View a tiny sampling of the thousands of items on display in our museum
Learn how you can become a member of the Historical Society of Berks County
Read breaking stories concerning Berks County history.
Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
|
EIGHT News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical
interest...... ======================================== 1- Society’s monthly BCTV program this Wed. at 7 (Sept. 4th) 2- First Thursday programs recommence this Thurs., Sept. 5th 3- Pleasantville Bridge presently a pile of stacked lumber 4- Lindbergh Viaduct plaque returned to city. Where is other one? 5- Lauer Brewery illustrations and history on a special web-site 6- Memories of Hess Brothers’ Dept. Store - Tues., Sept. 10 at 1:30 7- Leinbach Family genealogy book will soon be available 8- Mouns Jones Annual Country Fair (Douglassville) Sept. 28-29 ======================================== 1- This coming Wednesday at 7 is the Society’s monthly tv program on BCTV. As usual, there will be many old-time views of Reading and Berks. Included will be a small collection of vintage Met-Ed facilities and work-site views, most important of which is a very rare photo of the portable electrical substation at Pleasantville, placed there for auxiliary power for Oley Valley trolley cars on their way to Shanesville/Boyertown. Remember, no matter where you are, you might be able to watch our BVTV program by accessing...... http://www.berkshistory.org/realaudio/hill.ram ======================================== 2- The FIRST THURSDAY program for Sept. 5th is “100 Years of Commitment to Communication Services - 1902-2002,” an historical overview of the Conestoga Telephone and Telegraph Co. Our speaker is Society member Marie E. Cutman, who recently produced a splendid book on the subject. Continental breakfast at 8:30.....program at 9. $1 for members; $2 for non-members. Everyone is invited to attend. ======================================== 3- As noted on an earlier News-Bits release, the Pleasantville Covered Bridge (in Oley Twp., at the end of the Oley Turnpike) is undergoing restoration. Today/Sunday I visited the site to see what is happening. What I saw was a huge stack of lumber. Nothing was connected in any way. Apparently they are going to re-erect the bridge, replacing damaged supports and starting virtually from scratch. It’s interesting to see the abutments with nothing attached. ======================================== 4- A front-page story in the Reading Eagle this week focused on an 18- by 36-inch, 90-pound bronze plaque from 1927/28 that once graced the Lindbergh Viaduct that spans Mineral Spring/Rose Valley. It has been missing for an indeterminate length of time--possibly as long as 32 years. Many recall seeing it over the years and just assumed it was still in place on the north end on the Reading side. It wasn’t! It turned up at an antique/collectible stand at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market, placed there on consignment, with a price tag of $12,000! Operators of the antique/collectibles stand ran an ad in the newspaper which came as something of a shock to local history buffs who were intent on getting the plaque back to the city so that it can be reattached to the viaduct once restoration has been completed. To make a long story short, Reading police acted quickly and well-- and the bronze is now in city hands once again. Here’s a new twist: After the complete story ran in the newspaper, diligently researched by reporter Jason Brudereck, a phone call was received from the son of former Reading mayor William Sharman (1924-28) who asked “And what became of the OTHER plaque? The one with my dad’s name of it and the names of the council members.” No one knows..... as yet. Apparently it was removed around 1969-70 when the viaduct was given a cosmetic repair treatment--and not a very good one. Supposedly an electrician removed the smaller plaque to get to an electrical box behind it and never replaced the plaque. ========================================= 5- Someone who receives these emails called our attention to an interesting web-site dealing with Reading brewer Fred Lauer. Found there is historical data and some good photos. If interested, access.... http://pabreweryhistorians.tripod.com/lauerindustry.htm ========================================= 6- On Tuesday, Sept. 10th, at 1:30 p.m., in the Society’s auditorium, Rose Brucker will present a program titled “Memories of Hess Bros.’ Department Store.” This talk is open to the public at no charge. ========================================= 7- Word was just received that a 300-page, fully indexed Leinbach (Lineback/Linebaugh) family history book is about to go to print-- after two decades of research by Laurel Miller, latterly of Reading, PA. The pre-publication price of this coffee-table-styled tome is $40 postpaid. Questions? E-mail Laurel at laurelmlr@yahoo.com Write checks to Leinbach Family Reunion and forward to Connie Leinbach, 1319 Girard Ave., Wyomissing, PA 19610. An important part of this volume details the Leinbach settlement in PA, an overview of the Moravian connection, migration patterns in America as they apply to Leinbach history. The five generations of genealogy cover 200 pages and include fully documented data with 645 footnotes. ======================================== 8- On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29, the Mouns Jones Annual Country Fair will take place at old Morlatton Village, Douglassville. Time is 10 to 4 on both days. Admission is only $1. Mouns Jones, together with his wife Ingabo, were Swedish settlers who helped establish the first permanent European settlement in Berks County--around 1701. A contemporary of Conrad Weiser, Jones engaged in a successful fur-trade business with the local Lenni-Lenape tribe. The Jones home, one of four historical buildings in Old Morlatton Village, is the oldest surviving house in Berks--1716. The Country Fair, held rain or shine, hosts over 75 living historians, craftsmen, and volunteers each day--from 10 to 4. The George Douglass Mansion, currently under restoration by the Preservation Trust, is open and docents will be on hand to explain the history and restoration of the building. The 18th-century White Horse Tavern serves a full-course luncheon each day. This year there is a free shuttle service to take fairgoers from the HCM/Kiwi building parking lot on Route 662 North (447 Old Swede Rd.) to the fair each day, starting at 9:30. The shuttle will run a continuous loop. Last run back to the parking lot will be 4:15. More info? Call Pat Oxenford, fair chairman, at 610-385-3431. =============== gmmix ======= end ========== |
|
|
| Home | Membership | Library | Museum | News | Calendar | Gift Shop | Articles | Photos | Multimedia |