1- The Society's BCTV program for April is THIS Wednesday,
April 4th, at 7 p.m.

In addition to the usual old-time photo potpourri, we'll
have two sets of guest panelists: Carl Wert and Paul
Bevens, Jr. will appear to discuss upcoming events in
commemoration of Mohnton Borough's 100th Anniversary.

This year the American Institute of Architects is
celebrating its 150-year anniversary. The local Eastern
PA Chapter would like to offer the Reading Community "a
Design Charette," along with a history of the local
architecture as part of our Blue Print for America
initiative, which is being done across the United States
by each chapter.

Three AIA Eastern PA members will appear: Gene Berg,
President; John Young, President-Elect; and Sylvia Deye,
AIA 150 Champion and Secretary.

2- This past Saturday, March 31, the "Tools that Built Berks"
exhibition opened to an overflow crowd. The general reaction
was amazement at the vast number of artifacts gathered and
labeled for the exhibit. Paul Troutman, Society trustee,
oversaw preparation of this show in the capacity of Guest
Curator.

Highlight of the afternoon was an animated verbal presentation
by Society member Severin Fayerman, founder of Baldwin Brass,
who provided an overview of hardware manufacture in Reading
and Berks.

3- An inordinately large number of communications have been
received in regard to the latest issue of the "Historical
Review," which was distributed last week. Most comments
stemmed from the beauty of the cover art, which featured a
rare chick rendering by an artist whose work is generally
unknown: WILLIAM Spang, Frederick Spang's brother. We're
indebted to Valerie and Kurt Malmburg of Greshville Antiques
for providing the original painting from which the cover-art
was prepared.



Among the magazine's contents, which include numerous book
reviews of recent Readng and Berks publications, are the
following articles, all of which are extensively illustrated:
== Boyertown Opera House Fire
== Alsace Lutheran Church
== African American Occupations in the 1900's
== Maude Adams, actress, in Reading
== Grand Dames of Berks County Softball

4- Society member Tony Mattassa forwarded this view with
the information that it was found in a photo album that
contained Berks views mainly.

It is thought the picture might have been taken at Gernant's
Church, Leesport.

Can any reader identify this photo?

5- The annual concert of the Ringgold Band will be held at
Scottish Rite Cathedral at West Reading/Wyomissing on
Sunday, April 15th at 3.

Tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the performance.

Check the Ringgold's web-site for details of the concert.

6- Your News-Bits editor will present a slide show
titled "Then and Now...The Early Days of Reading" -- on Saturday
morning, April 21st, at 10 a.m., in the auditorium at Goggleworks.

Access to the first-floor theatre is easy, and parking is
free--right behind the Goggleworks at the northeast corner of
2nd and Washington Sts., Reading.

This slide program is free and open to the general public,
thanks to the local Eastern PA Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects (noted in News-Bit # 1).

This slide collection, specially created in 1998 for Reading's
250th anniversary and presented only one time, shows landmarks
of early Reading--and what's on the site today.

Come....and bring friends.

7- An ad appeared recently that listed the old stone Yoder
homestead at Pleasantville (Oley Twp.) as being for sale.
This is the large residence that stands on the Pleasantville
(north) side of the covered bridge at the village--overlooking
the Manatawny Creek.

Perhaps five years ago, the then-owner removed some panel
long fastened over the steps leading to the basement of the
older portion of the residence--that small section on the
west side. Behind that panel was a datestone long obscured.
The date was earlier than one would have imagined. Maybe
1730--1740?? I photographed the stone using a digital
camera but, regrettably, that image no longer survives.

8- Corrie Crupi informs us that a Gravity R.R. car
will be moved Thursday morning, April 5th, around 9:30 or
10 O'clock to its new location at the Lower Alsace
municipal building along Carsonia Avenue.

For many years, the "dummy car" has been in the back
yard of a home along Hill Road in the vicinity of Egelman's
Park.

A dummy car had no motive power of its own. Originally,
it was drawn to the summit level of Mount Penn by a
shay-type steam engine such as the William Penn.

At the summit level---at The Tower---the engine was removed,
the cars (several joined together) were given a push, and
they rolled down the mountain-side by Gravity to the point
of beginning, at Gravity Station...which was near present-
day East End Hotel. Years back, this was the Mineral Spring
Hotel.

9- Brian C. Engelhardt, author of the article "Grand Dames
of Berks County Softball," which appears in the current
Historical Review, will present the First Thursday
"talk" of the same name....this coming Thursday, April 5th
at 9 a.m.

The program, which runs around an hour, is open to the
general public. There is a modest charge of $1 for members
and $2 for non-members to cover the costs of a beverage and
some really special editables from Sweet Street.

Scheduled to appear for interviews are a number of old-time
Berks County softball stars, one of whom is a nonagenarian.
Be apprised these ladies are really special. A number have
their own baseball cards!



Do not miss this program. It's a once-and-done opportunity.

Our good friend Ruth Hartman from Limekiln is scheduled to
appear. She's pictured in The Passing Scene--Vol. 13 holding
her baseball card.