Few persons know why Hampden in Northeast Reading was once known by the name of Helltown. About 200 years ago a man named John Hell came with his family to that place, and, as far as can be ascertained, he was the [...]
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 [...]
The 10th and Windsor Market House was erected in 1894 according to plans and specifications prepared by Architect Alexander F. Smith of Reading. Alexander F. Smith, over the course of a very successful career, designed the Pomeroy's building, the Baer Building, Berkshire Country [...]
Aaron Albright made a startling recommendation to his employers in June 1856. He proposed building a tunnel 2,500 feet long under Alsace Hill in Muhlenberg Township. Albright was chief engineer of the Reading Water Co. The company, formed March 16, 1819, supplied water [...]
Just down the creek from the breast of Bernhart’s Dam was the Spring Valley Hotel. It had been in existence more than a century. Over the many years, thousands and thousands of people spent pleasant summer days at picnics, pigeon shoots, baseball games [...]
The Sho-Boat was located at the northwest corner of Schuylkill Ave. and Blair Ave., Reading. The brick hotel building dated from 1893 when erected by Augustus Resh who dubbed his property Somerset Park. An 1896 map shows a very large square structure north [...]
One of the more interesting facets of the Yuengling company's colorful history was its innovative response to the "Prohibition" of alcohol legislated by Congress in 1919. Considered one of the greatest shakedowns in American brewing history, the restrictive period of Prohibition forced many [...]
On Thursday July 9, 1914 an enthusiastic crowd of spectators gathered at Carsonia Park to witness two beautiful flights in a large, high-powered Wright biplane from the level lawn near the lake in Carsonia Park. Carsonia Park operated in Lower Alsace Township from [...]
ZooAmerica is a zoo located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, The idea for a zoo in Hershey dates back to the formation of the town itself. In 1903, Milton Hershey purchased a large farm in the vicinity of Hockersville, several miles northwest of Campbelltown. Milton [...]
B. & J. Saylor food store, formerly located at 401 Penn Street, once drew customers from near and far for its offerings of fancy fruits, baked goods, and specialty foods. Saylor's blended its own high-grade coffees, which had many devotees. Another attraction was [...]
