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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 10-05-2003
FOUR News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest….. ================ =========== =========== ================ =========== =========== 1- Oley Turnpike's locust mile-posts being "refreshed" 2- Photographer Mario Bernardini, 94, died Oct. 1st 3- Greshville's Annual Berks County Art Show well worth seeing 4- Joseph Levin, 94, died. Owned a dairy and Coca-Cola bottling ================ =========== =========== ================ =========== =========== 1- Returning from the post office at Limekiln Friday, your editor did a double-take at the sight of someone repairing and painting an Oley Turnpike mile-post along the Limekiln hill, heading southward towards Schwarzwald/Jacksonwald. As might be expected, I immediately pulled from the road to investigate. The benefactor was Richard Shaner of Main St., Kutztown, whose interest in local history is well known. Prior to retirement, he was the star teacher in Oley High's social studies department. Articles from his pen appear in the "Historical Review" with some regularity.  Mr. Shaner informed me that an effort is being made to repair the mile-posts and replace two or three that were damaged by errant motorists. This project ties in to the restoration of Pleasantville Covered Bridge, which was the northern terminus of the Oley Turnpike---the last privately owned highway in PA when taken over in 1925. It ran from Black Bear Hotel (near 422) to Pleasantville Hotel. ================ ============== ========= 2- Mario Bernardini, 94, of Shillington, died Wed., Oct. 1, at Rdg. Hospital. His wife, Harriet Sternbergh-Bernardini, died in 1988. Though born in Pitiglano, Italy, he was a 1926 graduate of Reading Boys' High and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He was a part president of the Mengel Society of the Rdg. Public Museum. Mr. Bernardini was a photographer for Dreh's Photo Co. of Rdg. until his retirement in 1980. It was in this realm that he was widely known. Many photos that appeared in the "Historical Review of Berks County" years ago were taken by him. He had been a member of our Society in times past. He is survived by a sister, Leda Mazzoli, Hershey, at which place he will be buried. ================= ============ ======== 3- The Annual Berks County Art Show opened today (Sunday) at noon. Three large rooms are filled with the works of local artists of yesteryear. There are perhaps 100 fine paintings to see. The show continues daily (10 to 7) until next Sunday (Oct. 12) at 5. We were delighted to learn that the huge/splendid oil painting by Mary Leisz (pronounced Lease) of a Gypsy encampment at Oley, seen on the front cover of the Summer issue of the "Historical Review," was purchased by an Oleyite, so it will remain in Berks! This magnificent work appears in this show and can be seen until next Sunday. Herewith is an interior view of the Greshville "art barn," located on the Boyertown Pike (Route 562), two miles east of Boyertown, at the hamlet of Greshville.  ============== ============== ============ 4- Joseph Levin, 94, retired Reading businessman, died Mon., Sept. 29th, in North East, MD. The husband of Althea Hoffman-Levin, he had formerly resided in Jefferson Twp. He was born in Rdg., the son of Abraham and Dora Levin. He was one of the owners of the Blue Mountain Dairy, Inc., Rdg., and the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. In 1960, he sold the dairy and purchased the bottling company with his brother Leonard. He was a former director of the Heidelberg County Club and president of Landmark Properties, Inc., Wyomissing. Mr. Levin retired to Coca Raton, FL, where he invested in a marina in North East. He is survived by a son and daughter and sister (out of state), and another sister, Mae Marlowe of Reading. The Cremation Society of Maryland was in charge of arrangements. ============= gmmix ======== end ======== |
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