During the Civil War, Scott Foundry, Reading, PA, tested army and navy cannons on the slope of Neversink Mountain. Near the proving grounds was a strong run of water that originated as a spring. Miniature water wheels were constructed and placed along the [...]
Across the ridge of Mount Penn, Reading, PA, extends the Skyline Boulevard or Skyline Drive. Motorists who fail to drive across the boulevard when visiting the City of Reading are depriving themselves of an un-paralleled view of Reading and countryside for miles around. [...]
The Pagoda and the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower are two of three landmarks on Mount Penn. The third is a large peace sign painted on a large rock on Mount Penn facing Reading. In 1967, LeRoy G. Levan and a handful of [...]
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 [...]
The city of Reading is bounded on the west by the Schuylkill River, on the east by Mount Penn, and on the south by Neversink Mountain. Overlooking the city on Mount Penn are two landmarks, a Japanese-style pagoda, and the William Penn Memorial [...]
In 1966, the Reading Automobile Club proposed the construction of a scenic drive on top of Neversink Mountain. Although Reading does have one scenic road - Skyline Drive atop Mt. Penn - in a letter to county commissioners, John S. Giles, Reading Automobile [...]
Few people know that a Boy Scout Camp once existed on Mount Penn. Camp Howard was a 26-acre campsite located on List Road on the top of Mount Penn in the City of Reading. Records indicate that Scouts began using the city-owned land [...]
Camping has always been essential to Scouting, and was embraced by even the earliest Boy Scouts of Berks and Schuylkill counties, who flocked to summer Scout camps even before Councils had formed to support their fledgling troops. Throughout the years many camps have [...]
