Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Swinging Bridge at Outer Station
In 1886, the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad (P&R) decided to provide a safe pedestrian route across its main line [...]
The Reading Station Outlet Center
Around 1992, 8 million people used to shop the Reading area outlets each year. People would drive from near [...]
Reading Central Catholic High School
In 1927, Rev. Theodore Hammeke, rector of St. Paul's Church, established St. Paul's Commercial School as a department of [...]
History of the Warren Street, West Shore, and Outer Bypasses
Warren Street was constructed around 1920, running from Fayette Street near the Tulpehocken Creek east to a dead end [...]
Hampden Park Reservoir
On April 11, 1882 a contract for constructing the Hampden Reservoir was awarded to Nolan & Bros. for the [...]
Old Iron Bridge Connecting Wyomissing and West Lawn
The old iron bridge which connected Wyomissing and West Lawn was built in 1925. Below: Photos showing the [...]
Wilhelm Mansion – The Inn at Centre Park
The property at 730 Centre Avenue, known as the Wilhelm Mansion, consists of two buildings, the mansion and the [...]
John Phillip Sousa, succumbed to death in Reading, PA
John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late [...]
Reading Railroad Massacre of 1877
The Reading Railroad massacre of July 23, 1877, in which ten people lost their lives, was the climax of [...]
Northeast Corner of Fifth and Washington Streets
From 1770 to 1847 the Berks County jail was located at the northeast corner of the Fifth and Washington [...]
Count Berthold von Imhoff
Count Berthold von Imhoff was a famous painter of religious art works. He was born Jan. 14, 1868, in [...]
Frederick Lauer Monument – Reading, PA
In 1823, George Lauer, father of Frederick Lauer, started in the business of manufacturing beer in limited quantities in [...]
Frederick Lauer Mansion – Reading, PA
In 1891, George Frederick Lauer, chairman of the Lauer Brewing Co., erected an elegant mansion which fronted on South Third, [...]
Ferdinand Winter Residence – 900 Centre Avenue
Ferdinand Winter, who for many years was a well-known business man of Reading, and a member of the leather [...]
James Hervey Sternbergh – Reading Bolt and Nut Works
The Reading Bolt and Nut Works was a plant extending over some eight acres of land, lying between Third [...]
Reading, PA: A Slovak Christmas
Around 1880, the first Slovaks arrived in Reading, PA. They came from Saris, Spis and Zemplin, areas in Czechoslovakia, [...]
Plan Mix-up: Post Office designed for a Southern City
After glancing at the old Post Office at the Southeast corner of 5th and Washington Streets you may realize [...]
History of the former Bachman Pretzel Company
The Bachman story starts in Reading, Pennsylvania, with a young immigrant baker named Joseph S. Bachman. Joseph was born [...]
West Reading Town Plan
In 1864, Frederick R. Frill purchased from William Leinbach a farm of 116 acres. In 1873, he laid this [...]
Penn View Motel, West Reading
The Penn View Motel, located on the block between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Penn Avenue in West Reading, [...]
Nolen Favored Grouping of Public Buildings
The original public building in Reading stood in the center of Penn Square, directly at the intersection of Penn [...]