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FOUR News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest.... ============================================== 1- "Researching Your Historic Home" free program at H.S.-Mar. 12th 2- Tues. Outdoor Bynden Wood Concerts return to South Mt. this June 3- The Spring issue of the "Historical Review" has a stunning cover! 4- Tidbits of local history from 1862 Weekly Reading Eagles ============================================== 1- This coming WEDNESDAY, March 12, at 7:30, Michelle Lynch, former Historic Preservation Specialist for the city of Reading, will present a special program to explain HOW TO RESEARCH YOUR HISTORIC HOME. This is a free program---sponsored by the Centre Park Historic District---in the auditorium of the Historical Society of Berks County, 940 Centre Ave., Rdg. Michelle will give tips on how to use Berks County resources to gather information about your home--or a home in which you have a special interest. Come and bring a friend. Refreshments will be provided. Not incidentally, Michelle Lynch is now Acting Editor of the Society's "Historical Review of Berks County." See the very end of this newsletter. F Y I --the Centre Park's 15th Annual FLEA MARKET will take place on Saturday, April 12, opening at 8 a.m. Mark your calendar now. Want a stand? $10 per space. Info? Call Mike Lauter at 610 - 372 - 7376 ============================================== 2- A mailing from the Reading Musical Foundation reported the exciting news that the outdoor Bynden Wood Concerts, atop the South Mt. above Wernersvile, are returning after a longtime absence. These great Tuesday nights musical events were begun nearly a half century ago. The first concert is set for Tuesday, June 3rd at 7 p.m. While there is bench seating for about 250, most folks chose to bring their own lawn chairs. There is no admission charge. In the past, they passed the hat for a free-will donation. More good news: Now there are ample restroom facilities, well- lighted walkways and parking areas---and stage enhancements. Further info will be provided as it is received. =============================================== 3- The Spring issue of the "Historical Review of Berks County" will be mailed to members this coming Wednesday. Locals will probably get theirs on Thursday or Friday. Wait till you see the cover. It's a first! Framing the rare and earliest likeness in color of Crystal Cave is a crystal-like background which has been given a special glass-like glaze that is both unusual and singularly attractive. Kudos to Jan P. Abramowicz, art director for both the Historical Review and Reading Eagle Press, for a particularly creative effort. ============================================== 4- Emboldened by determination, last evening your News-Bits editor penetrated the south end of his attic in quest of a cigar box of clippings from 1862 Weekly Reading Eagles, the purpose of which was to share some of the gems with you at this time... * Maidencreek, Eagle Point, and Fritztown post offices were established. * A stock company erected a toll bridge across the Schuylkill at Shoemakersville. James Reber and Joshua Reber were authorized by the Legislature in 1842 to erect a bridge at this point but didn't build it at that time. * Jerusalem Evangelical Church, near Centreport, is erected on land donated by Christopher Kline. * David F. Lotz established a hat foctory at 11th and Spruce, Rdg. * Bernville Assn. for Detection of Horse Thieves is incorporated on April 14th. * The Mozart Musical Union is organized with James M. Lyons as director. * Immanuel Congregation of the Evangelical Assn., Reading, organized in Oct. 1861, purchased the two-story brick church on Chestnut St., below 6th, formerly owned by the Methodist Protestant congregation. (This building, which survives, was once Temple Oheb Shalom, too.) * Aulenbach's Hall, on the south side of Penn St., above 6th, with a seating capacity for 800, is erected by John S. Aulenbach. (This was removed when the original Pomeroy's Dept. Store--- D.P.& S.--- was erected in 1884. Aulenbach Hall specialized in German-language plays and musicals.) * The Oley Turnpike is incorporated and the following commissioners appointed to receive subscriptions of stock: William Herbst, George S. Yoder, E. E. Griesemer, Peter D. Griesemer, Willington B. Griesemer, John Snyder, and Amos Ritter. The road is 10 miles long, extending from the Black Bear Inn to Pleasantville--and its construction was $50,000. (The Oley Turnpike, which survived in private hands until 1925, was supposedly the last privately owned highway in PA!) * The first draft for soldiers from Berks, numbering 1,242, is made in October on a platform in front of Marshal Henry J. Kupp's office, southwest corner of 5th and Cherry. The men encamped on the Deininger farm (now ALBRIGHT COLLEGE CAMPUS), beyond Hampden,was under the command of Col. Charles Knoderer. * The main exhibition building of the Berks County Agricultural Society was occupied, in June, as a U.S. military hospital, Dr. Martin Luther and Dr. John B. Brooke were the commissioned surgeons in attendance. There were cots for 130 patients. (The hospital, located in CITY PARK, was conducted until the spring of 1863.) ============== gmmix =============== end ======

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