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Posted 04-19-2003 ELEVEN News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest… =============== =============== ========== 1- Ed Taggert's book, "Bootlegger: Max Hassel" back in stock 2- Basket exhibit has work by Rehrersburg's Harry Groff 3- J. Dziedzic, retired bandleader, dies at 83; 60-yr.-career 4- W.K.& S. railroad to open Sunday, May 4th, for the 40th year 5- "History Weekend" Sat./Sun., Apr. 26 & 27 at 940 Centre Ave. 6- Summit/Tower Hotel, 1959; chicken barbecue on site Apr. 26 7- PA railroads to be featured on PCN this Sunday at 9 p.m. 8- LOADS of old-time Berks photos that you can view now! 9- Berks Spanish-Am. War vets' lodge on Franklin St., 1930 10- See your property from an airplane! 11- Guess what's at the Pagoda? ============== ============= ===================== 1- Ed Taggert's new book about Max Hassel is back in stock. If you plan to get a copy, don't hesitate as they appear to be in short supply. The 6 by 9" volume is softbound, has 246 pages, and is fully indexed. Cost is $19 postpaid from the Historical Society. Max was an immigrant who became a bootlegger at 19 during Prohibition. By the time he was 24, the gov't claimed he owed 1.2 million in income taxes. He was a rarity in that he never used violence to achieve his wealth. After THREE of his breweries in Reading were closed down in 1928, he became a partner with Waxey Gordon, the foremost beer baron in the U.S. The mystery of who killed Hassel was not solved for nearly 70 years. (Author Taggert reveals the truth; he met and interviewed the aging, ailing hit-man in Florida.) Max was not just another beer man who gained considerable wealth in booklegging. He gave to numerous charities and financed a free-loan society for the poor during Prohibition. The Hassel Foundation still gives grants totaling hundreds of thousands each year to worthy causes in the Reading and Phila. area. =========== =============== ================ 2- The Society's strikingly popular exhibit on "Basketmakers of Berks" continues until June. Included in the exhibit are several basets by Harry Groff of Rehrersburg who died at age 90 in 1966. Below we see Harry hard at work. This rare photo does not appear in the exhibit. The basket exhibit is sponsored by the Widgeon Foundation, Jennifer Malmberg, secretary. ============ ================== ============== 3- Joseph S. Dziedzic, a retired musician and bandleader of Spruce St., Reading, died Wed., Apr. 16th, at St. Joseph's Hospital, at age 83. He was pececeased by wife Sophic Kulaga-Dziedric in 1983. Professionally, he was known as "Jolly Joe." His musical career spanned more than 60 years; he retired in 1997. He was an accomplished accordionist and performed with local groups such as The Twilighters and The Melody Macs. He was born in Reading and for 30 years worked at the Textile. Dziedzic was a life member of he Polish American Citizens and the Polish Falcons. He is survived by sons Frank and Joseph of Reading and three brothers: Chester of Blandon, Andrew of Millmont, and John of Lancaster County. He was a member of St. Mary's, Reading. =============== =============== =============== 4- This is the fortieth year for Berks County's veteran steam railroad, the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern, in Kempton. The WK&S season opens Sunday, May 4, with trips hourly starting at 1:00 PM and continuing until 4 PM. Trains leave from the Kempton station and pass the historic log mansion (formerly a hotel) at Trexler, enroute to Wanamakers. Steam trips every Sunday in May, plus Saturday, May 24th. The book on the history of the railroad, "Does This Train Go Up Hawk Mountain?" is on sale at the Rigelweg Gift Shop at Kempton station. ============ ============== ================== 5- "Living History Weekend" will be hosted at the Society on Sat., April 26th, 10 to 4……and on Sun., April 27th, noon to 4. Nearly 30 museums will be represented at this special 2-day affair. Chris Miller will be conducting walking tours of Centre Park Historic District. The Hendel Mansion will be featured at 11 and 2 on Saturday….and at 2 on Sunday. http://berkshistory.org/histsoc/mansion/ This is a free event! =============== ================ ============ 6- Recently uncovered is the following view of the former Summit House (Tower Hotel) atop Mount Penn, taken as it was being razed in Oct. 1959. This rare photo probably has not been seen by anyone now reading this message. At this very site, on Saturday, April 26th, from 11 to 4, the Pagoda-Skyline group will be hosting a chicken barbecue to raise funds to continue its noble effort to finish restoration of the 1939 Wm. Penn Memorial Fire Tower, which will be open that day. Dinners are $ 7. This is a genuinely worthwhile cause. Consider helping the cause! ============== ============= ================ 7- The Pennsylvania Cable Network will highlight the state's railroads this Sunday, April 20, on "PA Books" with a discussion with the author of "Railroads of Pennsylvania." Author Lorett Treese divides the state into regions, exploring the three major railroads of Pennsylvania. The book recounts the lore, profiles the individuals involved, and identifies places to go to experience the relics of rail culture. Ms. Treese is a historian and archivist at the library at Bryn Mawr College. "PA Books" airs at 9:00 p.m. Sunday evenings. This hour-long program, hosted by PCN President Brian Lockman, acquaints viewers with authors of books on Pennsylvania history and culture. ================= ============== ============= 8- There are several hundred interesting old-time photos of Reading and Berks at the site that follows. Use "search" to explore. There are some great Oley and Reading views to be seen and enjoyed. http://www.memory.loc.gov/ammem/ammemhome.html =============== ================ ============== 9- A pair of rare old negatives surfaced recently---two views your editor had never seen previously: some members of the United Spanish War Veterans, Hintz Camp #3, in 1930. Their headquarters were at 422 Franklin-in a building that stands behind the Rdg. Public Library. You'd never know it's the same structure. Notice the Cuban flag being flown beside ours. If anyone recognizes any of the men in the photos, kindly contact us. =========== ============= ================ 10- This website is fascinating! Type in your address and see your home as it appears from an airplane. If you follow the instructions, you can fly all around your area. Yours truly piloted from Limekiln to Jacksonwald to Lorane---and then toward Oley Furnace. Don't get frustrated if you have trouble moving about the first time you try. The site requires some careful study. There's a place to click on the left side of the screen that will change the actual view to a topographical map. http://www.terrafly.com ================= ============= ============ 11- As the old jingle used to admonish: "For energy to work and play, drink a Moxie every day!" Moxie is America's oldest pop beverage, available since 1884. Get YOUR Movie t-o-d-a-y at the Pagoda. Sold in collectible glass bottles. Only $1. ============ ======== gmmix ==== end ======

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