in Temple, Pennsylvania, where it took over the former site of the Pennsylvania Malleable Iron Company. This site became a key hub for beryllium copper production in the [...]

19 10, 2024

Parish Division of Dana Corporation

2025-02-26T00:04:37-04:00October 19th, 2024|Automobiles|0 Comments

Neff Parish and John Sullivan co-founded Parish Manufacturing Company in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1906. Equipped with one 1600-ton press and two 400-ton hydraulic presses, they produced their first vehicle frame for Stevens-Duryea of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Prior to this, Neff Parish had worked [...]

7 10, 2024

Pennsylvania – Heart of the American Potato Chip Industry

2024-10-07T23:24:56-04:00October 7th, 2024|Businesses-Industry, Chips|0 Comments

Pennsylvania has earned a reputation as the heart of the American potato chip industry, a title rooted in the state’s rich agricultural history, its entrepreneurial spirit, and the rise of family-owned snack companies. From small towns to bustling factories, Pennsylvania’s landscape is dotted [...]

6 10, 2024

Berks Distilleries and Stein’s Pure Rye Whiskey

2024-10-06T20:39:44-04:00October 6th, 2024|Distilleries|0 Comments

The history of whiskey distilling in Berks County can be traced back to the 18th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Berks County, like many other areas in Pennsylvania, was part of a thriving whiskey production industry. Pennsylvania was one of the [...]

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