Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 40

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018

USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 40

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Notwithstanding this apparent improvement and enrichment of the community, the financial condi- tion of the country was extremely distressing dur- ing the last four years, owing to the suspension of manufactures and the closing of industrial plants of every description, which caused innumerable fail- ures and enormous losses. This was brought about by a change in respect to the tariff: The previous term of four years had been favorable to it, but the term during these four years was unfavorable. The business affairs at Reading kept moving right along nevertheless. Fortunately, the large iron plants and diversified industrial enterprises were too strong and sound to be shaken.

All our financial institutions had the unqualified confidence of the people, and they sustained their patrons with commendable courage and indulgence as well as each other, thereby displaying in a re- markable manner the great utility of well-conduct- ed banks in such a crisis. In looking for the reason of the onward movement of our local affairs in spite of adverse circumstances during that trying period, it was found that the banks were the strong- hold which enabled our manufacturers and mer- chants to stand the extraordinary strain ; and there- fore this special mention of it is made.

1897-1909 .-- The decade just closed from 1897 to the present time also embraced a number of remark- able improvements in the. further development of Reading.

The population started with about 70,000, and the annual increase was about 2,500. An earnest and successful effort was made for improved streets' lections.

extending to other streets until 1902, with a total expenditure of $350,000, and accomplishing a total length of ten miles. The marked improvement was highly appreciated by the taxpayers.

While this was going on, sewers were laid for surface, and also house, drainage, embracing the city from Washington street south and Eleventh street west; the former having been paid by the public at an expense of $250,000, and the latter by the abutting property holders at an expense of $231,000 (excepting the cost of the mains, about $50,000). This was necessary on account of the largely increased flow of water in heavy rain-storms which flooded the streets and damaged the adjoining properties ; particularly along Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth streets to the south of Penn; and also on account of the commodious and costly buildings for business purposes then erected, in which many

The enlarged "Mansion House," and the depart- ment stores of C. K. Whitner & Co. and Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, and the office buildings of George F. Baer, Esq., and the Colonial Trust Company, are worthy of special mention. The Pennsylvania Trust Company had shortly before put up the first five-story building and Mr. Milti- more Morgan had enlarged the "Mansion House" to the first six-story building; but Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart reached the seventh story and the Colon- ial Trust Company the ninth story, thereby giving the city a truly metropolitan appearance.

In the erection of the last two mammoth build- ings, structural iron was first used for building purposes at Reading, and while the imposing frame- work was being put together, hundreds of people looked on in amazement not knowing which to ad- mire most, the genius of the contractor or the skill and composure of the working-men. And here these great structures stand on Penn Square, in the very center of mercantile and financial affairs, as monuments to local foresight and enterprise.

The National Convention of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America in the city in 1897 was a note- worthy affair and until then certainly the grandest public demonstration ever witnessed in the history of the community. But in 1898 even this demon- stration was eclipsed by the celebration of the "Sesqui-Centennial of Reading." The local pride of the people asserted itself for a whole week in June, and the very sun in the sky seemed to co- operate with their joyful, determined, enthusiastic spirit in making the wonderful and praiseworthy undertaking a glorious success. Though ten years have elapsed since then, the sights were so pleasing and the sounds so inspiring that the people, both old and young, here and elsewhere, who witnessed the celebration, still talk of it with delightful recol-

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The building operations were active through the The one great channel which made this high de- entire period, and these were particularly encour- gree of prosperity so continuous was the satisfac- tory condition and superb co-operative management

aged in the northern part of the city by the costly enlargement of the P. & R. R. Co. shops. The of our financial institutions. Their total resources annual increase of new dwelling-houses was main- tained from year to year; and during 1905 more were erected in the city than in any year before.

The extension of the street railway system in all directions stands out prominently in this period. Its successful management undoubtedly contributed a large share in our local prosperity. Besides busy industrial plants of all kinds and sufficient dwelling- houses, the prompt and convenient transportation of the working-people and their families in and to all parts of the city, from early in the morning until

late at night, had been a subject of serious consid- house for the year 1908 footed up $64,652,121; and

eration, but it was appreciated and the demand sat- isfied. As we find iron, coal and steam inter-re- lated very closely in our early local development, so do we also find shops, homes and street rail- ways equally inter-related in our most recent de- velopment. Trolley extensions were made to the north, east and south, thereby increasing the facili- ties to the country people for reaching the county- seat with great convenience at greatly reduced cost of travel, and at frequent intervals, and quite nat- urally they led to the laying out of suburban towns, and many persons soon appreciated the desirability of these towns as dwelling places.

The Reading Library had been carried on with more or less uncertainty since its reorganization in 1868; but in the beginning of this decade it be- came a free institution through the liberality of some of our citizens, and the enthusiastic spirit then displayed has continued until now, with an ever increasing interest in its success. And the Historical Society was again revived and a strong interest shown in its welfare. The members secured a building, after having held their meetings for several years in the Court-House, and the nucleus of a library of historical works was collected.

A new feeling was developed for outdoor exer- cise which culminated in the organization of a golf club and within several years a fine property was secured. The "Berkshire Club" became recognized at once for its social prominence. Bowling was also prominent and several new alleys were estab- lished. It was indulged in by a considerable num- ber of young and middle-aged men, and also some young women. Clubs were organized and much rivalry was shown in competing games. Basket- ball was another indoor sport which won much at- tention ; and there was a revival of interest in base- ball. Card-playing was indulged in by all classes of society, with many devotees at progressive eu- chre, duplicate whist, and bridge. And the patron- age of the theatre and of amusements of all kinds, such as fairs, balls and athletics, was never so ex- tensive as at the close of the period ; indeed, it had become so prominent by children of both sexes 1in- der fourteen years of age as to excite public criti- cism.

had multiplied gradually until they were in excess of $23,000,000; and by the daily handling of this large sum of money, both in receiving it and then in paying it out by checking and cashing, in amounts ranging from a few dollars to many thou- sands, from all parts of Pennsylvania and of the United States, as well as in the city itself, our nine banks and five trust companies had come to do an annual volume of business which reached the enor- mous total of $600,000,000. The annual check ex- changes of these depositaries at their clearing-

the exchanges for the month of January, 1909, amounted to $5,770,561, an increase of one million dollars more than the exchanges for the month of January, 1905. For an inland city, competing with metropolitan places at tide-water whose resources are superabundant and whose influence for business is both powerful and far-reaching, this was truly surprising.

Paving additional streets with vitrified brick was continued during the latter half of this decade; ad- ditional sections of the Rose Valley creek sewer were constructed; and the improved beds on Fritz's Island for filtering the house-sewage were estab- lished, changing from sand filtration to sprinkling filtration at an expense of over $200,000, and win- ning the praise of the best sanitary engineers in the country, who showed much critical interest in their construction.

Arrangements were made by the water board for establishing two large additional filtering beds for filtering the water of Bernhart's creek and Maiden creek at a cost of $500,000, which will largely increase the supply of good and clean drink- ing water for the citizens; and the Spring street subway was constructed in 1907-08-09 at a cost of $150,000, which opened a safe passageway at all times between the northeastern and northwestern sections of the city. Building operations contin- ued active and extensive during the decade, but in 1908 they fell off about three-fourths on account of the depressed condition of the times.

Roller-skating was revived at the close of the decade and many persons became as enthusiastic on the subject as others had become over thirty years before; and the five-cent moving picture shows and cheap vaudeville entertainments were introduced, which immediately won great favor and patronage.

The suburban towns ( whose occupants are almost entirely employed in Reading) have shown a marked increase in dwellings and population, and four additional boroughs to the west and south- west have been erected.

RIOT IN 1877 .- The great riot at Reading was an extraordinary event in the history of our com- munity. On Saturday, July 21, 1877, great excite-

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READING

ment prevailed in the city, owing to the general arose immediately after the arrival of this train. strike of railroad trainmen in the following States: The next down train was stopped in the cut, and New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, this daring proceeding drew the crowd from the Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois depot and intensified the excitement at Seventh and and Missouri. The central point of excitement here was at Seventh and Penn streets, where many men gathered to discuss the situation. At that time the excitement at Pittsburg was intense, ending shortly thereafter in the great destruction of railroad prop- erty, which consisted of buildings, cars, etc., and in the loss of at least a score of lives.

On the next day, the situation was naturally worse owing to the news from Pittsburg, and more men crowded at the point named; but there was no disorderly demonstration of any kind during the day. By 10 o'clock in the evening, the crowd had moved to the passenger station, where the men greeted the last train from Philadelphia (10:30) with shouts and yells. Then the excitement became uncontrollable. The crowd moved westwardly on the Lebanon Valley railroad, and fire and destruc- tion of property followed. Railroad tracks were torn up, and certain cabooses and freight cars were set on fire which resulted in a general alarm of fire, and the response of the fire department; and during the terrible excitement in and about the "cut," near Sixth street, whither all attention had been directed, the costly railroad bridge, which spanned the river within a mile to the west, was set on fire and entirely destroyed. The bright flames, which flashed high into the darkness of the night, attracted thousands of people to the place.

Company B, Allen Rifles, Allentown; Company D, Allen Continentals, Allentown; Company E, Blue Mountain Legion, Hamburg; Company F, Easton Grays, Easton; Company H, Slatington Rifles, Slatington; Company I, Catasauqua; Com- pany K, Portland, Northampton county.

The news shocked the whole community. Crowds had gathered on Saturday, innocently, apparently, but unlawfully, without any earnest movement from the police to disperse them, and property had been ·destroyed on Sunday. On Monday, the newspapers were almost wholly taken up with vivid descriptions ·of the excited condition of the community and of the destructive work of incendiaries. Throughout the day, great excitement prevailed, and as the night approached it grew greater. The four cor- ners of Seventh and Penn streets were again iately scattered, and men were seen bearing away crowded hour after hour, subject to a weak pro- test; but without any determined effort from muni- cipal or county authorities to clear the highway. Trains were stopped, coal cars detached and many tons of coal dumped upon the track for several hundred feet.

After some consultation they were marched down the railroad and through the "cut" toward Penn street to liberate the train there. On the way, they were attacked by persons on the elevated pave- ments who threw stones and bricks upon them. They did not fire in self-defense, but moved on bravely. Nearing Penn street, the situation be- came so dangerous that some of the men, by some order or mistaken command, shot off their rifles. Bricks and stones were thrown with increased en- ergy, and many shots followed. The crowd immed- the wounded and killed. With the dispersing crowd, the soldiers also became disordered, and the companies disorganized. Their conduct was disgraceful, and the whole community, and espe- cially the management of the Philadelphia & Read- ing Railroad Company, lost confidence in them as a means of restoring order or preserving peace. A battery of United States Regular Artillery, equipped as infantry, then came here shortly after- ward, under the command of General Hamilton, and remained until peace, order and safety were assured. The fidelity of G. A. Nicolls and George

With this state of affairs, the 6 o'clock passenger train approached the city around the bend of "Nev- ersink," and the shrill whistle of the engine never sounded in such a piercing manner. The engineer remained bravely at his post; the command was given to proceed forward at full speed, and for- ward indeed he directed his engine at the rate of Eltz as officials of the railroad at this point, in the forty-five miles an hour over the blockaded track. perilous situation of affairs then existing, was highly commendable. Fortunately the train passed through safely, but the people scattered pell-mell for their lives, coals This riot resulted in the killing of ten citizens were thrown high into the air, and a dense cloud ( Milton Trace, James J. Fisher, Ludwig Hoffman, of black dust obscured everything round about for John H. Weaver, Lewis A. Eisenhower, John A. a time. At the passenger station, great excitement Cassidy, John A. Wunder, Daniel Nachtrieb, Elias

Penn streets. And the people remained at that point, immovable. Proclamations by the sheriff and earnest appeals by the policemen did not make the slightest impression upon them. The vast mul- titude were in sympathy with the riotous demon- strations. And so matters remained for nearly two hours, apparently growing worse as the darkness . of night fell upon the community. Then, however, a sudden change arose. . And what agent was this that could, as it were, in a moment, in the twink- ling of an eye, separate a maddened, threatening crowd, when sober, sensible appeals to citizens who had theretofore been a law-abiding people, were wholly unavailing? It was the bullet. This acted upon them as effectually as the lightning upon rest- less, thickening clouds in a portentous sky.

About 8 o'clock, seven companies of the 4th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, numbering about two hundred men, under the command of Gen. Franklin Reeder, arrived at the railroad sta- tion in the city, viz .:

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Shafer and Howard Cramp) ; and the wounding of the afternoon. and Bicycle Flambeau Parade in the even- twenty-seven persons (including four policemen) ing. and twelve soldiers.

Dr. George S. Goodhart, the coroner of the county, then held an inquest to inquire into the loss of life; and after hearing a number of witnesses reported on Aug. 7, 1877, that the death of the per- sons named was caused by the military who were here by direction of the State authorities firing upon the rioters, and the terrible tragedy was directly attributed to the lawless assembling. of persons at Seventh and Penn streets.

Many men were arrested and indicted for alleged implication in this riot. Two of them pleaded guilty and were sentenced to imprisonment for five years. There was a hotly contested trial of an- other, from Oct. 2d to the 6th, but he was acquitted. The following week, fourteen were tried and all were acquitted excepting one, who was convicted of inciting to riot; and the third week, forty were called for trial but the prosecution was abandoned. These trials caused great excitement. F. B. Gowen, the president of the P. & R. R: Co., conducted the prosecution of these cases in person.

SESQUI-CENTENNIAL .- The town plan of Read- ing was laid out by the Penns in 1748, and in one hundred and fifty years the place was developed to great proportions in every department of life. The Board of Trade, appreciating the utility and impor- tance of properly observing the Sesqui-Centennial, took action at an annual meeting on Feb. 18, 1897, and on Sept. 2d following, a joint committee was appointed, comprising a special committee from city councils and the committee on Municipal Affairs of the Board. This General Committee held its first meeting on Sept. 9th, and in several months a program of festivities was adopted and an execu- tive committee appointed which selected thirty-two separate committees to make all the necessary ar- rangements, and authorized the compiler of this history to publish a concise History of Reading including the proceedings relating to the Sesqui- Centennial. Weekly meetings were held until June 3, 1898, and all the committees co-operated heartily toward making the anniversary a grand success. The official program was arranged to embrace the second week of June, from Sunday the 5th to Sat- urday the 11th, as follows :

Sunday, June 5th, Opening Day, with church services in the morning, and musical concerts in the afternoon.

Monday, June 6th, Citizens' Day, with public reception in the court-house in the morning, Civic Parade in the afternoon, and electric illuminations and fireworks in the evening.

Tuesday, June 7th, Women's and Children's Day, with public receptions at Academy of Music and court-house in the morning, School Parade in the afternoon, and grand illumination and choral concert in the evening.

Wednesday, June 8th, public reception at the court-house in the morning and Firemen's Parade in the afternoon. Thursday, June 9th, public reception at the court-house in the morning, and Industrial Parade in the afternoon.

Saturday, June IIth, Regatta and Serenata on the Schuyl- kill river to conclude the festivities.

This program was carried out in an admirable manner. Most of the stores, business places, fac- tories and dwellings in all parts of the city were beautifully decorated with the national flag and with bunting in national colors, and many places displayed also the city colors and city flag which had been adopted by the committee. The electric illumination of Penn street. was superb and its unique character contributed a great deal toward the success of the celebration ; and for the first time in public demonstrations on Penn street the people remained on the sidewalks. The decorations on both sides of Penn street, from Third to Eleventh streets, were particularly attractive. All the receptions, parades, concerts and exhibitions were successful beyond the expectations of everybody, and such orderly and appreciative throngs of people for six successive days on Penn street had never before been witnessed.

A fire on Penn Square during the Firemen's Parade caused extraordinary excitement for sev- eral hours. Many thousands of persons were in the midst of admiring the brilliant display about 3 o'clock, but at the first tap of the fire alarm the general feeling of joy and congratulation was in- stantly turned to surprise and fear, the entire line of procession flew into indescribable disorder, and all the firemen with their apparatus rushed to Penn Square. The dense mass of humanity presented a most impressive sight, but notwithstanding the great congestion and confusion there the Volunteer Fire Department displayed remarkable efficiency in mastering the situation. The fire was at No. 518, where a cheap variety store was carried on, and the smoke and flames from that store-room were working their way rapidly into Keffer's queens- ware store and Kline, Eppihimer & Co.'s dry- goods store, with indications of a costly conflagra- tion. Fortunately the air was calm and the depart- ment got control of the fire by 6 o'clock. The loss was about $60,000. The end of the long and im- posing procession had just reached Penn Square when the alarm sounded, so the multitudes on the sidewalks saw the greater part of it before it was abandoned.

Many visiting friends and strangers were hos- pitably entertained by numerous families, and by associations of various kinds. Mr. and Mrs. George F. Baer displayed a remarkable spirit of liberality in welcoming and entertaining many distinguished visitors at their superb home "Hawthorne."

The compiler of this history issued a compre- hensive volume of 300 pages as a suitable memento of the occasion, embracing a brief history of the city and its numerous industrial establishments, and a concise narrative of the Sesqui-Centennial, which was highly complimented by the executive

Friday, June 10th, public reception at the court-house in the morning, Cavalcade and Corso and Bicycle Races in committee and given a wide circulation.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

trip one way was made in a day, both by boat and wool-hat-makers, boot and shoe makers, molders, by stage, that is, from morning till evening. This machinists, chain-makers, nail-makers, potters, was accomplished by changing the teams at fixed stations, from six to eight miles apart.

READING IN 1840 .- William Stahle, a store- keeper, published a small book of 68 pages in 1841, relating to the business affairs of Reading as they existed in 1840. More than sixty different em- ployments were carried on at that time, and the manufacturing establishments numbered sixty-four. The enumeration, briefly stated, was as follows :

EMPLOYMENTS

1 Artist

3 Locksmiths

7 Bakers

24 Mantua-makers

6 Barbers

13 Milliners

16 Blacksmiths

1 Millwright

1 Blind-maker

3 Painters (coach)

3 Boat-builders

. 7 Painters (house)

17 Brick-layers

2 Painters (sign)

14 Butchers

3 Plasterers

3 Plumbers

30 Carpenters

1 Pump-maker

1 Reed-maker

4 Saddlers

1 Scissors Grinder

26 Shoemakers

2 Silver-platers

5 Slop-shops

5 Stone-cutters

3 Stone-masons

34 Tailors

5 Tallow-chandlers

32 Tavern-keepers

7 Tinsmiths

4 Turners

2 Gunsmiths

13 Weavers

1 Horse Farrier

6 Wheelwrights

3 Jewelers

1 White Sweep

MANUFACTORIES

1 Anger Factory

1 Gun Barrel Factory

1 Blacking Varnish Factory

1 Iron and Nail Works

1 Brass Foundry

1 Iron Foundry

3 Breweries

1 Lime Kiln

9 Brick Kilns

2 Machine Shops

1 Brush Factory

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Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 40

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1018

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018