18 10, 2024

Beaux-Arts style façade of 431 Penn Street

2024-10-18T12:04:43-04:00October 18th, 2024|Buildings, Landmarks|0 Comments

The building at 431 Penn Street in Reading, PA, holds a rich history as part of the city's central business district. The façade of the building originally comes from the Reading News building, which was located at 22-24 North Fifth Street. The Reading [...]

16 09, 2024

The Twin Mansions of the Muhlenberg Brothers, 401 & 403 Penn Street

2024-09-17T20:52:08-04:00September 16th, 2024|Businesses-Industry, Landmarks|0 Comments

The residences of the Muhlenberg brothers, Henry A. Muhlenberg, Jr. and Dr. Hiester H. Muhlenberg, at 401 and 403 Penn Street, were frequently referred to as "twin mansions." The region's expansion was significantly influenced by the Muhlenberg brothers, Hiester and Henry. Their residences, [...]

4 05, 2024

St. Cecilia’s Memorial Chapel, Reading, PA

2024-05-06T09:46:47-04:00May 4th, 2024|Churches, History, Landmarks|0 Comments

Theodore Ignatius Heizmann began the construction of St. Cecilia's Chapel in 1892-1893 in memory of his mother, Mary Cecilia Heizmann. Theodore Ignatius Heizmann was born in Reading Dec. 14, 1838. He attended the private schools of the city and later Mount St. Mary’s College, [...]

3 05, 2024

Hotel Junction, Pennsylvania Trust Co., Flowers by Helen Heck, Ollie’s Cocktail Lounge, Idaho Spud Bar, and Gift Sisters School of Dance

2024-05-03T13:37:45-04:00May 3rd, 2024|Businesses-Industry, Landmarks|0 Comments

The triangular-shaped building at the intersection of 8th and 9th streets was once known as the Flatiron Building, although its original name was the Hotel Junction, with the address 1012 N. 9th St. Reading has a few of these triangular structures, but none with [...]

1 05, 2024

Saving a Sculptured Head from the former Girls’ High School

2024-05-01T13:41:43-04:00May 1st, 2024|Art, Landmarks, Schools|0 Comments

During the demolition of the Girls' High School at the corner of 4th and Court Streets in September 1961, Peter Zuk, president of Zuk Lumber & Demolition Co., Inc. of Belvidere, N.J., whose business had been hired to tear down the old school, received [...]

29 12, 2023

Leinbach’s Hill, West Reading

2023-12-29T22:45:54-04:00December 29th, 2023|Bridges-Viaducts, Landmarks|0 Comments

Anyone traveling into West Reading across the Penn Street Viaduct has probably noticed at one time or another the large rock formation on the right against the exit ramp for motorists traveling West on the By-Pass into West Reading. The rock formation is [...]

9 06, 2023

Bernhart’s Creek and Wildlife Nature Preserve

2023-08-25T13:06:58-04:00June 9th, 2023|Bernhart's Lake, Landmarks, Nature & Outdoors|0 Comments

City advisors are currently collaborating with Benjiman Cammarano, a senior at Delaware Valley University majoring in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Science. Born and raised in Reading, PA, Benjiman has selected Bernhart's Dam as the focus of his senior Capstone project. The objective for Bernhart’s [...]

2 06, 2023

City Council Public Meeting – Bernhart’s Dam and Park

2023-06-02T04:13:05-04:00June 2nd, 2023|Bernhart's Lake, News|0 Comments

Reading City Council held a public meeting on Wednesday evening, May 31, about the removal of Bernhart’s Dam and to provide the public with the plan for the surrounding park. From collected samples, the PH of the water and the soil is consistently [...]

1 04, 2023

Proposed Skyscraper in Downtown Reading

2023-04-01T10:48:34-04:00April 1st, 2023|Landmarks|Comments Off on Proposed Skyscraper in Downtown Reading

The Reading Renaissance, a proposed 43-story skyscraper threatens to dwarf what traditionally has been the area’s largest high-rises. The 280-foot-high courthouse at 6th and Court streets in Reading, as well as Allentown’s 23-story Pennsylvania Power & Light Building stand to be humbled. The [...]

6 03, 2023

History of the Mineral Springs Hotel

2023-03-06T09:09:23-04:00March 6th, 2023|History, Hotels, Landmarks|Comments Off on History of the Mineral Springs Hotel

In 1815 two Reading businessmen, Charles Kessler and John Spade, erected a substantial stone factory at the lower approach to the Rosenthal or Rose Valley glen which stretches between present day Egelman’s Park and Pendora Park. The glen is formed by the depression [...]

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