Ever Take a Ride on the Reading?

BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

NEW  ILLUSTRATED  BOOK

The history of Berks County, PA, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 54 Page Book, reprinted primarily from four hard-to-find vintage books. The spiral-bound booklet has the print size adjusted to fit 8 1/2 x 11 paper. A clear vinyl sheet protects the front cover.

 Source books include: Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania (1843) by Sherman Day; An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1876) by William Egle, M.D.; Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State compiled by WPA writers; and My Pennsylvania, a 1946 project of the Bureau of  Publications, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Some Information may be repeated in various excerpts, but often with a different slant or with additional details.)

Communities mentioned include: Reading, Womelsdorf, Kutztown, Hamburg, Bethel, Birdsboro, Boyertown, Heidelberg, Longswamp, Fleetwood, Bernville, Topton, Leesport, Morgantown, Virginsville, Cumru Township, Rehrersburg, Mertztown, Pricetown, Unionville, Warrenburg, Weaverstown, Exetertown, Millersburg, Wohleberstown, Lenhartsville, Shartlesville, Maxatawney, Maiden Creek, Temple, Shillington, Gouglersville, Hereford, Bally, Douglassville, Amityville, Baumstown, Mt. Penn, West Reading, Wyomissing, Sinking Spring, Port Clinton, Wernersville, and Robesonia.

The Day and Egle histories cover the early development of this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities. Since the source books are concerned with the same subject, there is some duplication of material, but the time elasped often changes the perspective and emphasis.

Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: Indian Alarms, "Justice" as practiced in 1752, The Hessian Camp, the High Cost of Matrimony, Early Churches, Forge Hammer House, Early Manufacturing, Resort away from Revolution and Politics of Philadelphia, Indian Perception of a Church meeting, Crystal Cave, the Reading Court House Clock, County Fair at Hamburg, Pennsylvania Dutch Meals, Move to Oust Washington as Army Chief, Discord in Amityville, Albright College, Opera House Disaster, Hopewell Village, Daniel Boone Birthplace, Lincoln's Ancestral Home, Socialism, Conrad Weiser, a friend of the Indians, Wyomissing Industries and Glen-Gery Brick Co, and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

The recently added fourth book includes a 1940s map of the county, several photos and a concise update of the county's progress as it looked shortly after World War II. 

ILLUSTRATIONS include: Reading, the Berks County Court House, the Old Hain's Church, near Wernersville, the Provincial Court House at Reading (1762-1841), Trinity Lutheran Church, the Cemetery Gate at Reading, a 1940 view of the Public Square in Reading, and Horse Shoe Curve on the Pennsylvania Railroad. There's also a map of Reading with Points of Interest.

Wouldn't this make a unique gift?