Business

The Keystone Hat Factory, Reading, PA Submitted by: J. C. Bozarth The following information is taken from History of Berks County in Pennsylvania by Morton L. Montgomery, Philadelphia: Everts, Peck and Richards, 1886. The Keystone Hat Factory, owned by I.W. Levan & Son, on Muhlenberg Street, above Eleventh, was established in 1865, by W. & … Read more

<!– –> Berks County Businesses Settlers began to come to Berks County, then known as Philadelphia County in the late 1600’s. By 1750, the settlements were well in place and organized and by the time Berks was a county, many businesses had sprung up around the area. In this section we will be recording the … Read more

File Making File-making was a very early industry in Cumru and Robeson townships, but no factory for the production of files was carried on at Reading until 1866. Frees Factory – John E Frees removed from near Mohnton to Reading in 1885, and then began manufacturing all kinds of files and rasps. He employs 2 … Read more

BUSINESSES IN BERKS COUNTY: A through F A-F      G-J      K-N      O-R      S-Z Special thanks to Bonnie Blau for transcribing and submitting this section to our project. The following information is from Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, pp. 170-185. The following concise description of the numerous industrial enterprises at Reading, showing name … Read more

UNION BANK ALSO KNOWN AS THE FARR SHOE FACTORY Mr. Yoder, the Berks County Historical Society’s Executive Director, came upon this rare 19th century view of the 1761 structure long known as the Union Bank, which is what it was when this photo was taken. Many of you will know it as the Farr Shoe … Read more

BUSINESSES IN BERKS COUNTY: G through J A-F      G-J      K-N      O-R      S-Z Special thanks to Bonnie Blau for transcribing and submitting this section to our project. GALVANIZING A Lincoln FRAME, who started in the foundry business in 1903, trading under the name of the Gray Iron Foundry Company, adding a galvanizing department to his works … Read more

BUSINESSES IN BERKS COUNTY: O through R A-F      G-J      K-N      O-R      S-Z Special thanks to Bonnie Blau for transcribing and submitting this section to our project. PAINTS Aaron WILHELM began the manufacture of paint s Easton, Pa., in 1857, and continued the business there until 1871, when he removed to Reading. His brother William H. was … Read more

Prominent Businesses in Berks County Transcribed and submitted by Bonnie Blau. The following information is taken from Morton Montgomery’s History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, (1909)pages 168-169. As near as can be ascertained, Reading in 1847 contained 37 different kinds of industrial establishments; also 130 mercantile houses for which county licenses were issued. The following statement … Read more

Rambo Toy and Novelty Store, Reading PA (1870) Submitted by: Glenn and Nancy Rambo. One of the prominent business houses of Reading of 46 years ago was the toy and novelty store of Isaiah Rambo, 630 Penn St. The store was a low, one-story frame structure, with a frontage of 35 feet, and occupying the … Read more

BUSINESSES IN BERKS COUNTY: S through Z A-F      G-J      K-N      O-R      S-Z Special thanks to Bonnie Blau for transcribing and submitting this section to our project. SAND AND SPALLS For a period of upward of forty years sand has been removed from the base of Mt. Penn near the extension of Buttonwood street, and the … Read more