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FIVE News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest…. ============= ============= ============ 1- Ringgold Band's 151st annual concert this Sun. at 3 2- Railroad museum at Hamburg at S. 3rd and Windsor 3- Basket Fair this Sat. 10-3 at Hist.Soc. with 10 makers 4- 1894 Fairview Chapel has roof problems/needs help 5- Living History Weekend at Hist.Soc.- Sat., Apr. 26th ============= ============= ============= 1- The featured soloist at the Ringgold Band concert this Sunday at 3 is Don Harry who will perform Herbert L. Clarke's "On the Shores of the Mighty Pacific" and the ever-popular "Carnival of Venice." The opening Monroe Althouse march is "Hermoso." Tickets at $10 each may be purchased at the door. ============ ============== ============== 2- For years, railroad buffs have tried to establish a local railroad museum-with little success, largely because of the funds needed to acquire a large building on a large property and then buy and lay track. The Reading Co. Technical and Historical Society is making plans to acquire the former Pennsylvania Steel Foundry at S. 3rd and Windsor in Hamburg. In addition to housing the organization's massive collection of paper records and memorabilia, the group hopes to eventually run rail excursions between Reading and Schuylkill Haven. We will follow this story and report future developments. ============== ========== ============ 3- 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 invited and encouraged to attend. The entire Museum and Hands-On History Room will be open throughout the day. Any questions? Contact:- vicky.heffner@verizon.net Incidentally, after you make the rounds of the practicing basket makers and see the fine display in Exhibition Hall, go to the 2nd floor to view the antique baskets there. Among them is one by the legendary Robert Springer of Morgantown's Welsh Mts. who died in 1893 at age 105. His log cabin's front door opened in Lancaster County and his back window in Berks. Bobbie was so well regarded that at his death, the number of mourners comprised the largest crowd ever assembled in Caernarvon. Pictured below is a Springer basket, identical to the one on display at the Historical Society, which belongs to Marie Verville of Morgantown. Photos courtesy of artist/educator Jere Brady. ================ =============== =========== 4- Fairview Chapel, erected in 1894 in Exeter Twp. along the Philadelphia Pike (Route 422), located at 6490 Perkiomen Ave., was donated for use of the Amity Heritage Society several years ago. The AHS, which serves Exeter, Union, and Robeson as well, accepted the building so that it could be preserved. It needed many repairs, including extensive work on its original roof! Fairview was one of a group of old-time Sunday Schools in the area that was popular in the days when churches didn't have a place to properly accommodate children-and Sunday School classes in general. Numerous tiles were replaced several years ago as a stop-gap measure but recent storms damaged more of the slates, and repairs are desperately needed immediately. To that end, a plea is being made to "Donate a Slate." Estimates are that each new slate and its installation will cost $20. If you would like to answer the call for help, send a donation to "Amity Heritage Society" and mail to P.O. Box 151, Earlville, PA 19519. Those who donate will have their names put on a little slate that will be displayed inside the building. Gifts are tax deductible as A.H.S. is a 501C3 non-profit organization. Below is an interior view of Fairview Chapel: ============= ============== ============= 5- "Living History Weekend" will take place at the Historical Society of Berks on Saturday, April 26th (10 to 4) and Sunday, April 27th (noon to 4). This is a FREE happening! About 30 museums, members of the Berks County Museum Council, will be represented at the Society to interact and present displays to the general public. Special programs will be held throughout the day, on the hour, including walking tours of Centre Park Historic District. The Hendel Mansion [ http://www.berkshistory.org/histsoc/mansion ] will be featured at 11 and 2 on Saturday and at 2 on Sunday. Many participants will be in costumes appropriate to their demonstrations. ============ gmmix ============= end =============

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