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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 08-31-2003
TEN News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest... ================ ============== ============== 1- Society's BCTV program this WED., Sept. 3, at 7 will be special 2- FIRST THURSDAY, Sept. 4 at 8:30: "Paul Druzba's Neversink Mt." 3- SUN., Sept. 7 - 75th Anniversary of Conrad Weiser Homestead 4- TUES., Sept. 9 at Society at 1:30: Old-time Combs Made of Horn 5- SAT., Sept. 13: Opening of Sterography Exhibit at Society 6- Paul Specht's first recording of 1922 found. Hear it here! 7- Interesting article on tombstone rubbing--with photo 8- Nostalgia time: Remember the Burma Shave signs along highways? 9- Major fire at 238 and 240 Penn; probable $400,000 loss 10- Ringgold Band's annual dinner-concert ticket-deadline Oct. 10 ============== ================== ================= 1- The Society's monthly BCTV program for this coming WEDNESDAY at 7 promises to be a really interesting one. You might wish to have a tape handy to record it. We will have two guests: Michael A. Miller, Washington Twp. historian and author of two splendid illustrated histories--- and Paul Druzba, Reading-Berks postcard collector and history buff whose newly published book on Neversink Mt. was reviewed here a week or so ago. Both these gentlemen come with slides of great historical interest. ALSO, someone lent your editor 8 reels of 16mm movie film shot mainly in the early 1930's. Society member Joe DeAngelo expertly transferred the best of the films to video, which you will have a chance to see on the program. Included are views of... Stoudt's Ferry Bridge (1857-1948), in COLOR, inside and out with a car crossing over it....and both the Muhlenberg and Bern twp. portals. RARE views! Schuylkill Canal scenes at Mohrsville, Shoemakersville, Blue Mt., and Gibraltar. All the locks have water and are operable Penn St., from 4th to 8th, at Christmas, at night Ancient bus traveling along OLD Route 724/River Road at Gibraltar. Shows the aqueduct and an old-time gas station near the present site of St. John's Lutheran Church. Also the hump-back bridge. Schuylkill River scenes at Reading--Penn Hardware and Met-Ed sites Old trolleys crossing Penn St. Viaduct heading for Leinbach's Hill Old horse-drawn street-car being drawn by horses for Rdg.Dollar Day Rdg. Fairgrounds---midway and side-show section---and stage Penn St. snow scenes in 1932; good taste of the times views! Angelica Lake and Park...and museum grounds Big parade, maybe NRA 1933 parade: Ringgold Band marching, etc. City Park anchor and ornamental plantings that once were much admired in the park Those living beyond the BCTV cablecasting area can view the show, the following day (Thurs., Sept. 4th), by accessing: http://www.berskweb.com/realaudio/hill.ram =============== ================= ================ 2- The Society's monthly FIRST THURSDAY series resumes this coming Thursday, Sept. 4th, at 8:30 a.m. Paul Druzba, well- known Reading-Berks postcard collector and local history buff, will present an illustrated talk on Neversink Mountain, with an emphasis on its history. He will be available to autograph his new book on the subject, which you can purchase that day at the Society's museum/gift shop...at $14.95 plus tax. ================= ==================== ============== 3- Sunday, Sept. 7th, is the 75th anniversary of the establish- ment of the Conrad Weiser Homestead and Memorial Park. The event will be commemorated by a series of talks that run from noon to 5---at Weiser Park, along 422 at Womelsdorf---at Farr Nursery. 12 noon- free tours of Weiser buildings at the Homestead 1:30 - commemorative program 2:15 - "Berks Countians Commemorate Weiser's Life" - a talk by Dr. Karen Guenther 2:45 - book signings 3:15 - "Settlement of the Tulpehocken Area" - a talk by Lester P. Breininger, Jr. 3:45 - "The Life of Conrad Weiser" - a talk by Michael Emery, Museum Educator ================ =================== ================== 4- Tuesday, Sept. 9th, at 1:30 in the Society's auditorium: a talk by Troy Boyer, Executive Director of the PA German Society: "Old-time Combs Cut from [animal] Horn" You are invited. =============== =================== ================= 5- Opening of a new exhibit at the Society: "America in Three Dimensions---Stereography and Photography." Executive Director Harold E. Yoder, Jr. has gathered an extraordinary collection of photographic artifacts for this exhibit. Great effort was expended to have as many local scenes available as possible. This exhibit opens Saturday, Sept. 13th and runs through Fri., Oct. 31st. Local members: mark you calendar for Sat. morning, Sept. 20th, at 10 AND at 11: Your editor will present a one-day-only show of projected stereo, with an emphasis on Berks views taken in 3-D years ago. If you've never seen projected ViewMaster stereo, you are in for a great surprise and treat. ============= ===================== ==================== 6- We've often spoken of the nationally famous Sinking Spring bandleader PAUL SPECHT who from 1922 to 1932 made recordings--- over 100 of them---that rivaled the popularity of Paul Whiteman and Vincent Lopez recordings. Specht, 1895 to 1954, was born and buried in Sinking Spring. He was chosen over Whiteman to play for Hoover's 1929 Inagural Ball. His was the first orchestra to broadcast for RCA, the first to make a sound motion picture, the first to broadcast over a nationwide radio network of 109 stations, etc., etc. His family's home at 595 Penn Ave. still stands. While his Columbia 78 rpm discs sold in vast numbers and were purchased all over the world, his earliest recordings---made for the Emerson Co.---are rarities. His first disc--"Hot Lips"--was recorded on June 29, 1922. Listen to it now!  Are you aware that the Historical Society's archive possesses four CD's made from about 80 of his recordings? Society members may listen to Specht selections in the library as a benefit of membership! ================ ================ ================= 7- One of our readers sent us an interesting illustrated article on tombstone rubbing/tracing.  If this interests you, acccess: http://www.familytreemagazine.com/articles/oct00/rubbing.html ============= =================== =================== 8- Many of you will remember the Burma Shave signs that once stood along major highways--- four-line humorous poems with each line on a small sign, situated about 100 feet part, followed by a fifth sign: Burma Shave! The poems were changed from time to time, but not often! I recall Burma Shave signs along 422 in the 1940s, in Western Berks, but can't recall their exact location. Were they in the Wernersville area? Do access this well-done site about Burma Shave signs: http://wandascountryhome.com/remember-when/index.html ================== ==================== =============== 9- Saturday's Reading Eagle contained a major news story about a three-alarm arson fire at 238 and 240 Penn Street. Twenty were left homeless, but none of the occupants was injured. Two firemen sustained minor injuries. Damage was set at about $400,000. The view below shows, from left to right: Kurtz House Bar & Grill (240 Penn), with blue plastic on the roof---and Flowers Forever (238). This was the first multiple-alarm fire on Penn St. in 22 years.  ================= ============== ================ 10- The Ringgold Band's annual dinner-concert is a popular affair. Your editor has attended most of them. If you would like to attend, my recommendation is to get your tickets soon. In recent years, those who wait till the deadline to order sometimes don't get tickets. "He who hesitates is lost!" Ringgold Band FALL DINNER CONCERT 151st Anniversary Year! SUNDAY, October 19 - 6 p.m. Stokesay Castle---Hill Road & Spook Lane, Reading Featured soloist: Dr. Kenneth Laudermilch, Professor of Trumpet, West Chester University $28 per person. Reservations required. Deadline is FRIDAY, Oct. 10th. Ticket info, call Wendy (610) 779-8858 or e-mail TheRinggoldBand@aol.com or visit http://www.ringgoldband.com Dr. Kenneth Laudermilch, trumpeter supreme, is no stranger to the band or our area. He appeared here some years ago as a featured soloist.s over the years. At the dinner concert he will perform Leroy Anderson's "Trumpeter's Lullaby" and William Walton's "Crown Imperial." Also scheduled is the Grand March from Charles Gounod's 1962 masterpiece, "The Queen of Sheba." As might be expected, the band plans a liberal offering of favorite marches and concert band bon-bons. To round out the evening, diners will feast on a selection of Glenn Miller favorites, seasoned with the vocal stylings of Deborah Greenawald. ================ gmmix ======== end ============== |
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