8 07, 2025

Mount Penn Honors Veterans with Memorial Clock

2025-07-08T06:29:08-04:00July 8th, 2025|Memorials|0 Comments

Mount Penn Dedicates Memorial Clock to Honor War Heroes On the evening of July 18, 1949, the borough of Mount Penn solemnly dedicated its war memorial—a bronze-cased clock atop a towering limestone pylon—in tribute to the men and women who served in the [...]

6 07, 2025

The Evolving Legacy of Mount Penn’s 23rd & Perkiomen Ave.

2025-07-06T13:02:56-04:00July 6th, 2025|Hotels, Landmarks|0 Comments

The corner of 23rd Street and Perkiomen Avenue in Mount Penn has long been a focal point of community life, with a layered history stretching back more than two centuries. One of the earliest known structures at the site was the White Bear [...]

5 07, 2025

Six Mile House: Landmark Lost to Progress

2025-07-05T20:22:34-04:00July 5th, 2025|Hotels, Landmarks|0 Comments

Located along the Allentown Pike in Ontelaunee Township, six miles north of Reading, the Six Mile House was more than just a tavern—it was a fixture of local travel and hospitality that stood for nearly two centuries. Constructed in the early 1770s, the [...]

19 06, 2025

The Three-Mile House and the Reading Driving Park (Shillington Speedway)

2025-06-19T18:28:05-04:00June 19th, 2025|Boroughs, Hotels, Shillington|0 Comments

The history of the Three-Mile House and the adjacent Reading Driving Park is a richly layered narrative that traces Berks County’s transformation from colonial frontier to early automotive experimentation. Built in 1761 by George Riehm, the Three-Mile House was originally a two-story sandstone [...]

3 03, 2025

Demolition Begins on 431 Penn Street: A Story of Neglect and Lost Heritage

2025-03-03T08:32:49-04:00March 3rd, 2025|Buildings|1 Comment

Demolition is set to begin today on the city-owned building at 431 Penn Street, marking another chapter in Reading’s ongoing struggle with historic preservation and municipal mismanagement. Once a symbol of architectural grandeur, the structure—particularly its Beaux-Arts façade—has been left to decay under [...]

15 12, 2024

The Astor Theater’s Light Lives On

2024-12-15T12:53:00-04:00December 15th, 2024|Landmarks, Theaters-Drive-Ins|0 Comments

In the heart of Reading, Pennsylvania, the Astor Theater once stood as a beacon of architectural grandeur and cultural significance. Though the theater met its unfortunate demise years ago, pieces of its storied past have found their way into unexpected places, telling the [...]

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 [...]

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