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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 04-29-2003
NINE News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest…. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\ 1- News-Bits e-zine has been around since Sept. 1997; 100's sent! 2- Rdg.-built Bohler organ restored, at New Schaefferstown; hear it 3- First Thursday program at Society, May 1, on Oley basketmakers 4- Exeter Community Band to play rare Bobby Rehrer march 5- New views of Schuylkill Canal sites you probably have never seen 6- Book collection for Book Bonanza 2003 this Sat., May 3rd 7- From the photo album:- Reading's Paul Althouse in 1915 8- How old is your house? Find out this Saturday, May 3rd \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1- Your editor was astonished to learn, just recently, that News-Bits email reports have been issued for nearly six years. Apparently the first was sent in Sept. 1997. A number of you have inquired whether there's an archive of all of them. The answer is "no," but the possibility of beginning one is being considered. Your editor had most until computer melt-down last Sept. 4th. News-Bits would not exist were it not for the continuing efforts of Doug Reinert of Mohnton and Gary Issod of Tuckerton area who have nobly and graciously maintained the web-site from day one as a labor of love. Sincere thanks to Gary and Doug. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ 2- Last Friday, Apr. 25th, Berks County's preeminent organ enthusiast Bob Wilkinson of Laureldale, organist David Gross (of First Reformed, Reading), and your editor drove to New Schaefferstown (near Bernville) to St. Paul's 1884 Church, which sits on the main street of the village. Very recently, members of St. Paul's restored and rededicated their 1893 Reading-made Samuel Bohler organ, a daunting financial undertaking for a congregation of around 70. We applaud their willingness to do this as few of these organs survive in playing condition. The Bohler organ, constructed in Reading, at 944 Bingaman St., right before Samuel's death, was built for old Zion Union Church, Womelsdorf. Zion's congregation sold the Bohler to St. Paul's in 1918 for $800, around $11,000 in today's money. Below are exterior and interior views of St. Paul's. Davie Gross sits at the organ.   There is a very interesting ending to this story, which will be forthcoming-in June. It is probable Joe Farrell, popular columnist for the Reading Eagle, will prepare an article on the Bohler and St. Paul's. We'll keep you informed. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 3- Kutztown historian Richard Shaner will present an illustrated program THIS Thursday, May 1st, at 8:30---as part of the Society's continuing FIRST THURSDAY series. His slide show deals with "Basketmakers of the Oley Hills of Berks County." See Milt Lorah, Freddie Bieber, Ollie Strasser, Jonas Day, and others…and their split-oak and willow baskets. Light breakfast at 8:30; slide show from 9 to 10. The general public is invited. Come and bring a friend. $1 for members; $2 for others. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 4- The Exeter Community Band is scheduled to play at the May Day festival at Exeter High School on FRIDAY, May 9th, at 7 p.m. in the football stadium---so seeing and hearing will not be a problem. Selections chosen for the evening probably include the following:- The Typewriter, The Peanut Vendor, Delicado, Guadalcanal March, Barnum & Bailey, National Emblem, Grandioso, Man of La Mancha, Centaur, and March of Our City Fathers---although not necessarily in that order. Of great interest is the 1923 "March of Our City Fathers," written by Robert Rehrer, who composed some really fine marches for the Ringgold Band. (Who doesn't know the Hampden Fireman March!) "March of Our City Fathers," an unpublished work in manuscript form, was discovered by a Rehrer family member in 1997 in a trunk. It was written for Reading's 175th anniversary commemoration. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 5- If you have an interest in the Schuylkill Canal, especially in and around Reading, do access our website's Sch. Canal section. Last week, your editor and Doug Reinert went on a fieldtrip to the River Road section of Muhlenberg Twp. to photograph two very obscure stone, canal aqueducts that, probably, you have never seen as they are all but invisible from the road. They were in use only a very short period as in 1833 the canal was moved from "inland" to the river---at this point. http://www.berkshistory.org/histsoc/canal/oldcanal.html \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\ 6- County-wide used-book collection for Book Bonanza 2003 will be held Saturday, May 3, at the Reading Regional Airport, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adult and children's hardback and paperback books are needed. Your donations are needed! Local publications are of special interest. The Book Bonanza provides funds for the Berks Libraries' Summer Reading Program for Kids. For more information call 610-779-7297. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ 7- From the photo album:- Concert and opera tenor Paul Althouse (1889-1954) was born on Elm Street in Reading, attended 4th and Elm elementary school, and graduated from Reading High. This portrait was taken in 1915 for a music festival at Cornell U., from which institution he graduated---with a degree in chemistry!  Althouse was a successful tenor at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC and had the distinction of making records for three major recording companies: Victor, Edison, and Pathe. It's interesting to note that he appeared on a 33 1/3 rpm, long-playing RCA Victor recording in the early 1930's. He also appeared in several early sound movies which were very popular in Reading and Berks. After making the big time, he continued to return to Reading to sing, especially during the period his mother resided in a bungalow along the Manatawny near Earlville. He had taught for a time at the Wyomissing Institute of Music and the Arts. And, YES, he was related to Reading's illustrious march king, Monroe A. Althouse. Monroe was his uncle. Fewer realize he was related to Berks artist Chris Shearer through his mother, Laura Shearer-Althouse. For more on Paul Althouse, see "The Passing Scene-Vol. 2," pages 93 to 100. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ 8- On Saturday morning, May 3rd, from 9 to 11:30, Gregory D. Huber, proprietor of "Past Perspectives," a unique historic and cultural resource company, appears at the Society to conduct a workshop:-- DISCOVER WHEN YOUR HOUSE WAS BUILT AND WHO BUILT IT. Mr. Huber has dealt with this topic for some 40 years and has exceptional expertise in providing tips for determining the age of houses and other types of buildings. The Society is fortunate to have been able to obtain his services for this one-time-only workshop. Cost is only $5, which includes refreshments. Pay at the door. Questions: Call Mrs. Brophy at 610 - 375 4375. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\ 9- The Society's next monthly BCTV program---on WEDNESDAY, May 7th at 7 p.m.---promises to be a lively one. Paul and Kathy Miller, members of our historical society and luminaries of the Historical Society of Sinking Spring, are the hosts. It's probable that Paul will be showing some of his rare and early views of "The Blue Marsh Area of Yesteryear." Among the Millers' guests is Ed Taggert, author of the popular new book, "Booklegger: Max Hassel, the Millionaire Newsboy." Amy Woldt, Reading's historical-architectural specialist, has some photos showing recent, meritorious, historical-district restorations. Severin Feyerman also appears with a special message of interest. Don't miss this show! See last month's program: http://www.berkshistory.org/realaudio/hill.ram \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ gmmix \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ end \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Become one of us and join the Society. Only $30 a year which includes the popular "Historical Review of Berks County, our quarterly, profusely-illustrated magazine. Historical Society of Berks County 940 Centre Ave. Reading, PA 19601 Phone 610 - 375 - 4375 …….. FAX: 610 - 375 - 4376 http://www.berkshistory.org/histsoc \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\ |
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