Berks County

Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading James Arthur Benade James Arthur Benade was one of Reading’s first and best known landscape artists of his time. His early death was a positive loss to art. Many of his pictures, famous for their skies particularly, are to be found in galleries in … Read more

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

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

Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading Isaac McHose Although born in the year 1822, in Lehigh County, it was not until the year 1852 that Isaac McHose came to Reading; but from the time of his coming to Reading he made an enviable reputation for himself as a business man, … Read more

Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading William Arnold Born in 1798, he was for more than fifty years very prominently identified with the manufacturing, political and business interests of Reading. In fact, he might be called the father of the wool hat making industry in Reading, because, while his father, … Read more