…bringing our past into the future
Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading John Keim John Keim was born in Oley Township, July 6th, 1749. When quite young he accompanied his father, Nicholas Keim, to Reading, where he entered the hardware and grain business which had been established by his father, about 1755. In 1777 John Keim … Read more
Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading First Locomotive Used by the Reading Latest Type Locomotive Used by the Reading Source: Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading, PA, and the 150th Anniversary of the Reading Volunteer Fire Department Sept. 30th to Oct. 6th 1923, ed. by … Read more
Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading Music Committee Frank L. Diefenderfer, Chairman Associate Members Edward H. Knerr Henry G. Miller Harry Fahrbach Geo. F. Eisenbrown Elmer Addis Edward Gicker Thomas E. Gift George D. Haage Winfield Mohn Claude Rosenberry Paul E. Glase Robert Matten Freeman Hemig Ralph R. Smith A … Read more
Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading Bell that Hung in Old Court House in Penn Square 160 Years Old Old Bell that hung in Berks Court House on Penn Square and was used to announce to Reading the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Not since the old … Read more
Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading Three Generals Reading is fortunate in having been the home of three generals who figured prominently in the three great wars in which the United States was engaged, viz.: General John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, in the Revolutionary War. General David McM. Gregg, in the … Read more
Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading The Reading Fair and its Origin (by Cyrus T. Fox, its Secretary for 27 years) The holding of fairs in Reading, the county seat of Berks, commenced soon after the institution of the county in 1752. The custom resulted from the dedication of a … Read more
HARRY J. FRITCH Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 22 Surnames: Fritch, Palsgrove, Schwartz, Matthias, Weida, Dry, Bortz, Bauer, Applegate, Seip As a partner in the firm founded by his father, T. D. Fritch & Sons, as well as being the organizer of the Fritch Coal … Read more
CHARLES AUGUSTUS GRAEFF Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 387 Surnames: Graeff, Lindermuth Charles Augustus Graeff was down on the Mexican Border from June, 1916, to March, 1917, when he returned home and was mustered out. He at once entered the State service, then the Federal … Read more
WILLIAM HENRY HINKEL, M. D. Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 19 Surnames: Hinkel, Hughes, Boone, Penrose, Kirby, Lightfoot, Tomlinson, King, Mussina, Winters (The Yarnell Line) On Doctor Hinkel’s maternal side, his mother belonged to the Yarnell family who at one time owned most of the … Read more
Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading William Harbster Little did William Harbster dream, when he opened his blacksmith shop at the foot of South Sixth Street in 1851, that he was laying the foundation of what is today one of the largest hardware manufacturing concerns in the United States–The Reading … Read more