By the summer of 1957, swimming pools had become one of the clearest signs of how life in Reading and Berks County was changing. What had once been a small collection of public and borough swimming places had grown into a network of [...]
Community Days, as celebrated in the Governor Mifflin area today, is the vibrant result of decades of tradition, civic spirit, and local pride. What began as a modest summer gathering organized by the Shillington Fire Company has grown into a signature nine-day festival [...]
On the morning of July 5, 1904, 200 children waited in the hot morning sun outside the gates of the large yard of what dad been “House of the Good Shepherd” at 4th and Pine Streets. Finally, at 8:30, the gates were opened [...]
Reading used to be a playground town way back when we were kids. We would race out of bed on smothering mornings of heat and haze, grab rumpled remnants of play from yesterday, gulp milk and toast and head to the innocent haven [...]
On April 20, 1915, two adjoining tracts of land in Muhlenberg Township, totaling 54 acres, were purchased for $20,750 for the site of the Reading Fairgrounds. Several subsequent purchases increased the area to approximately 78 acres. The site was ideal since it was [...]
For three decades, one of the city’s most popular and interesting attractions was the yellow-brick play castle in City park, situated on the north side of Washington Street, above 11th. The Reading City Park Kiddie Kastle was the brainchild of former city [...]
As early as 1850, most of the outdoor entertainments were in parks shaded by huge trees with a thick covering of tan bark on the ground. Variety acts with pioneer gymnasts and acrobats, orchestra and band concerts, and choral organizations entertained enthusiastic gatherings [...]
Although Rajah Temple had its beginning in 1892, the year 1893 brought the actual setting up of the Mystic Shrine organization in Reading and the beginning of work in the Order. The minutes of the first Recorder, Philip Bissinger, shows that the first [...]
On July 25th, 1907, Pendora Park, a commercial amusement park in East Reading formally opened to the public. People gathered from all sections of the city. The crowd was estimated at between 18,000 and 20,000. Every trolley car headed for East Reading was [...]
Drive-in theaters were hugely popular after World War II and, on special summer occasions featured all-night shows. Among its advantages was the fact that older adults with children could take care of their infant while watching a movie, while youth found drive-ins ideal [...]
