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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
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SEVEN News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest….
=========================================== 1- BCAGP meeting last Sunday was informative/interesting 2- 1909 Montgomery history on CD, completely searchable 3- Baby grand donated to the Hendel Mansion by Mrs. Barth 4- Strausstown mayor, Norman Balthaser, died Apr. 2nd 5- Unique "Basket Fair" at Society Sat., April 12th (10 - 3) 6- Amity/Exeter/Robeson H.S. meets this Sunday at 3 7- Free Musical program this Sunday at 1:30 at Glenside ================================================ 1- This past Sunday, Apr. 6th, about 30 members of the Berks County Assn. For Graveyard Preservation met at the Oley Legion to hear Marco Drogo, a 29-year-old Kutztown U. anthropology student, tell of his involvement during the grave relocation project at Salem U.C.C. (Spangsville Reformed Church) some months ago. Around 162 graves were involved, covering the period from the early 1800's to the 1930's. Most of the tombs were lined with bricks, some mortared together and some laid dry. The "better burials" had the brick vaults covered with a heavy slate slab; these usually had a brick floor as well. Virtually no jewelry was found. All relics found have been kept with the individual remains, all of which will be reburied. The BCAGP, established in 1994, have preserved and restored some 300 private cemeteries in Berks. The group is on the rebound, headed by president Fran Rasweiler who resides in the 1733 Mordacai Lincoln home in Exeter Twp. The group needs your support. If you're local, they are looking for volunteers to help continue their valuable work. If you can do something, email Fran at francharas1@aol.com Below, Fran Rasweiler, in the center in green, sits with other BCAGP officers listening to Mr. Drogo's commentary. 
Check this: http://www.BCAGP.org =========================================== 2- As most history buffs with an interest in Berks know, the 2-volume 1909 Montgomery Reading-Berks history has never been completely indexed. All efforts heretofore have been directed to locating people's names. Those of us who have used the volumes seriously know that these tomes also contain thousands of names of grist mills, forges, furnaces, factories, churches, stores, post offices, general stores, clubs, organizations, &c, few of which appeared in the original index-or subsequent Indexes. Well..........GOOD NEWS! Here is a letter just received from Janet McFarland, president of Retrospect Publishing Co., the concern that produced that splendid CD-rom of Montgomery's 1886 Berks history about a year ago. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - George, Wonderful news. We have finished Montgomery's Annals of 1909! This CD was truly a labor of love and perseverance. Friday, March 28th, Steve mastered it. You were correct in raising the question whether the entire 2 volumes of 1,723 pages could fit on one CD. If they had been 28 pages longer we could not have done it. Although we have CDs containing more pages than Montgomery's 1909 work, the Montgomery pages are consistently large and the text in the biographical sections is extremely fine. The fine text is what took the time to correct. One page in Montgomery was like correcting 2 or 3 pages in a "normal" book. Since the work is so large we are recommending at least a Pentium II at 400 MHz and 64MB of RAM. We also had to go to "on-line" authorization, meaning that when you receive your CD, if your computer is connected to the internet, the first time you put the CD in, it will automatically connect to the internet and authorize the CD for you. If your computer is not connected to the internet, there are other options. We had to do this because our standard security measures would not work since the disc is so full with data. I set the price for Montgomery's Annals at $49.95, a fair price due to the volume of data and all the additional work. Incidentally, we also just finished the complete set of Tax Lists from the 3rd Series of the published Pennsylvania Archives. Yes, we have been busy! Talk to you soon. Janet McFarland, President Retrospect Publishing http://www.RetrospectPublishing.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - Your editor will be receiving a copy of the CD shortly. A "review" of same will be forthcoming. In fact, I'll ask three Society members to give it a try before I present my comments. That said, if it's anything like the previous CD, it will be a treasure. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 3- Some months ago we included in one of us News-Bits a request for a baby grand piano for the Society's "other building," the Hendel Mansion. A week ago, Eleanor Barth of West Lawn, widow of the highly regarded, longtime Albright professor Rev./Dr. Eugene Barth, telephoned to say that she will be moving shortly and would be pleased to donate her Chickering piano to the Society. We accepted her kind offer and had it moved to the mansion Tuesday. Here is what it looks like. Needless to say, we are greatly indebted to Mrs. Barth and her family. 
=============================================== 4- We note the passing on Wed., April 2, 2003, of Norman Balthaser, Strausstown mayor, at his residence on Main St., at age 73. He was the husband of Joyce Fisher-Balthaser. He became mayor last year after serving on borough council for many years. He was born in Pine Grove and graduated from the high school there. Balthaser, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War and past secretary and treasurer of the Strausstown Fire Co., was a member of Zion (Blue Mt.) U.C.C., Strausstown. In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters Diane Faust of Spring Twp. And Denise Yocum of Strausstown. A sister, Gladys Luckenbill, resides in Pine Grove. ==================================================== 5- On Saturday, April 12th, from 10 to 3, a unique BASKET FAIR will be held at the Society's headquarters at 940 Centre Ave., Reading. This ties in to our new exhibit, "Basketry--- A Useful Art." Ten local basket weavers will demonstrate their craft and finished baskets, most of which will be available for purchase. Many mediums of basket-making art will be presented, including those of rye straw, Appalachian reed, rattan, and willow. This is a free event and is open to the general public. YOU are encouraged to attend. The entire Museum and Hands-On History Room will be open throughout the day. Any questions? Contact:- vicky.heffner@verizon.net ============================================== 6- The Amity Historical Society (which includes Exeter and Robeson) meets this Sunday, April 6th, at 1:30, at historic Fairview Chapel (an old-time Sunday School building), located along the Philadelphia Pike/Route 422. The actual address is 6490 Perkiomen Avenue. Rick Stevens will focus on the Wanger and Brower families of Unionville, in Union Twp., in far eastern Berks. A video of the stone buildings of Unionville will be shown. Brower was the old-time postal designation for Unionville, which was once a Schuylkill Canal-connected hamlet. A wonderful, virtually unknown major canal aqueduct is "in the woods" there. Few history buffs have seen it. ======================================= 7- A free concert that will include works by local composers will be presented THIS Sunday, April 6th, at 3 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Snyder and Lackawanna Sts., in Glenside. It's a stone's throw from the Glenside School and visible from Schuylkill Avenue. The program will have works for piano, viola, clarinet, classical guitar, etc. Some original compositions will be heard for the first time. Featured in this concert are teachers and students of the Community School of Music and the Arts, located at 345 Douglass St., Reading. ============== gmmix ======= end ======= |
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