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Posted 05-10-2003 FIVE News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest…. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1- Charlie Adams' eagerly awaited Rdg. baseball book is here! 2- Fleetwood Area Hist.Soc.'s open house Sunday (May 11) 1 to 4 3- Hear the 1893 Rdg.-made Bohler organ at village church 4- Society's B&B tour this coming Sunday, 1 to 6. Tickets: $10 5- If you wish to check the News-Bits from the past year, see……. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1- Charles J. Adams III's new book, "Baseball in Reading," has just arrived from the publisher. It's at the Society right now. This softbound volume has instant appeal. It's a really nice looking publication, inside and out. Generally, there are two photos to every page and each is razor sharp with pleasing contrast. There's not a muddy or unappealingly grey picture to be found. Even the oldest views are wonderfully clear. There's enough general local history in the first half of "Baseball in Reading" to engage the interest of folks with only marginal interest in the subject. The Lauer's Park views are a treasure; a number were unfamiliar even to your editor. Interesting Carsonia Park shots, too. True to its title, the book deal exclusively with baseball, not softball. That's grist for another volume at a later time. Contrary to its title, there is good county representation:- Strausstown, Stony Creek, Sinking Spring, Hamburg, Mt. Penn, Shillington, Bethel, Bernville, and more. Among the book's strongest points, beyond the high quality photos throughout, is the fact that the entire linear history of local baseball is addressed, photographically, going back to its beginnings. Unlike too many "picture books," the illustrations are FULLY captioned, and people are identified. There's nothing thrown in for stuffing; every view serves a purpose and advances the chronology. Layout is slick and professional in every regard. "Baseball in Reading" by Charles J. Adams III, is printed on high- qualtity, non-glare paper; 6.5 by 9.25 pages; 128 pages; interesting introduction with proper credits; no index.. $ 19.99 plus tax at the Society museum/gift shop; $ 23.50 postpaid. Those desiring a copy by mail, draw checks in favor of Historical Society of Berks County and mail to 940 Centre Ave., Reading, PA 19601 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 2- The Fleetwood Area Historical Society has open house Sunday, May 11th, from 1 to 4. This is a free event; the general public is cordially invited. The Fleetwood group, headed by retired educator Dennis Becker, has extensive holdings. There are separate rooms for school, military, church, and other aspects of their history. The main room, which is huge, is a visual delight. Photos are everywhere. Headquarters are at 110 West Arch St. in the former school complex. There is convenient and easy parking in the rear of the building, which is where you enter to visit the museum--- down one flight of steps. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 3- A week ago or so ago, we mentioned a visit to St. Paul's church in the village of New Schaefferstown, a short distance north of Bernville. The purpose of the trip was to hear St. Paul's 1893 Reading-made pipe organ (944 Bingaman St.) which has just been restored by Ray Brunner, a nationally recognized organ rebuilder and author of "That Ingenious Business: Pennsylvania German Organ Builders." Herewith is a sound clip of the Bohler organ at New Schaeffers- town, courtesy of David Gross, organist at First Reformed Church, Washington St., above 6th, Reading. For those who have never visited St. Paul's, be aware this is a fine "country church" of the variety not often found anymore. It has a pressed tin ceiling in the sanctuary, a single gallery, and deep-red-glass window panes across the front of the building---facing southward. Accordingly, for much of the day, the narthex, 1st and 2nd floors, is drenched in deep-red light. The effect is pleasingly unusual. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 4- A reminder: This coming Sunday, May 18th, is the Society's annual Bed and Breakfast tour. Tickets are $10 each and may be had at the Society. They can also be purchased the day of the tour, from 12:30 to 2:30. Of particular interest is a visit to "Overlook," once the home of J. H. Sternbergh, prior to his removal to "Stirling," opposite Charles Evans Cemetery entrance. "Overlook" is that wonderful Victorian mansion on Centre Ave., near Greenwich St., in Reading. Here's a view of Overlook as it appeared in the 1870's: /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 5- Reminder: "Back issues" of News-Bits are archived at... http://www.berkshistory.org/histsoc/news_archive/ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ gmmix \\\\\\\\ end \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

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