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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 06-28-2006
TEN News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest.... ============================================= ============================================= 1- Society summer workshops for youngsters start soon 2- More about the late Hans Wilkins, Berks County botanist 3- Wyomissing Borough now observing its 100th anniversary 4- Reward for return of 15-year-old Dorothy Johnson of Rdg. 5- Two Berks landmarks currently for sale 6- A must-see web-site featuring old Belleman's Church 7- Survey of old barns of Penn'a 8- Another must-see web-site: old Pricetown meeting-house 9- The annual Book Bonanza is just around the corner.... 10- The Summer issue of the Historical Review is coming! ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 1- Our Summer Craft Workshops are scheduled for Thursday mornings -- 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the HSBC, 940 Centre Ave., Rdg. They are designed for children ages 7 to 14. Vicky Heffner, the Society's Education Curator, is in charge of this popular summer program. The cost per workshop is $4; only $3 for 1776 Club members. ------------------------------------------------------ Thursday, July 6 - Basket-making. This workshop will teach the basic skills needed to make an oak basket. Thursday, July 13 - Penny Rug. Pennies were sewn into this Post-Civil War craft to weigh down this "rug" or table runner. Thursday, July 20 - Sampler. In connection with our current exhibition, "Historic Samplers of Berks County," participants will start their very own "marking" sampler. Thursday, July 27 - Ribbon Weaving. A clever book cover will be woven out of colorful ribbon. Thursday, August 3 - Corn Dollys. More commonly known as wheat weaving (not a corn husk doll), this class will teach the basic techniques of plating four wheat straws together. ===================================================== 2- In a recent News-Bits dispatch, we mentioned the fact that among the famous individuals buried at Aulenbach's Cemetery is Hans Wilkins, renown Berks County botanist. News-Bits reader Anna Hehn sent a most interesting note, one well worth sharing.... "In the l970's, when I was a secretary at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center (at the time it was called Nolde Forest State Park), I met a most unusual gentleman-- Hans Wilkens--while working there in my position as a budding secretary/ naturalist. "Hans would appear and disappear rather quietly and quickly with a twinkle in his eye as to all of his new discoveries of the flora and fauna of this beautiful place. "For the five years I worked there, I met the most wonderful people like Hans Wilkens, Dr. Richard Fisher of Cornell Ornithology fame, and a steady stream of local environ- mentalists like Don Hartman of the Isaac Walton League, Emma Dolla, Nancy Taylor, Carole Schmehl, Ron Wenrich, Janet Leighow, and Dr. Louis Ritrovato, biologist from West Chester originally---all naturalists with a genuine love of our Berks County environs. "One memory that stands out was how passionate Hans Wilkens was about a certain plant called 'moonseed.' if you mentioned it, be prepared to listen for at least an hour!" Anna Hehn =============================================== 3- At present, the Wyomissing Library has an extensive display of old-time Wyomissing Borough photographs, placed there in observation of the borough's 100th anniversary. An unusual feature of this display is the fact most views are paired to show how a site looked years ago and how the same site appears today. An effort was made to show "the now picture" from the exact camera position of the old-time view. =============================================== 4- Looking though an 1801 newspaper, I came upon a somewhat amusing reward notice, posted in an effort to have a runaway girl from Reading returned. Make careful note of the handsome reward offered, provided she is jailed first! 
============================================== 5- Two true Berks landmarks currently have "for sale" signs.....Fies Tavern in Alsace Township (close to Alsace School and Spies Church) and an 18th century grist mill along the Antietam Creek in Exeter Township. Passing Scene--Volume 9, on pages 163 and 164, provides a history of Fies Tavern which, 150 years ago, was one of the best-known rural public-houses in the county--along with Exeter's Black Bear and Kemp's, above Kutztown. Here's a present-day photo of Fies. More on this old-time hotel-site will appear in the next News- Bits. 
----------------------------------- Herewith is a sales sheet for the Exeter Twp. grist mill on Exeter Rd., not far from the location of the well-known Carsonia Park site. 
The seller states the mill dates from the 1780's, which is probably reasonably close to its time of erection. Directly across the street is the miller's home, the original part of which is square-cut log. The stone addition dates from 1817. Crudely cut into a stone on the east side is "J H - C H 1817" The miller's home is now on a separate parcel and is not for sale. The mill is largely frame, measuring 51 by 52 feet. A special effort was made to secure photos to share; however, the digital file failed. Another effort will be made...... ========================================== 6- Bill Uhrich, one of Berks County's finest photographers, prepared this splendid web-site tribute after his recent visit to Belleman's Church, a true Berks County landmark. These photos could not be better! Here's hoping you can open this URL.... ========================================= 7- An effort is being made to register Penn'a's vintage barns..... 
========================================= 8- Here's another Bill Uhrich photo-tribute to another of the county's landmark houses of worship....at Pricetown. Very few people have ever seen the inside of this 18th century meeting-house. Your editor attended a service here in 1960. For the record, the cemetery behind it is "buried full," although few tombstones are in evidence. It also was once enclosed with a fence. Unfortunately, someone (who will be unnamed) cleared away most of the grave markers and the fence and planted corn on God's Acre.....to keep the weeds down! ========================================= 9- Book Bonanza 2006 Bargains in over 50,000 used hardback books, paperbacks, magazines and more… Leesport Farmers Market Banquet Hall, off Route 61 (North of Leesport) July 14 & 15: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 16: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., "Bag of Books" sale day For more information: call 610-779-7297 Sponsoring organizations: Reading Branch, American Association of University Women Berks County Public Library System Friends of Berks County Public Libraries Book Bonanza funds are divided among these organizations for educational scholarships for Berks women and the Berks Libraries' Summer Reading Program for Kids. Children's books are separated by age/reading level, fiction, non-fiction… In addition to general fiction there are romance, mystery, western, science fiction and literature categories. Adult non-fiction is divided into numerous subject categories: history, biography, science, art, music, poetry, theatre, health, nature, hobbies, language, sports, cookbooks… There is a separate area for collectibles: e.g., unique and special books, first editions, autographed books, books of local interest or by local authors, coffee table books… =============================================== 10- You who are members of the Historical Society of Berks County can expect to receive the Summer issue of the Society's quarterly magazine within the week. 
It's a real stunner! Wait till you see the color plates.... ============================================== =============== GMMIX ==================== END |
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