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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 02-14-2006
Five News-Bits of Reading-Berks historial interest…. ================ =============== ========== ================ =============== ========== 1- Berks Ass’n for Graveyard Preservation mtg. SUN. at 2 2- Berks Postcard Club mtg postponed ‘til Thurs. 2/23 at 3- Annual YOUTH CONCERT—Sat., Feb. 25th at 7:30 4- Book review: “Rememb’ring our Time and Work is the Lords” 5- Coming in a few days…another book review of ANOTHER prize-winning compilation. ================= ============== ============= ================= ============== ============= 1- This coming SUNDAY at 2 p.m. the Berks County Ass’n for Graveyard Preservation will meet at the Oley American Legion building—a stone’s throw north of Route 73—at Oley Village. The white structure is easily seen from Route 73…which overlaps 662 here. The meeting will center on a discussion relative to rebuilding the High-Hoch Cemetery in Cumru Twp., near Poplar Neck. This is a significant issue. You are invited to attend--and URGED to join the BCAGP. More info? - - - WaterLorah@aol.com (president) ============== ============== ============= 2- The Berks County Postcard club meeting has been postponed until NEXT Thursday, Feb. 23rd at 7 p.m. Their meetings are held in the old Fleetwood high school complex at 110 West Arch St. Parking is easy, right behind the building at the steps leading into the headquarters of the Fleetwood Area Historical Society. ================ ============== ========== 3- The poster below gives a good idea what’s in the offing—on Saturday evening, Feb. 25th at 7:30. 
This has become one of the most popular concert programs at the Historical Society. It’s FREE. Come and bring friends. More information will be forthcoming in a few days in regard to specific music numbers being performed and brief bios of the performers. Parking is now readily available right behind the building— in our new parking lot—at the former bank building. And, yes, there will be refreshments! ============== =========== ============= 4- “Rememb’ring our Time and Work is the Lords,” subtitled “The Experiences of Quakers on the 18th Century Pennsylvania Frontier.” This 6- by 9-inch hardbound book was compiled by Karen Guenther, a former Readingite who years back was a familiar personage at our Historical Society. 
At present, Dr. Guenther is Associate Professor of History at Mansfield University of Penn’a. She’s had numerous articles published in major historical journals. This 251-page volume falls into the category of a “local history,” as it’s pretty well based on the Quakers and meeting houses of Berks County—although by extension it reaches far beyond. If you have ancestors of this faith, rest assured you will find a generous portion of data about them. Loads here on the Boones, Ellises, Hugheses, Lees, etc., etc. As is true of all that Karen produces, it’s wonderfully detailed with an endless stream of interesting facts you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere, left to your own devices. Considerable information is provided on the Berks County meeting houses, esp. Exeter/Oley, Robeson, and Maiden Creek. There are numerous tables your editor found fascinating. On pages 55/56 is a tabulated 1737-1789 report from Exeter Meeting that gives great detail regarding particulars of…. “sectarian delinquency,” the greatest of which is drinking; “marriage delinquency,” the greatest of which is exogamy; “sexual delinquency,” the greatest of which is forn&c; “delinquency with victims,” the greatest of which is debt. Among the info provided in the appendix section are… -LONG lists of leaders (men AND women) at Exeter (Oley), Maiden Creek, and Robeson meeting houses. -Membership lists at Berks County’s meeting houses in 1750, 1755. Hundreds of names can be found here. The Notes and Bibliography sections are extensive---and informative in the extreme. In INDEX runs 11 pages and is as comprehensive as any researcher could want. Bottom line is that this book is a must for any local history buff/collector. There’s a wealth of misc. Berks history throughout the volume that comes bundled with the Quaker accounts. Price is $55, which includes postage and handling. PA residents are required to pay tax. An order form—and more particulars about Karen’s compilation---can be found by accessing ============== =============== =============== 5- Coming in a few days will be a book review of another volume worth its weight in gold! Its editor is Irene Reed, a valued member of our Society and producer of the revised history of Bern Township, available through the Society's Gift Shop. 
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