In July of 1870, workers began to erect a building at 135 North Sixth Street which was to contain a market house and Masonic Temple. However, the panic of 1873 - 74 prevented completion so the property was sold by the sheriff to [...]
The Crystal Restaurant was once one of Reading’s most popular dining establishments. It was an institution, a landmark, the definitive meeting and eating place in downtown Reading for 70 years, filled with memories and meaning. Founded in 1911 by Constantine Mantis, the Crystal [...]
The city adopted its flag in 1898. The flag as it is today was executed by Bailey, Banks & Biddle, of Philadelphia, and was adopted by Councils as the official standard of the city. The flag consists of three vertical stripes, red, white [...]
The celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by the Catholic of this city took place on October 12, 1892. A number of private and business houses were decorated with flags and streamers. St. Paul’s church, pastoral residence, school building [...]
If we would awaken love of our city and make it permanent, we must make our city lovely and lovable. But this better city must first take shape in the mind and heart. It is in the beginning little more than in a [...]
Long before the construction of the Berks County prison in Bern Township a battle raged over what to do with the old jail located in City Park. Below: Berks County Prison (1847-1936). A museum, convention hall, and memorial were the most [...]
The Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, founded by Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen, was originally organized as the Educational Department of the Textile Machine Works. Below: Ferdinand Thun. Below: Henry Janssen. Textile Machine Works, the world's largest manufacturer of full-fashioned hosiery machinery, [...]
Authorization for the erection of a comfort station at the southwest corner of 5th and Penn Streets was asked from council by Councilman Yeager on June 15, 1921. Construction of the 5th and Penn comfort station began on July 26, 1921. The contract [...]
Organized crime is a society that seeks to operate outside the control of the American people and their governments. It involves thousands of criminals, working within structures as complex as those of any large corporation, subject to laws more rigidly enforced than of [...]
