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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 11-04-2006
ELEVEN News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest…. =================== ============= ============ =================== ============= ============ 1- Sampler exhibition to close Sat., Nov. 11th at 4 p.m. (See News-Bits # 8) 2- Samples of the then-and-now format of P.S.—Volume 14 3- Vitalij Kuprij---RSO piano soloist---Sat., Nov. 18--- is a must-see performance 4- Annual Centre Park House Tour – Sun., Dec. 10 – 1 to 6 5- Kutztown Library trip to Winterthur for PA-Germaniana – 12/5 6- Society’s Hendel House, on Centre Ave., now available on a limited basis 7- Volunteers needed at Society headquarters 8- A slight disappointment in regard to Passing Scene—Vol. 14 9- Comments regarding the soon-to-close SAMPLER EXHIBITION 10- Some book reviews will appear in News-Bits soon 11- A Hottenstein House postscript…. ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= 1- The Society’s sampler (“fancy needlework/stitchery”) exhibit is scheduled to close on Saturday, Nov. 11th at 4 p.m. ================ ============== =========== 2- In the previous News-Bits dispatch, we attempted—- unsuccessfully—-to attach samples of the then-and-now format of the upcoming Passing Scene—Volume 14. The 272-page hardbound volume includes 360 fully restored photograps, the most we’ve ever put into any previous book in the series. All photos have pleasing contrast, enhanced by use of a superior, slick, coated paper-stock that brings out all the detail a photograph has to offer. The volume is fully cross-indexed. There are approx. 2,450 index entries. Let's try again to supply some photo-samples from Volume 14: ============ ============= ============== 3- Piano soloist for the Reading Symphony Orchestra program for Saturday, November 18th, at 8 p.m., will be VITALIJ KUPRIJ, a pianist ] like you’ve never SEEN or HEARD before. Vitalij is an extraordinary talent who is also a truly gifted composer capable of creating music in the style of Chopin and Liszt, etc. Berks Countians fortunate enough to have attended his previous local recitals will attest to the fact he’s a dynamo at the keyboard. If you enjoy a spirited pianist, do yourself a favor and make every effort to attend this performance…at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center (Rajah Theatre)on Nov. 17th. At last report, ticket sales have been very brisk. Mr. Kuprij will be playing LISZT’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Tickets: 610 898 – 7299 or Ticketmaster: 215 – 336 – 2000 ================ =========== ========== 4- The Annual Centre Park House Tour will be held on December 11th---from 1 to 6 p.m. As usual, the featured sites (around 9) will be fully and elegantly decorated for the holidays. The Hendel House will be included this year. Expect to see a good deal of activity there. Another major tour-site will be "Overlook," a gothic Victorian treasure erected by J. H. Sternbergh---near where North Fourth, Centre Ave., and Greenwich come together. The Historical Society will be the last stop on the tour. Music and an assortment of drinks and choice edibles will be awaiting you and yours. Society headquarters will be fully open, including the gift/ museum shop which has an impressive array of seasonal and traditional inventory. Most local history books, presently available, are in stock. There are many "new arrivals." And there is a good stock of pre-owned local histories. Tickets for the Centre Park House Tour are $12 and will be sold the day of the event—at a booth in Centre Park—-directly opposite the Hendel House. www.berkshistory.org/mansion ============ =============== ========== 5- Victoria Bieber ( 610-683-3495 ) informs us that while the Winterthur tour is a fund-raiser for the Kutztown Library, the focus of the trip is to see all the wonderful treasures of Pennsylvania German handicrafts and architecture. Arrangements were made to get into rooms not normally seen on tours at Winterthur. On Tuesday, December 5th, the Kutztown Public Library is running a trip to Winterthur for the day. The focus of the trip is to see much if not most of the treasures of Pennsylvania German origin. These treasures include actual reconstructed rooms dating back to the mid 1700's; hand-painted architectural treatments; hand painted furniture, quilts, cooking utensils and cookware and Fraktur--- the PA German art of illuminated writing, the oldest known examples of which were produced in BERKS. We will be taken on 2 tours, the Stylish Suites Tour consisting of the KERSHNER parlor and kitchen from the Wernersville area (west end of present-day Phoebe Village property), dating back to 1755..…AND the Fraktur Room, which is the Ballroom from the 2nd floor of the Hottenstein House, built in 1783, located just a few miles east of Kutztown. The OTHER tour is called Distinctive Collections Tour, and that includes The Lebanon Bedroom and the PA German Bedroom, both on the 8th floor. The trip costs $67.00 per person. This includes your transportation and admission to the Museum and the cost of the special tours. Lunch will be on your own at the Garden Cafeteria at the visitors center. You will also be able to buy Yuletide Tour Tickets for $5.00 and try to fit it in between tours if desired. We must be at Winterthur by 9:30 a.m. Leaving time will probably be 8:00 a.m.--out of Reading. Departure time from Winterthur to come home is 4:30 p.m. Seating is limited so call the Louisa Gonser Library today and reserve a seat. 610-683-5820. Keep in mind the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County TEA will be held the following week, on the 12th, at the Hottenstein House, east of Kutztown. The bus trip will be a warm-up for touring the Hottenstein House! Questions? 610-683-3495 =========== ============== =========== 6- The Hendel House is being made available, on a limited basis, for special events….birthday and anniversary parties, meetings, weddings and wedding receptions, recitals and other musical events, etc. As might be expected, it’s a smoke- free facility. Call the Society for rental rates and availability. =========== =========== ============= 7- The Society is in need volunteers for the library, the gift shop, the reception desk, for tour guides, etc. It’s your choice what type of activity you’d like. If you can give 4 hours once a week, once every other week, once a month, or on a substitute basis, please give us a call ---- at 610 375 – 4375. =========== ========== ============== 8- As this News-Bits communication was about to be dispatched, we’ve learned that the truck carrying our shipment of “The Passing Scene—Volume 14” books will not arrive at the Society until the late afternoon of Friday, December 8th. ACCORDINGLY, the autograph party originally scheduled for Nov. 25 and 26 will have to be post- poned to SATURDAY, December 9th....AND....the following SATURDAY, December 16th. TIME both days: 9:30 to 12……and…..1 to 3:30 Right now, mailing labels and delivery confirmation slips are being processed so that the books being sent by mail can be shipped almost immediately. Books sent out locally oftentimes are received the next day, or the day after. As of this morning, approximately half the Vol. 14’s have already been sold. Some 10’s and 13’s remain for sale in the Society’s gift shop. =========== ============= =========== 9- During the time the SAMPLER EXHIBITION has been showing at the Society, we’ve had visitors from many states, extending to the deep South. The importlance of the samplers on display, on two levels at the Society, cannot be overstated. What will remain on exhibit for only ONE MORE WEEK will probably never be assembled again. The rarity and elegance and historical significance of most of the works being shown is manifest the minute one enters Exhibition Hall and the upstairs balcony gallery. The following letter will be of interest to some of our News-Bits readers…. - - - - - - - - November 4, 2006 Ms. Karen Wojan President, Embroiderer’s Guild of America 426 Woodfield Drive Greenbay, WI 54313 Dear Ms. Wojan: I hardly know where to begin in order to tell you how important the Berks County Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of American has been to our current exhibition, “Here in This Garden: Historic Samplers of Berks County.” Simply put, this entire project would not have been possible without the aid and support of the BCC of the EGA. Not only was financial support given, but many volunteer hours and an auxiliary exhibit in connection with the main exhibit has been open since April 28, 2006. All this work was co-ordinated by two EGA members; Fiana Holt and Kaye Fetherolf attended meetings at the Historical Society of Berks County for over two years and then coordinated all activates with BCC of EGA members. Area EGA members gave hours and hours of volunteer time, dispersing their vast knowledge of embroidery during four “Discovery Days” held at the Historical Society of Berks County. A Dinner Program and two Sampler Seminars were held, one for only one day and the other for three days, and again Berks County Chapter members were present to answer questions, guide tours and help in general. In addition, many EGA members from all over the United States attended these two seminars, therefore making each one a success. In connection with our sampler exhibition, the Berks County Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America curated a “Class A” exhibit on, if I may use the word, “modern” samplers that members of their chapter have sewn. On loan from your National Headquarters Museum of EGA in Louisville, KY, are four beautiful “antique” samplers. It is simply amazing to see women still stitching beautiful works of embroidery, this time mostly for fun! For the past two years, volunteers of the BCC of the EGA have participated in the Historical Society of Berks County annual free family day, “My Great- Grandparents’ House.” This event is held the second Saturday of November, and on average, 400 people visit the Society to learn more about the 1910 to 1930 time period. The EGA’s “Sewing Circle” table has been one of the busiest activities. Again, many thanks to the Berks County Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America and all the wonderful work they have done to support the Historical Society of Berks County. Sincerely, Vicky L. Heffner Education Curator =============== ============= ========== 10- A number of newly published local-history books and research-related (Berks related) CD-roms will be reviewed in News-Bits very shortly. A packet of four CD-roms,just received, might be of special interest to local historians AND genealogists. 1- First PA Landowners (1682-1940) 2- First Landowners of PA—Indexes to Tract Names of Patented Land in the PA Archives (1684-1811) 3- Early Landowners of PA: Scans of Berks County Township Warrantee Maps (very readable!) 4- First Landowners of PA: Indexes to the State and Colonial Patent Registers in the PA Archives (1684-1957) NOTE: Please so NOT email for more details at this time as at present we’re overwhelmed with “paperwork.” Thank you! ============== ============= ========== 11- Recently, I wrote to Dr. Robert Reynolds---who is both the best-versed authority on the Hottenstein House and the present resident there---asking about the status of the Hottenstein private cemetery located on the southeast side of Route 222, a stone’s throw beyond the Hottenstein Home---heading toward Allentown. As locals probably are well aware, plans are afoot to despoil the landmark residence’s general atmosphere and proximity. Township officials are eager to plant yet another Berks County Wal-Mart WAY TO CLOSE BY....and to provide easy access, even more of the front yard will probably be excised. This in spite of the fact the Hottenstein House is an officially designated and nationally recognized landmark. Dr. Reynolds sent the following reply in answer to my query…. = = = = = = = = “Thank you for your interest. The cemetery is on the south side of 222 and it appears safe--- for now. “The main threat from the shopping center are the road improvements proposed to service the center. They want to extend the bypass past the property and install a light with multiple turn lanes. “This action makes widening past the Hottenstein House far more likely. The right of way for 222 goes THROUGH THE CENTER of the mansion. “The 75,000 cars a week expected to visit the shopping center will have a major impact on the mansion and every driver heading through this part of Maxatawny. “Public sentiment is nearly universally against this conditional use approval. “The bigger problem is that the Hottenstein Mansion stands in a beautiful rural area that is being designated an economic expansion zone, and there is no effort being made to chart a future for the historic buildings located there. “It is as if the planners and elected officials expect everything old to be torn down to make way for intensive development. “The farms of David Hottenstein's sons and grand- sons survive in this corridor, but they will not be there in the future if more public pressure is not placed upon the township and country to seriously include preservation as they pursue development. “A balance needs to be struck between economic opportunity and the preservation of our heritage— before it is too late.” ================ ========== =========== ================ ========= GMMIX == END |
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