On April 20, 1915, two adjoining tracts of land in Muhlenberg Township, totaling 54 acres, were purchased for $20,750 for the site of the Reading Fairgrounds. Several subsequent purchases increased the area to approximately 78 acres. The site was ideal since it was [...]
When the oldest citizens were boys, and even before, there were summer gardens and other popular resorts in Reading and vicinity. Before the law was enforced prohibiting the selling of strong liquors on Sunday, there were “summer gardens” in connection with some of [...]
Muhlenberg Township had two covered bridges, Stoudt’s Ferry Bridge and Leize’s Bridge, both of which spanned the Schuylkill River and both shared with Bern Township. Bridges were covered only to extend the life of the wooden superstructures but Stoudt’s Ferry Bridge was unique [...]
One of the most historic spots along Muhlenberg Township’s River Road is the intersection with Leisz’s Bridge Road. Leisz’s Bridge was an important commercial link between Bern and Muhlenberg Townships. In particular, the early dairies in Muhlenberg Township benefited from the ease of [...]
In 1891, the Keystone Market House at 734 Penn Street was transformed into the Eden Musee (a curio hall and museum) and the Bijou Theatre. The property underwent various name changes over the next twenty-five years, including Gilder’s Auditorium, Becker’s Lyceum, the “New [...]
The Penn Square Pedestrian Mall was originally a component of a much larger urban renewal plan. Sasaki Associates' Downtown East Urban Renewal Plan of 1971 proposed an enclosed shopping mall in downtown Reading to compete with shopping malls being built in the suburbs. [...]
The cornerstone for the Lorane Elementary School building, Exeter Township, was laid during afternoon ceremonies on July 12, 1959. The new structure was built to relieve over-crowded conditions in both the elementary and high school buildings. Initially, it housed six sections of 7th [...]
Located off the northwest corner of Mull and Penn Avenue was an Octagon Schoolhouse - a true landmark in Sinking Spring. This building was built on the property where the Tulpehocken Welsh Baptist Church had been located along with a cemetery. This church, [...]
Reading City Hall, located at the northeast corner of 8th and Washington Streets, was formally dedicated on July 10, 1929. The new City Hall replaced the old one at Fifth and Franklin Streets, which for many years was known to be inadequate for [...]
The 750,000 sq ft Fairgrounds Square Mall was developed by Interstate Properties in the late 1970’s. Recognizing the potential of the Berks retail trade area and the need for a pleasant climate-controlled atmosphere the mall was constructed at the former location of the [...]
