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SEVEN News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest.... =================================== 1- Wed. at 7 p.m. is the Society’s monthly BCTV program 2- First Thursday program:- Brecknock Historic Homes 3- Spring "Historical Review" to be mailed within the week 4- Rare Whander Field photo added to Berks Airports site 5- Ringgold Band’s annual Spring Concert - Sun., Apr. 13th 6- Soc. member Ken Betch is indexing Historical Reviews! 7- As of today, YOU are one of 1,760 receiving this email ==================================== 1- The Society’s monthly BCTV program is this WEDNESDAY (March 5th) at 7 p.m. Featured guests are Richard Machmer with old-time Hamburg-area views...... and......Connie Leinbach and Christian Leinbach with views from the new Leinbach book, recently produced by Laurel Miller. Included with the old-time views of Oley are some major rarities of the MORAVIAN CHURCH, MORAVIAN SCHOOL, MORAVIAN CEMETERY, etc. in Oley Township. The half-timbered Moravian Church existed around 200 years. Ball lightning struck it in 1941, at the time the Roth family lived in it. Thereafter, it slowly fell to ruin. Those living far from Berks’ borders can see the program by accessing:- http://www.berkshistory.org/realaudio/hill.ram ====================================== 2- The First Thursday program for March 6th (this Thursday) features Southern Berks historian Evans Goodling. His topic is "Old Homes of Brecknock Twp." Mr. Goodling is a thorough researcher, so expect both an interesting and educational presentation. A number of years ago he produced a superior history of St. Thomas Church of Morgantown. First Thursday programs run about one hour, starting at 9 a.m. "Breakfast" is served from 8:30 to 9 a.m. $1 for members. $2 for non-members. ALL ARE WELCOME. Come and bring a friend. ================================== 3- The Society’s quarterly magazine, "The Historical Review of Berks County," is now being printed. It’s hoped that a week from now Society members will have it in their hands. This issue contains a treasure-trove of vintage photos. On the cover is the oldest existing likeness of Crystal Cave--in color--rendered soon after the natural wonder was discovered in 1871. The 8 major stories found within the issue are as follows: "Crystal Cave" - Discovery, Exploration, and Development "Artist Augustus Kollner" - active in Berks between 1840-72 "Dr. Geo. de Benneville" - Oley physician and preacher "Theodore Rickenbach" - Berks County’s Prof. Schnitzel "Birdsboro’s St. Michael’s Epis. Church" - with photos "Frank Furness" - Berks bldg’s by America’s greatest Victorian architect "Hans Mar. Gohrig 1741 House in Exeter Twp." on Kerr Rd. "Nolde Forest" - its founding in 1906 and later development Also included, in addition to the regular features, are three pages of "Random Thoughts." Two letters to the editor add to our knowledge of baseball in Berks years ago. REMINDER that the "Historical Review" is sent to all Society members as a benefit of membership. =================================== 4- Whander Field was one of Berks County’s old-time airports, along Route 61---just south of Leesport. Recently, Charlotte Moyer of the Heidelberg Heritage Historical Society presented us with a vintage view of the office building at Whander Field. A man is shown gassing a vintage airoplane. The photo, taken many years ago by the late Owen Stoudt ("the eyes and ears of Western Berks"), is a gem. See it by accessing:- http://www.berkshistory.org/histsoc/airport/old_airports.html ================================== 5- Sunday, April 13th, at 3 p.m. will be the Annual Spring Concert of the historic RINGGOLD BAND---the band’s 151st! Tickets are $10. Mark the date on your calendar. More details will follow soon. In the meantime, access:- http://www.ringgoldband.com/schedule.htm ============================== 6- FYI.........Society member Kenneth Betch has been working to index the Historical Reviews of Berks County-- all the way back to Oct. 1935. This is a massive undertaking, but if anyone can do it, it is he! What I have seen is very impressive, very complete, very useful. Upon completion, this will be an incredibly valuable aid to Berks historical research. Can you imagine who many articles and research reports have appeared in the Review since its founding? (Probably over 1,900!) ================================ 7- As of today, YOU are one of 1,760 receiving these News-Bits. We’re wondering whether any of you know when they started. This past September 4th our computer crashed royally. Among the missing, after the smoke settled, was the file of News-Bits back to the first one. (Yes, they should have been backed up on a ZIP disc.....) =========== gmmix ======= end ===

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