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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 08-05-2003
FOUR News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest… =================== ==================== =================== ==================== 1- Society's BCTV program TONIGHT at 7. Hereford Village! 2- Ringgold Band plays this SAT. from 6 to 9 at Hill Church 3- FREE Chopin piano concert SUN. at 3 at Society; six pianists 4- Help! Two scenes need identification. ===================== =================== ===================== =================== 1- The Society's monthly BCTV program is TONIGHT (Wed., Aug. 6th) at 7. Joe DeAngelo, a valued member of our Society and its videographer, prepared a 7-min. "movie" providing a last look at a Reading trolley car that has long been standing abandoned in a field. A number of local trolley enthusiasts had hopes that one day it would be restored. Alas, such has not been the case. A series of slides has been prepared on Treichlersville, now known as Hereford Village---in eastern Berks---just off Route 100. Included in this collection are about a dozen really rare views which have never been published or seen in any form. Their quality is impressive. Those living out of the area can see this tv program by accessing… http://www.berkshistory.org/realaudio/hill.ram Note: The tv image quality tends to be better early in the morning or late at night. =================== ====================== 2- This coming SATURDAY evening, Aug. 9th, the Ringgold Band will be playing in the grove at Hill Church, in Pike Township---from 6 to 9. Lots of wonderful food will be available for purchase. The soup is great! From the Reading area, head for Oley Village. At the blinker light at the eastern end of Main St., take route 73 to Pleasantville. At the Pleasantville light, at the old-time general store building, turn left into Pikeville---a couple blocks away. At Pikeville, just beyond the old hotel building, turn right and head up the hill to the hamlet of Hill Church. (You'll see signs to the church.) At the top of the hill is the 1852 church and its grove. The band plays in an unusual pavilion which has impressive acoustics and some seating. Inside this shelter the sound always is wonderfully bright. If you prefer your music more subdued, bring a folding chair and sit along the outside the pavilion. (Better bring a folding chair anyway in case the pavilion is full.) Hill Church was once a busy postal hamlet that included a hotel, general store, creamery, and schoolhouse. A. W. Glase was postmaster from 1864 to 1895. The post office ceased operating in 1910. Here is a vintage photo of Ringgold Band members. It should be noted that none remains active...  =========================== ==================== 3- An all-Chopin piano concert will be presented at the Historical Society this coming SUNDAY afternoon at 3. Six gifted pianists will take turns playing your favorite etudes, waltzes, polonaises, and mazurkas. This is an unusual musical event not to be missed. The Society's Steinway is a splendid instrument, purchased especially for the building. You are invited to this musicale. It's FREE. Come and bring friends. Parking is easy at the Society on a Sunday afternoon at 3. (Date: Aug. 10th) ===================== =================== 4- We need help identifying the locations of these two artistic renderings. Can you help? This is by Tuckerton artist Christopher High Shearer, 1846-1926. There is no doubt that it's a Berks County scene. But where? It somewhat resembles a site on the Maiden Creek near Wiley's Bridge, near Blue Falls (formerly Bowers Country Club).  Christopher High Shearer painting inside his studio at Schuylkill Bend/Tuckerton.  This appears to be a foundry or iron works of some type, probably long gone. The body of water is obviously a river. The artist responsible for this work was J. Heyl Raser, 1824-1901. Raser specialized in renderings of the Schuylkill River but, as he later left Berks and died in Williamsport, it could be another river. Actually, the width suggests something like the Susquehanna. Any thoughts on the matter?  ===================== ========================= |
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