The iron industry had early development in Berks County. During the eighteenth century it steadily grew in importance; and in 1835 the extensive Reading Iron Works were established. This together with the building of canals drew here a large number of Irish settlers. [...]
From day one of the 20th century it was recognized that the future well-being of the development of center-city Reading was inextricably tied to the Reading Company train tracks cutting right through the very heart of the city at Seventh and Penn. Below: [...]
The Baer Building in Reading occupies the lot at the northeast corner of Church and Court Streets. The building was originally built as a 3 story office building facing Washington Street in 1870 and the high-rise was an [...]
As early as 1806 Berks County was noted as a great manufacturing center. The assessors' lists of that year show there were 9 tilt hammers, 1 slitting mill, 8 furnaces and 20 forges in the iron industry. Among the other manufacturing plants were: [...]
Saint Michael Convent began as a “seminary for young ladies,” established and conducted by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The fifty acre hilltop tract and the building were the result of a pious bequest in the will of Henry Felix, [...]
When Woolworth's declared bankruptcy back in 1997, it marked the symbolic end of an era when beloved "five and dime" stores could be found in every big city and small town in America. Woolworth's, Kresge’s, Grant's, McCrory’s, and Green’s were all once a [...]
On September 20, 1884, F. W. Woolworth opened a store in Reading, PA at 530-534 Penn Street. The F. W. Woolworth Company (often referred to as Woolworth's or Woolworth) was a retail company and one of the original pioneers of the five-and-dime store. [...]
S.S. Kresge Co. was one of the largest and most successful retail chains of the 20th century. On August 7, 1920, Kresge opened a store in Reading, PA at 544 Penn Street occupying the former Reading Eagle building building at the southwest corner [...]
The southeast corner property at Sixth and Penn Streets, the sixty feet of former Outlot No. 20 of the original town plan of Reading was first conveyed to Conrad Weiser for his own business. Afterwards his decision was altered and he installed his [...]
The Woda Group Inc., an Ohio-based property development firm specializing in affordable housing design, construction and management the water corporate companies, has completed 57 apartments on South Second Street for seniors to provide them with affordable housing. Barley Square is located on the [...]
