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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
| Posted 02-27-2007
FOUR News-Bits of Reading-Berks historical interest… ====================== ==================== ====================== ==================== 1- Society closings and late starts due to weather problems 2- FIRST THURSDAY “Sousa” program this Thurs., Mar. 1st 3- Baby coach question; 2 interesting photos included 4- Pending visitation to the Society from a long distance? ======================= =================== ======================= =================== To simplify the dissemination of information for volunteers, staff personnel, and local patrons--in regard to Society closings and late starts because of ice and snow problems—we will operate according to the Reading School District’s postings on local tv channel 69, Lebanon-Lancaster channel 8, and the Weather Channel tied into channel 69 News. Also, listen to local radio station WEEU for verbal announcements. In other words, if the Reading Schools are closed due to inclemency, the Historical Society will likewise be closed. And if the Reading Schools have a 2-hour late start, the Society will likewise observe a 2-hour delay. Every attempt will be made to promptly clear the Society’s parking lot behind our building at 940 Centre Ave.—at the former M&T bank site, soon to be our new library facility. As a general rule, the main roads leading to the Society are cleared rather quickly, so getting here isn’t the problem. The problem is where to park once you arrive. This is a concern for staff as well as most Society patrons. If you have any questions about hours of operation and parking during bad weather, please call before coming to check on prevailing conditions. See News-Bit 4 for related comments. ==================== =============== 2- The FIRST THURSDAY program for this coming Thursday, March 1st, will be "John Philip Sousa: A Retrospect, " which will include stories, displays, etc., about "the march king.” 
We are pleased to announce that the presenter will be Matthew K. Brown, a “music man” in his own right. His bachelor’s in music is from Mansfield, his master’s from Michigan State U., and at present he’s a D.M.A. candidate through Michigan State U. Matthew K. Brown, a native of Reading, began his musical studies on the classical guitar at the age of seven and started playing the tuba at fifteen. At the age of seventeen he became the grand-prize winner of the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Concerto Competition and made his concerto debut with the Pennsylvania Sinfonia later that same year… to rave reviews: “Brown was exciting…..a tour de force!” (Allentown Morning Call); “The best performance of the {Vaughn Williams} tuba concerto I recall hearing!” (Bethlehem Globe Times) . While a tuba student at Boston University, he studied with Sam Pilafian of the Empire Brass Quintet and began his professional chamber music career as tubist and founding member of the award-winning Paramount Brass Quintet. Mr. Brown went on to study at the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University with David Fedderly, principal tubist of the Baltimore Symphony. From 1991 through 1993, Mr. Brown was a member of the Washington Brass Quintet, based in Washington, D.C. A founding member of the Avatar Brass Quintet, he has performed hundreds of concerts throughout the United States, including weekly internationally televised performances from the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Brown is an active arranger, having arranged and transcribed over one hundred pieces for various brass ensembles, many of which are published by his own publishing company – Hawkeye Music Publications. Mr. Brown has held the principal tuba position with the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra, and has also performed with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, the New World Symphony, the Miami City Ballet, Ballet Florida, the Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony, Alea III, and Ensemble 21. From 1994 through 2000, he served as a member of the Artist Faculty at the Harid Conservatory of Music (now the Lynn University Conservatory) in Boca Raton, FL, where he taught applied tuba, coached chamber music, and conducted the brass ensemble. He has also served on the faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan, Michigan State University, and Florida Atlantic University where he was a Schmidt Distinguished Teaching Fellow. Currently, Mr. Brown resides in Exeter Twp. with his wife and two daughters. In addition to performing and conducting, he is well known as an avid collector and dealer of antique phonographs, and researcher/ lecturer/impersonator of John Philip Sousa. He joined the faculty of the Pennsylvania Academy of Music in 2005, and is an active musician throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. FIRST THURSDAY programs are open to the general public. Come and bring a friend. Members: $1 Non-members $2. Doors open at 8:30 for a beverage and edibles. The program begins at 9 and ends around 10. ====================== ================== 3- A Mr. Zern requested information on an unusual baby carriage supposedly made on Schuylkill Ave. in Reading. Note in the one photograph the large “R” in front with an Eagle above it. 
A quick check in the 1927 Boyd Reading City directory shows a listing for the Eagle Furniture Co. of Reading at 538 Schuylkill Ave., operated by Jacob H. Miller. There’s also a listing for Frank M. Eagle of 724 Schuylkill Ave., “ a heater.” This said, a betting man would opt for the previous listing. Anyone know anything about this unusual baby carriage and/or Jacob H. Miller? ================= ================ 4- Members and visitors coming from a considerable distance would be well served to call the Society prior to coming to check on local weather conditions and Society hours of operation. Those from out of the area who packed a lunch are invited to eat at the Society at a large table in the auditorium. Non-members who pay the $5 for whole-day use of the library may leave the building for lunch and return without additional payment. Once in a great while, the Society operates with a skeleton staff when major events are scheduled… such as pilgrimages and tours, special fund raisers, theatrical events, etc. And during the summer, key people might be away for a week or two. Society hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Our phone number is 610 – 375 – 4375. Fax: 610 – 375 – 4376. Most questions relative to the Society’s operation can be answered by accessing out web-site at www.berkshistory.org ================== =========== END
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