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 46

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 46

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SPECIAL MACHINERY .- In the year 1901 Messrs. W.D. Mohn, Austin Riegner and Robert Riegner, of Mohnton, located at Reading for the manufacture of special machinery, established a plant at Cherry and Carpenter streets (where the Reading Scale & Machine Company had been), and have since carried on the business under the name of W. D. Mohn & Co. They employ 10 men.

STEEL CABINETS .- This new product is man- ufactured by the Keiser Manufacturing Company in connection with sheep shears, in its plant at the west end of the Penn street bridge, opposite Read- ing; which is mentioned in the description of the Borough of West Reading, Chapter XI.

STEEL WORKS .- Carpenter Steel Company. James H. Carpenter located in Reading in the year 1889 and with the aid of New York cap- italists organized a steel company for the man- ufacture of armor-piercing projectiles for the United States government. A large plant was es- tablished along the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley railroad at the foot of Exeter street and in 1890 the company began to supply the government with large numbers of projectiles ranging in diameter from four inches to thirteen inches, and weighing from a few pounds to half a ton, and continued to furnish them for nearly ten years, when the plant was gradually changed to the manufacture of com- mercial crucible tool steel of a superior character, for which a large trade has been developed. This plant is one of the largest and most important in Reading, and employs from 600 to 1,000 hands, which evidences the importance and value to the community of this local enterprise. The company was reorganized in 1904 with a capital of $1,200,-

SHEARS .- In 1895, the Wilkinson Shear Co. was incorporated for the manufacture of shears of all kinds for shearing sheep, horses, grass and hedge, and located a plant at Ninth and Bingaman streets, where the business was continued in a successful manner until 1903, when the plant was removed to a new and improved building erected by the com- pany on Laurel street, below Fifth. The trade extends to all parts of the country, and 30 hands 000. The officers are Robert E. Jennings, presi-

192

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

dent ; W. B. Kunhardt, secretary and treasurer and and served the company as secretary and treasurer general manager.

Reading Steel Casting Company .- In 1906 the nephews, John R. McKnight, as the treasurer, and Reading Steel Casting Company was incorporated with a capital of $125,000 for the manufacture of steel castings for the general trade and then pur- chased the Brylgon Steel Works at the foot of La- fayette street for its plant, and it has since carried on a very successful business, employing 150 hands. Arrangements are now being made to double the capacity of the plant to meet the increasing demands for its product. The officers of the company are W. D. Seargent, president ; D. W. Yeckley, secre- tary-treasurer ; and J. Turner Moore, vice-presi- dent and general manager.

STOVES AND HEATERS are made in great quanti- ties by the Reading Stove Works, the Mt. Penn Stove Works, and the Prizer-Painter Stove and Heater Works (the last situated at Millmont oppo- site Reading), which are sold to all parts of the world.

Reading Stove Company. In the year 1866, Jesse Orr, John R. Painter, Peter W. Nagle, William Grander, Henry C. Posey, Elijah Bull, William H. Schick, Jasper Sheeler and Charles Egolf associated together under the name of Orr, Painter. & Company for the manufacture of stoves, furnaces and heaters of all kinds, and located their foundry on Canal street, be- tween Chestnut and Spruce streets, beginning with fourteen molders. They carried on the busi- ness in a very successful manner with increasing success for twenty years, when they became incor- porated under the name "The Reading Stove Works, Orr, Painter & Co.," with a capital of $400,000. The business has been so developed that branch offices have been established in different parts of the United States, at the large cities, Phil- adelphia, New York, Boston, Buffalo and Chicago, for the distribution of their productions. For a number of years this company supplied the Postal Department of the United States with the postal boxes for the street collection. The employes num- ber from 275 to 300. Daniel F. Printz has been the president since 1902, and Edgar Amole the secretary and treasurer since 1900.

Mt. Ponn Stove Company .- William M. Stauffer was connected with Orr, Painter & Co. from 1869 to 1881 and then retired from the firm for the pur- pose of organizing another stove company in Read- ing and with John McKnight established a plant along the Lebanon Valley railroad at Third street. In 1882, a company was incorporated by them un- der the name of Mount Penn Stove Company and this company has conducted a successful business since then, enlarging the plant and increasing the employes as the developing trade demanded. They manufacture superior stoves and heaters and their trade extends throughout the country. They em- ploy from 100 to 125 hands. M. Brayton Mc- Knight was one of the organizers with his father,

from 1882 to 1907, when he was succeeded by his William R. Schaeffer, as the secretary, and he be- came the president.

Prizer-Painter Stove & Heater Company .- Orr, Painter & Co. established a large stove works in Millmont as an addition to their plant at Reading, to meet the demands of their trade, and it was used by them until 1899, when a new company was formed and incorporated by the name of Prizer- Painter Stove & Heater Company, with a capital of $350,000, for the manufacture of stoves and heaters of all kinds and sizes, and this company then became the owner and has carried it on suc- cessfully until the present time. They employ 150 hands and have a large trade. The officers are C. S. Prizer, president; E. T. Painter, vice-presi- dent; R. L. McCall, treasurer ; and W. W. Light, secretary.

OCCUPATIONS .*- The following list is presented to show the number and character of the several occupations at Reading in April, 1909:

Architects 9

Directorv Publisher 1

Artists 10

Dressmakers 290

Attorneys-at-law 119

Druggists 44

Auctioneers 7

Automobiles or parts. 16

Electrical Contractors 10

Barbers .134

Electrotypers

Baths (Turkish) 2

Embalmers 6

Bell Hangers 4

Employment Bureaus 2

Bicycles 9

Billiards and Pool. 6

Bill Posters 2

Birds, etc. 5

Blacksmiths 27

Florists 20

Bleaching Straw Goods. 1

Flour, Feed, etc. 29

Boarding Houses 65

Fruit 15

Book-sellers, etc. 7

Bootblacks 20

Bowling Alleys 4

Bricklayers 135

Brokers 41

Building Contractors 37

Butchers 88

Carpet Cleaners 3

Carpet Dealers

Caterers

Harness-makers 10

Hides 4

Chair Makers

Hotels and Saloons. .174

Ice Dealers 13

Installment Houses 7

Insurance, Fire 30

Insurance, Life 15

Jewelers 31

Clothiers

Junk Dealers 18

Commission Agents 7

Confectionery 75

Coopers

Coppersmith

Live Stock 3

Cough Drops

Local Express 18

Dancing Masters 4

Locksmiths 2

Dentists 50

Lumber

Detectives

2 Machine-shops 20

Furniture 22

Furrier 1

Gas Fixtures 3

Gents' Furnishings, etc .. 20

Grain Shippers 4

Grocers, Retail 367

Grocers, Wholesale 7

Gunsmiths 2

Hardware 18

Hair Workers (human) 5

Chair Caners 2

Chewing Gum 1

Chinaware, etc. 3

Chiropodists 2

Cigars and Tobacco 76

Civil Engineers 5

Coal, Wood, etc. 40

Layers-out of dead 10

Leather 4

Liquors 18

* For Table, Nature of Industries, 1900, published by the United States Census Department, see page 237.

Dry Goods, etc. 71

Dyeing 12

Engraving 3

Express Companies 2

Fish, Truck, etc. 21

Flag Stones, etc. 12

PENN SQUARE, LOOKING WEST FROM FIFTH STREET

ciosas

CAFE

PENN SQUARE, LOOKING EAST FROM FIFTH STREET

438-444

C.K.WITTNER & CO.

ARY GOODS, NOTIONS

SOUTH SIDE OF PENN SQUARE, LOOKING WEST FROM FIFTH STREET

PENN SQUARE, LOOKING EAST FROM FOURTH STREET

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READING

Manicures

5 Roofers (Slate)

Map Publisher

Roofers (Tin)

Marble Yards

Sewing Machines 4

Massage

Shoe Dealers 34

Mercantile Agencies 6

Milk Dealers

Shoe Uppers

Milliners 32

Millwrights

Stables, Boarding 25

Music Teachers 89

Stables, Livery. etc. 12

Newspaper ' Dealers 4

Stables, Sale

Newspapers, etc.

Stair Builders

Notaries

Stamping

Notions, Wholesale 1

Steamship Agents

Novelties

Stenographers

Nurses (Trained)

Stock Dealers

Oculists

Stone Masons

Opticians

Stone Yards

Painters, etc. 125

Storage

Patent Solicitors

Tailors 100

Pattern-makers

Teachers, Music 92

Pawn Brokers

Tea and Coffee

Pension Attorneys

6 Telegraphers

Photographers

Telephoners 100

Physicians 157

Theatres

Piano Dealers 15

Ticket Offices 5

Piano Tuners

Tinsmiths 40

Plasterers

Typewriter Dealers 6

Printers 30

Undertakers

Produce Dealers 7

Upholsterers 10

Publishers 10 Veterinary Surgeons 7

Rags, Paper, etc. 10

Wall Paper 16

Real Estate Agents. 50

Wax Workers, etc. 4

Restaurants 62

Wheelwrights 7

MERCANTILE LICENSES FOR 1909 .- The mercan- tile appraiser, John G. Herbine, reported the fol- lowing retail and wholesale licenses for business places in the county for the year 1909:

Retail

Wholesale

Reading

1,546

Reading .108

Boroughs

491

Boroughs

Townships 894

Townships 9

Total 2,931

Total 122

Pool and Billiards .- The mercantile appraiser reported for 1909 the following tables :

Reading 47

Townships

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS

The internal improvements of Reading comprise those buildings and constructions of a public nature, whether paid for by the government or by private individuals and corporations. The following com- prise those that have contributed to the general wel- fare, whose total cost to the community and to the projectors amounts to many millions of dollars.

MARKET-HOUSES .- In 1766, the Penns granted a charter to the town for holding semi-weekly mar- kets ; also semi-annual fairs on June 4th, and Oct. 27th; and then a market-house was erected in East Penn Square. It was a building about 120 feet long

and 20 feet wide, consisting of a double row of square brick pillars, covered by a double-pitched shingle roof, and contained 32 stalls. A similar building was erected in West Penn Square in 1799, which contained 38 stalls. They were rebuilt in 1846 with iron columns and paved extensions for increased accommodations at a cost of $6,400, and abandoned in 1871, when they were sold and re- moved. The semi-annual fairs were discontinued in 1852, when the Berks County Agricultural So- ciety was organized to give annual exhibitions in their stead.

Private Market-Houses .- In 1871, three large private market-houses were substituted in the place of the public buildings on Penn Square :- South Reading, West Reading, and Farmers'. In 1874, two more were erected :- Northeast, and Keystone; and in 1884, another, Tenth and Chest- nut. In 1886, the Keystone market-house was con- verted into the Academy of Music, and the Fifth street market-house substituted, having been altered from a skating-rink, now Woodward and Church streets ; it was discontinued in 1904. In 1894, the Tenth and Windsor was erected; in 1897, the West Buttonwood, near Schuylkill avenue; and in 1903, the rear part of the "Crystal Palace Hotel" was converted into a market-house. There are now nine in the city. The Farmers' has three annexes and is the largest in Reading, having altogether 414 stalls. The West Reading had the Potteiger An- nex from 1895 to 1906.

WATERWORKS .- The inhabitants were supplied with water from wells and cisterns until 1821. The first pump at Reading was erected in East Penn Square in 1750 by direction of the Penns, and when the market-house was built in 1766, this pump occupied a position in the center. The well was fifty-three feet deep, and the water was of a limestone character. It was abandoned in 1871, when the market-house was removed.

In 1821, a water company was formed to supply the inhabitants with water, and then a reservoir was constructed at the head of Penn street with a storage capacity of 100,000 hogsheads. In 1865 the city purchased the plant for $300,000. The sources of supply then were Hampden spring, Egel- man spring, and Bernhart creek. The supply was largely increased by introducing the water of Antie- tam creek in 1874, and of Maiden creek in 1889, the former flowing by gravity through large iron pipes about three miles to the city line, and the latter being forced through similar pipes about six and a half miles to the city line, by three Worth- ington pumps, with a total capacity of 30,000,000 gallons. Total net cost of water supply to April 6, 1908, $3,060,934; debt, $280,806. Total storage capacity, 186,000,000 gallons; daily possible sup- ply, 17,392,000 gallons ; average daily consumption, 12,242,564 gallons. Total quantity consumed for year 1907-08, 4,480,778,545 gallons. Supply is from six sources, which, with per centum, is as follows:

Plumbing, etc. 40

Tool Sharpeners, etc. Toys

Picture Frames, etc 5.

Teachers, School 331

Pavers

Sign-makers

8 Saddlery, etc. 10

Shoemakers 120

Boroughs

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Antietam, 26.35; Bernhart, 20.54; Maiden creek, on Penn street and Perkiomen avenue from Front 50.35; Egelman, 1.78; Hampden and Hampden street to Thirteenth, and on south Fifth street from drift, 0.98. Penn to Pine. During the next five years, other streets were paved with asphaltum and vitrified brick, covering a total length of ten miles, and costing altogether $350,000. In 1908 there were fifty-two miles of macadam street, six miles of as-

Filtration .- Sand filtration of Egelman supply was begun in 1903, of Antietam in 1905, and of Bernhart in 1909. Total daily capacity, 7,000,000 gallons; estimated cost, $250,000. The Maiden creek supply will be filtered in 1910; estimated phaltum, fourteen miles of vitrified brick, and six daily supply, 10,000,000 gallons, and cost, $400,- miles of rubble stone. 000.

PUBLIC ROADS .- The public roads figured prom- inently in connection with Reading from the begin- ning of its history. The ford at the Schuylkill was a central point from which they were extended in various directions. When the town was laid out, there were regular highways; north to the mouth of the Maiden creek, almost in a straight line for six miles; northeast through Alsace; southeast through Exeter to Philadelphia; southwest through Cumru to Lancaster ; and west through Cumru and Heidelberg, also in a straight line, to Lebanon. And afterward others were established to facilitate travel from Reading to the different sections of the county.

STREETS .- The streets were established when the town was laid out; and the personal and royal names given to them by the proprietaries were con- tinued until changed by the borough council in 1833. The numeral system was then substituted for the streets running north and south; and those running east and west, excepting Penn, Washing- ton and Franklin, were named after trees; and those subsequently laid out, after the townships of the county. They are at right angles with one another. Some of them, however, run at an ob- lique angle, the most prominent being Bingaman street, Perkiomen, Centre and Schuylkill avenues. The total number of miles of projected streets is 135; of which 82 miles are open for public use.

The first grading of the streets was made in 1832. A topographical survey was made from 1864 to 1868. The plans, in eleven sections, are on file in the Quarter Sessions' office of Berks county. In 1863, the system of numbering the houses along the streets was adopted by councils, allowing 100 for each square from Front street eastward, and also for each square north and south of Penn street. This was effected by Jacob Knabb while postmas- ter, to facilitate and dispatch the delivery of let- ters, having had numerous petitions signed by the citizens recommending it.

After considering for a long while the subject of permanent street improvements, councils even- the very heavy traffic on the railroad constantly tually, in 1882, purchased a steam road-roller, passing and repassing that point, but they succeed- weighing fifteen tons, and began a gradual im- ed in finishing the bridge within the limited time.

provement of the streets in the interior sections of Reading by macadamizing the surface, and they kept at it year after year until 1897, spending annually about $25,000. This not proving satis- factory, they then determined to lay sheet asphal- tim, and during that year expended over $120,000

SEWERS .- In 1893, the West system of house sewers was adopted by councils. The city was di- vided into eight districts, and the first four were constructed at the expense of the abutting property holders, amounting to $231,000, of which the city paid for the mains, about $50,000. The pumping station was erected at the foot of Sixth street at a cost of $60,000; and the disposal plant one and one- half miles below Reading along the west bank of the river at a cost of $79,600, which was paid by the city without increasing the tax rate. The sew- age is purified to 99 per cent. The cost of the three districts was $250,000.

The first storm-water sewer was constructed grad- ually in small sections from the foot of Court street to Buttonwood, to Eighth, to Walnut, and to Elev- enth, the beginning having been made forty years ago. The Bassett system was adopted by councils in 1889, comprising twenty districts. In 1897, the North Reading sewer was made out of concrete, in oval shape, starting at Eleventh and Douglass, and ending at the river near the Carpenter Steel Works, a distance of two miles. The dimension at the east end begins at five feet, and ends at the west end at fourteen feet. The depth below the surface varies from ten to twenty-five feet. It is now the largest and longest concrete sewer in America. The total cost was over $200,000, paid mostly by a loan granted by a vote of the elec- tors. In 1908, there were one hundred and two miles of house sewers ; and fourteen miles of storm- water sewers, with eleven additional miles pro- jected.

SUBWAY .- The subject of a "crossing" over the P. & R. railroad at Spring street was agitated un- successfully for many years until 1904, when the city authorities and the railroad company reached an understanding and the necessary steps were instituted for its construction. The work was giv- en to Hawman Brothers, contractors of Reading, and they started Nov. 18, 1907, with an allowance of three hundred working days for its comple- tion. It was a difficult undertaking on account of

The bridge is constructed of cement work and when completed will cost about $150,000. A large bronze tablet, five feet high, is set in the face of the arches on both sides, in the form of a keystone. It was opened to travel in April, 1909, and the great convenience of passing at all times from the

ROG - ENG-TO

POST OFFICE AT READING

195

READING

northeastern section of the city to the northwest- ern, or in an opposite direction, without detention, was immediately appreciated. It is one of the most important improvements to the city in recent years.

FERRIES AND BRIDGES .- The ford was used in crossing the Schuylkill for many years; then a ferry was introduced to facilitate passage to and fro. In 1795, the first steps were taken to establish a bridge at this point; and repeated and persistent efforts were made by legislation, lottery schemes, and county appropriations for twenty years be- fore this great improvement was accomplished. A roofed wooden structure became passable in 1815; and it was finally completed in 1818. The cost was $50,000. It took the name of "Harris- burg Bridge" from the public road to Harrisburg. There was also a ferry at the foot of Bingaman street. The first privilege was granted by the Penns to a man named Levan, and it was contin- ued until a roofed wooden bridge was erected by the county in 1831, at a cost of $10,000. It took the name of "Lancaster Bridge," being on the road to Lancaster.

Toll was charged at both bridges until 1883, when they were declared free. The subject of free bridges had been agitated as early as 1821; and in 1848 a special effort was made in this behalf, but without success, because the county commis- sioners alleged that the expenses exceeded the in- come. by nearly $30,000. In 1882, the city coun- cils took the matter in hand, and by application to court, the purpose was at last accomplished March 28, 1883.

Both bridges were swept away by the great freshet of 1850, and immediately rebuilt. In 1876, the latter was destroyed by fire, and an iron struc- ture was erected in its stead, which was the first large iron bridge in the county. And in 1884, a superior iron bridge was erected in place of the former at a cost of $100,000.

The first bridge across the Schuylkill in this vi- cinity was "Kissinger's." It was on the road to Sunbury through Bern township. An Act was passed in 1810, authorizing Ulrich Kissinger to erect and maintain a toll bridge at that point where this road crossed the river, and he then put up a chain bridge in two spans. A covered wooden bridge was substituted in 1830. This was also swept away by the freshet of 1850, and rebuilt. It was known for many years as "Bushong's," and last as "Ahrens'." The Schuylkill avenue bridge near by was erected by the county commissioners in 1893 to take its place.

The Lebanon Valley railroad bridge was erect- ed in 1857, and it was then regarded as one of the finest structures in the State. It was destroyed POST-OFFICE .- The post-office was established at Reading in 1793. Since then there have been eighteen postmasters. The letters were called for until 1835, when they began to be delivered by pri- vate enterprise at a cent, and subsequently two cents, by fire by the rioters in July, 1877, and rebuilt by the company. The Wilmington & Northern rail- road bridge was erected in 1874; the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley in 1884; and the Reading & Southwestern in 1891. Altogether ten fine bridges a letter. This practice continued until the free span the river within a distance of three miles.

SCHUYLKILL RIVER .- The river Schuylkill is a prominent feature of Reading, and has always con- tributed many advantages to the place. In res- pect to carrying away the surface drainage from all the streets, its value has been incalculable. Its improvement for navigation was a subject for the inhabitants as early as 1807, when a society was formed for this purpose. It was forded until about the time when the borough was erected, then the ferries were introduced, and these were car- ried on until the two bridges were built.

Freshets .- The freshets of this water-course occupy a noteworthy place in local history for over one hundred years. The most important of them occurred in 1757, 1786, 1822, 1839, 1841, 1850, 1862 and' 1869. The one which caused the most damage was in 1850, when the water rose twenty- five feet above its ordinary level, nearly six feet higher than the great freshet of 1786.

FIRE COMPANY BUILDINGS .- For many years, the fire companies owned the buildings in which they kept their apparatus, but when the city began to appropriate liberal sums annually for maintain- ing them, it became the owner of all, excepting that of the Liberty Fire Company. The buildings number thirteen. They are all substantial struc- tures, finely furnished.

PUBLIC PARKS .- Penn Common was reserved by the Penns for the dwellers of the town when the plan was laid out. But it was not improved for park purposes until 1878; then a strip along Perkiomen avenue was ornamented by private subscription. In 1884, legal proceedings were instituted by councils to recover possession of the entire tract (fifty acres) from the county com- missioners, Wayne Hayman, Esq., city solicitor, Richmond L. Jones, Esq., and George F. Baer, Esq., appearing as counsel for the city. The court refused to award a writ of mandamus to .compel them to execute a deed to the city for the land, but the Supreme court ordered it to be done, and the transfer was made in 1886. Then councils es- tablished a park commission, and annual appropria- tions have been made since that time for its im- provement. Until 1909 about $250,000 was ex- pended. Besides Penn Common, the city owns Mineral Spring park, sixty-four acres, which has also been beautified by annual appropriations, exceeding $15,000; Egelman park, thirty acres; Hessian Camp, thirty-two acres; and other tracts, twenty-two acres-altogether nearly two hundred acres, highly appreciated by the people.

delivery system was introduced in 1864. Mail

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

boxes were put up in 1864 for dropping letters town officials until 1870. A city hall (three-story to be collected by carriers, and boxes and carriers brick building) was then erected at Fifth and Frank- were increased as demands required. The money lin streets to supply at one place a "lock-up," city order system was introduced in 1864; postal cards offices, and council chambers, costing $26,000. Pre- in 1873; two-cent postage in 1883; and the special viously the councils had met in the Court-House. delivery of letters in 1885. In February, 1909, there CEMETERIES .- From the beginning of Reading until 1846, interments were made in burying- were 240 boxes and 43 carriers ; 8 sub-carriers and 2 rural carriers. The office employed 25 clerks, grounds which adjoined the several churches; and 3 sub-clerks. The total business for 1908 was then a cemetery was established by Charles Evans. $180,709. On Oct. 1, 1891, seven stations were He was authorized by law to organize a company established in different sections of Reading for the sale of stamps, registering letters and issuing money orders.

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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 46

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