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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
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FIVE News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest.....
============================================ 1- Our tv program, this WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4th at 7, salutes Hamburg 2- This THURSDAY, Dec. 5th at 8:30 a.m., is our FIRST THURSDAY program about Talking Machines. 3- This SUNDAY, Dec. 8th, from 1 to 6, is Centre Park's House Tour 4- TUESDAY Dec. 10th at 1:30 is a free musical program at the Society 5- Bolich's abandoned Evangelical church near Eckville toppling ========================================= 1- This WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4th, at 7 p.m., is the Historical Society's monthly television program on BCTV. Our guest will be Richard Machmer, a Society trustee, a widely known collector and appraiser of antiques, and a life-long resident of Hamburg. Mr. Machmer and his wife have just overseen the publication of a new book on Hamburg's history. He appears to show and comment on old-time views of Hamburg and the surrounding area that appear in the new book. Unbeknownst to Mr. Machmer, yours truly has prepared 18 vintage (rare) views of Hamburg as an "add-on" surprise. Those of you living outside the Berks area, who can receive video on your computer, can view the Society's BCTV program anytime you want by accessing.... http://www.berkshistory.org/realaudio/hill.ram ========================================== 2- THURSDAY morning, Dec. 5th at 8:30, is our monthly FIRST THURSDAY program at the Historical Society. The guest speaker is Tom McCarthy, curator of the current talking machine exhibit, who will discuss the world-class display which he has set up in exhibition hall. Some of the rare phonographs will be played. You won’t want to miss this presentation. The program itself runs from 9 to about 9:50 a.m. YOU are invited! =========================================== 3- This coming SUNDAY, December 8th, is Centre Park’s 18th annual Christmastide House Tour, sponsored by the Centre Park Historic District Assn. This year, for the first time, there will be TEN homes to visit! Tickets, at $10 each, will be sold the day of the tour --this Sunday--at Centre Park, which is just a block below the Historical Society. The tour runs from 1 to 6 p.m. As is the custom, the tour ends at the Historical Society’s auditorium where there will be wonderful refreshments of all kinds. You who have been on the tour in past years know what delights await you! One of the featured homes this year is the Society’s Hendel Mansion (right across from Centre Park) at 746 Centre Ave. which has been decorated for the tour by a professional decorator. It should be noted that the mansion is fully handicapped accessible. Here are a few views just taken inside the Hendel Mansion: 
========================================= 4- Next Tuesday, December 10th, the “Wyomissing Area High School Camerata,” a widely acclaimed singing group, will present a program in the Society’s auditorium at 1:30. This is a free event sponsored by the Historical Society auxiliary. YOU are invited. ========================================== 5- About a year ago we reported that the old, frame, former Evangelical church in Albany Twp. near Eckville, “Bolich’s Church,” was in very bad condition. The little cemetery behind it is in somewhat better condition--but it needs work and few are left to care for it. Months ago, Albany Twp. commissioners took steps to have the landmark demolished--for safety reasons, they stated. Soon thereafter, an article appeared in the newspaper stating that several men were planning to stabilize the structure, in which case township officials would back off on the demolition order. Two days ago we received an email from friend Bob Compton of Breiningsville, a history buff and former reporter, who drove by the site and sadly observed that.... “The church bell has slid out of the belfry and is lying on the steep roof. It would have fallen to the ground if it had not been jammed against a length of wooden debris up there. “Nothing remains of the belfry but four uprights that, for some reason, didn't fall with the rest of the structure. “We reckon that the logjam will break up there some day amid a layer of snow and ice, and the bell will come crashing down. Be sure not to be standing on the east side of the church when that happens!” You who regularly watch the Society’s BCTV program may recall that we presented a video overview of Bolich’s church and the small cemetery directly behind it. Perhaps we should consider re-showing that 15-min. tape sometime soon--for what might be “a last look.” ============ gmmix ========== end ======= |
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