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 48
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1900
M. H. Stettler
295
St. Peter's
1908
H. C. Shindle
50
Reformed
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
First
1753-1761-1832
T. F. Moyer
1,337
Second
1848-1853-1898
S. R. Bridenbaugh
690
St. John's
1865-1871-1876
T. H. Leinbach
680
St. Paul's
1872-1905
B. Bausman
000
Zion's
1881-1883
C. H. Gramm
600
St. Stephen's
1883-1899
T. W. Dickert
1,152
Calvary
1889
A. V. Casselman
556
North Reading
1890
Irvin M. Beaver
112
St. Thomas'
1891
Lee M. Erdman
461
St. Andrew's
1891-1904
H. H. Ranck
889
St. Mark's
1891-1904
C. E. Schaeffer
1,230
Faith
1891
W. E. Harr
410
Philip Kirchner (Junior Pastor)
St. Luke's
1868-1886
W. H. Myers 1,200
1885
8,591
9,017
CENTRAL
HOUSE
NORTH SIDE OF PENN SQUARE, LOOKING WEST FROM FIFTH STREET
E
CIGARSEPUL DER
CARD
WALL
BOARDS,
BAGS
----
NORTH SIDE OF PENN SQUARE, LOOKING EAST FROM FIFTH STREET
READING
201
Friends 1751-1765-1867
Protestant Episcopal
Name
Founded
Pastor
427
Parish Building
1884
Franklin J. Clark
409
St. Barnabas
1860-1889
Franklin J. Clark
95
St. Luke's Chapel
1894
William B. Burk
77
St. Mary's Chapel
1905
Harvey P. Walter
1,008
Name
St. Peter's
1755-1791
Thomas S. McCarty
1,500
'St. Paul's
1860
George Bornemann 3,500
'St. Joseph's
1887
James Flanagan
1,200
St. Mary's
1888
A. Malusecki 3,000
Italian
1904
A. Varelli
300
Slavonic
1907
500
Presbyterian
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
First
1812-1823-1847
R. M. Blackburn 460
77
Olivet
1889-1892
R. H. Kirk 298
835
Methodist Episcopal
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Fourth Street
ยง 1822-1827
H. E. Walhey
154
(People's)
[1868-1900
W. A. Ferguson
463
Covenant
1869
W. H. Smith
405
Memorial
1890
J. Richards Boyle
553
Windsor Street
1904
H. T. Isenberger
236
Grace
1909
Vacant
Baptist
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
DENOMINATIONS
First
1829-1836-1845-1893
James A. Maxwell
790
Berean
1869-1879
H. J. Roberts
235
Zion
1905
W. H. Dabbs
46
Memorial
1908
Henry P. Hoskins
65
Shiloh (Colored)
Moses Braxton
Universalist
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Church of Our Father 1831-1889
Hendrick Vossemer
250
Advent
37
6
28
17
Evangelical
Baptist
866
252
495
419
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Catholic, Roman
6,551
2,212
4,130
1,853
'Salem
1846-1877
A. N. Metzger
221
Christian (Disciple)
85
35
71
60
Immanuel
1862-1884
W. F. Kline
275
Christian Science
21
3
17
3
St. Matthew's
1883
H. E. Harner
100
Church of God.
101
43
67
45
Christ
1901
W. L. Bollman
Congregational
7
. .
. .
Dunkard
80
23
34
21
Episcopal (Protestant)
1,088
290
685
405
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Evangelical Association .. .
1,180
399
803
740
First
1894
A. W. Brownmiller
858
Friends (Quaker)
19
2
12
. .
Trinity
1898
A. G. Flexer
155
Friendship Mission
64
23
46
42
St. Paul's
1900
George W. Hangen
Gospel Tabernacle.
44
16
18
24
Bethany
1908
J. S. Harper
Hope Rescue Mission
46
15
8
12
Holiness Christian.
76
35
25
28
United Brethren
Hebrew
581
243
283
77
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Lutheran
14,653
4,917
8,474
5,677
Otterbein
1856-1879
C. J. Brane
194
Mennonite
105
56
60
52
Salem
1886
W. B. Fridinger
407
Methodist Episcopal.
3,129
944
1,960
1,470
Memorial
1894
H. Jones
196
Methodist, Primitive
10
6 89 2
3
1
Neversink Mission
81
29
24
28
Oheb Sholem
1864-1885
Julius Frank
240
No preference.
849
259
281
268
Shomro Habrith
1888
E. Mayer Kaplan
Not at home
7,192
2,384
4,046
3,414
Presbyterian
1,473
464
853
553
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Refused information
166
55
83
62
Salvation Army
53
16
28
9
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Spiritualist
28
6
7
11
Friendship Reformed
1873
J. Addison Kutz
85
United Brethren.
1,577
577
946
760
Disciples of Christ
1897
Horace G. Weaver
115
United Evangelical.
3,052
1,107
1,826
1,678
Mennonite Brethren
1884
C. H. Brunner
Universalist
306
73
109
123
Holiness Christians
Adam Sommers
Cradle Roll
..
..
..
57,435
18,850
33,611
26,446
Seventh Day Adventist
J. H. Krumm
Church Attendance at Reading, 1905 .- At a meet- ing of the executive committee of the Thirteenth District of the Berks County Sunday School Asso- ciation, in October, the committee appointed several months before to make a house-to-house canvass of the city for the purpose of gathering statistics of persons attending or not attending church or Sunday-schools and the denominations to which they hold, if any, presented its report.
The canvass was made under the supervision of sixteen superintendents, one for each ward, and each superintendent had charge of a corps of vol- unteer visitors, the whole number being 221. Each ward superintendent laid out the districts of visita- tion so as to equalize the work of the canvassers. As each visitor completed the task assigned, re- turns were made to the superintendents, who, in turn, tabulated the cards for the different denom- inations, with the following result :
Number of persons
Number under 18 years
Number attending
church at least once a
Number attending Sun-
day-school regularly
1
1
.
Hebrew
Name
Founded
Pastor
Members
Reformed Church.
13,912
4,358
7,389
5,638
1895
David W. Weaver
70
Miscellaneous
Bethel African M. E. 1837-1869
J. R. Reed
76
Gospel Tabernacle
1901
J. H. Von Neida
People's Mission
H. M. Lengel
Home Department.
1,509
Christian Missionary Alliance
1904
H. Miller Herr
Church of God
Isaac Becker
Members
Christ
1760-1825-1873
William P. Orrick
Catholic
Roman Founded
Pastor
Members
1845-1904
Washington St. (Colored) 1823
William R. Templetor
St. Peter's
1848-1883
visited
of age
month
Ebenezer
1870-1885
J. I. Yotter
350
Grace
1894
F. S. Borkey
398
500
125
2,036
Zion's
1847-1898
G. D. Batdorf
310
1
1,107
Moravian
3
German Baptist Brethren
100
1,046
United Evangelical
. .
1,446
10,000
202
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
SCHOOLS
The High School was organized in 1852, and Early Education .- Education was encouraged at the co-education of boys and girls was carried on Reading from the beginning of its history. It was carried on mostly in connection with the churches. Two of the earliest teachers connected with the Lutherans, who taught for many years, were Jo-
FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE AT READING
seph Fleischer and Paul Fuegner. John Philip Foesig was the teacher with the Reformed for over fifty years, having begun in 1751. The Trinity Lutheran school at Sixth and Washington streets was used for educational purposes for nearly one hundred years, 1765 to 1855.
The Reading Academy was a prominent school for sixty years. It was incorporated in 1788 and given aid by the State. The building stood on the southwest corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets. The trustees sold it in 1838, and then erected an- other at Fourth and Court streets (site of Girls' High School), which was occupied as a private school until 1853, and since then as a public high school.
FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL
Common School System .- The common school system of 1834 was adopted at Reading in 1836. The first directors had been, however, elected in 1835. Then there were seventeen schools, seven- teen teachers, and 1,439 scholars. The first public school buildings were erected in 1838, four in num- ber, and the illustration given represents the build- ing at Sixth and Walnut streets.
from 1857 to 1881. The Boys' High School was erected in 1883 at a cost of $65,500; the Girls' (in place of the Reading Academy) in 1895, at a cost of $110,000; and the new Boys' High School in 1905, at a cost of $375,000.
The revised charter of 1864 for the city, consoli- dated the five wards into one district, under the name of the Reading School District. The city charter of 1874 made provision for school affairs, but it was not accepted. The district is therefore a separate organization. Under the provisions of the Act of 1864, the district is authorized to assess and collect taxes for school purposes. The manage- ment of the school affairs by the board since then has been very successful.
A local normal school was organized in 1852. The first city superintendent was elected in 1867.
COMPARATIVE TABLE, 1854-1908
Teachers
Scholars
Tax Rate
Tax Levied
State Appr.
1854
1,976
$ 10,764
$ 746
1865
83
6,449
.008
26,238
1,791
1875
128
6,328
.015
74,733
6,750
1885
162
7,113
.004
98,000
10,266
1895
233
10,235
.004
145,707
58,047
1908
353
13,869
.004
230,939
64,156
The city superintendent reported the following attendance in the schools during the month of Feb- ruary, 1909 :.
Male
Female Total
High School for Boys
484
484
High School for Girls
508
508
Eighth grade
262
305
567
Seventh grade
333
376
709
Sixth grade
533
483
1,016
Fifth grade
801
658
1,459
Fourth grade
834
847
1,681
Third grade
799
783
1,582
Second grade
856
810
1,666
First grade
1,072
978
2,050
Ungraded schools
34
3
37
Normal senior class
0
28
28
Normal junior class
0
27
27
Total
6,008
5,806
11,814
Evening High
218
96
314
Evening Grammar
111
54
165
Evening Elementary
139
36
175
Total
468
186
654
Grand Total
6,476
5,992
12,468
The annual expenditures were reported at $400,- 561; of which $196,237 were for teachers' salaries, and $14,494 for books and supplies.
Institutes .- The first County Institute comprising the teachers of the county was held at Reading in 1867, and annually thereafter.
The first City Institute, comprising only the teachers of Reading, was held in 1885 and annually thereafter.
The Pennsylvania State Educational Association
GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL, READING
33
BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL, READING
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, ELEVENTH AND PIKE STREETS, READING
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, FIFTH AND SPRING STREETS, READING
READING
203
held three meetings or conventions at Reading, in 1863 ; in 1878; and in 1905. And to show the won- derful increase in attendance of the delegates, in 1863 there were only 80; in 1878, 248 ; and in 1905, 1,306.
Prof. Samuel A. Baer, of Reading, was the presi- dent of the Association in 1884; and Prof. E. Mac- key, of Reading, in 1899.
City School Buildings .- In 1908, the school de- partment had forty-six buildings which were occu- pied by schools, and one ( formerly the Boys' High School) for administration purposes. Their total value, including furniture, was about one and one- half millions of dollars. Their situation, value, and capacity appear in the following table :
BUILDINGS
Ward
Date of
Erection
Seating Capacity
Value of
Estate
Value of
Furniture
Jesse Orr.
1
1890
360
$ 20,000
$ 1,200
Thomas Severn.
2
1880
360
'15,000
1,200
Ninth & Spruce.
2
1896
360
20,000
1,200
Bingaman & Orange.
2
1854
270
15,000
900
J. H. Hagenman. ... 3
1875
360
16,000
1,000
Park
3
1898
270
24,000
900
George Lerch
4
1868
450
23,000
1,200
Chestnut Street
5
1890
360
20,000
1,000
Franklin Street
5
1868
360
18,000
1,000
Washington Street
6
1886
540
27,000
1,800
Ricktown
6
1889
360
18,000
800
Buttonwood & Pear.
6
1897
360
23,000
1,200
High School for Girls.
7
1896
600
125,000
6,000
Lewis Briner
7
1873
360
19,000
1,300
Elm & Madison Ave. 7
1899
180
9,800
Administration
8
1883
61,500
High School for Boys.
8
1906
1,000
329,000
Poplar Street
8
1891
360
16,000
1,200
Henry S. Eckert.
8
1873
360
16,000
1,200
Elm and Moss
9
1901
500
35,000
1,300
12th & Buttonwood. 9
1895-
360
21,000
1,200
John S. Richards
10
1872
360
13,000
1,200
Maple & Cotton.
10
1904
180
16,800
650
11
1892
360
23,000
1,200
Tenth & Green
11
1904
540
40,000
2,000
Mount Penn
11
1899
180
13,600 18,000
1,200
12th & Greenwich
12
1895
360
26,000
1,200
Ninth & Windsor
12
1900
360
23,600
1,200
Spring & Moss.
13
1899
360
23,000
1,000
Eleventh & Pike.
13
1898
360
19,100
1,200
Marion
13
1870
360
800
Site
13
13
1889
360
16,000
1,000
Tenth & Union.
13
1890
360
21,200
1,200
C. B. McKnight.
14
1880
180
6,000
600
Spring & Church.
14
1894
180
12,000
600
Site
14
1,200
Fifth & Spring.
14
1900
360
25,000
1,200
2d & Oley, No. 1. 14
1894
180
9,000
600
2d & Oley, No. 2 14
1898
360
18,000
1,000
J. H. Jacobs.
15
1880
180
7,000
400
Schuylkill Ave., No. 1.
15
1894
180
10,000
600
Schuylkill Ave., No. 2.
15
1898
360
21,300
1,200
Douglass & Weiser .. 15
1903
360
23,000
1,200
Site
15
4,600
Samuel Frees
16
1875
360
15,000
1,000
17th & Cotton.
16
1884
180
10,000
600
Sixteenth & Haak.
16
1898
360
20,700
1,200
Perkiomen Ave.
16
1892
360
38,000
1,200
Total
16,230
$1,381,400 | $97,450
$1,381,400
$1,478,850
Private Schools .- Private schools have been car- ried on at Reading since the beginning of the town. They were well patronized until 1840, when the effect of the common system began to be felt. But the growth of the public system did not cause the private schools to be abandoned, for patronage of them has continued to be more or less active. Of the non-secular class,. there are the Benade school for children, started in 1870; and Mrs. Adele Ruenzler's, in 1877; Stewart Academy, founded by J. A. Stewart in 1881, and conducted successfully by his daughter Anna since his decease, in 1890; Inter-State Commercial College, founded by Rev. Henry Y. Stoner in 1885; Schools of Stenography by Elmer W. Deck in 1890, by J. T. Kerst in 1898. and Rev. J. V. George in 1900; and L. C. McCann. The last named has been at Reading since March, 1908 ; pupils, thirty-six; came from Mahanoy City, where he had conducted a school for thirteen years. His place was former School of Commerce (con- ducted by Strickler & Shoop) and George F. Klein- ginna's Business College, carried on altogether up- ward of ten years.
The sectarian schools are Academy of Immacu- late Heart, founded in 1859; St. Peter's Roman Catholic, in 1859; St. John's German Lutheran, in 1865; St. Paul's Roman Catholic, in 1869; St. Mary's Polish Roman Catholic, in 1895-all of which are largely attended and successfully con- ducted.
Schuylkill Seminary .- The institution was found- ed by the East Pennsylvania Conference, in the city of Reading, August 19, 1881, and removed to Fred- ericksburg, Pa., in September, 1886. The location of the institution there was due to the liberality of Col. John H. Lick, a native of the place, by whose munificence, together with the contribu- tions of the Conference and of the community, a large and beautiful structure was erected, fur- nished with apparatus, supplies and furniture, and made attractive by the beautifying of the grounds. The institution remained at Fredericksburg un- til the close of the academic year, June 19, 1902.
A few weeks prior to this, the property known as the Selwyn Hall School, comprising over seven acres of land at Thirteenth and Exeter streets, Reading, Pa., was taken under consideration by the trustees of Schuylkill Seminary as a profit- able investment and a providential opportunity for removing the school to Reading. The trustees and the entire Conference had thought for some time that the school would have a larger sphere and greater patronage in the vicinity of a city, made easily accessible by good railroad facilities. They accordingly secured an option on the property, and at a meeting of the voting members of the .East Pennsylvania Conference, held July 1, 1902, on the proposed site, it was unanimously decided to purchase the property. The members at the
Total Valuations
12
1882
360
16,000 20,000
Twelfth & Windsor.
600
Edwin Ziegler
400 600 45,000
Mulberry Street
....
nit:
Real
204
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
same time requested the city of Reading to raise lished at Philadelphia, which gave them foreign a certain sum of money needed to purchase the news, and events of surrounding places which oc- property and make the necessary repairs. An ac- curred weeks before. Local news was not reported. tive canvass had been instituted presumptive of An occasional letter from Reading was published ; favorable action by the members of the Confer- but the important happenings, such as we are now accustomed to read daily, were not noticed, for they were communicated by social intercourse at stores and taverns. ence for the removal of the school. A large por- tion of the sum had already been subscribed. It was decided that the canvass should be continued, the assurance being given that the city would meet every expectation, thus reflecting great credit up- on its liberal citizens and thereby showing an in- tense zeal in the cause of education and the wel- fare of its promising youth.
The first newspaper at Reading was issued in 1789, but did not continue long. It was printed in the German language and was called Der Neue Unparteiische Readinger Zeitung (The New Impar- tial Reading Newspaper). The next appeared in 1796. In that year several were begun and one of them has been published until now, the Reading Adler. Another, the Weekly Advertiser, was pub- lished until 1816, when the Berks and Schuylkill Journal took its place. Afterward, for forty years, many were issued, but with few exceptions they were not published many years. They were all weekly publications, issued on different days of the week, but mostly on Saturday. Until 1847, the daily newspaper was not issued, not even suggested. The first English daily was established in 1858, and the first German daily in 1868. [For list of Newspapers of County, see Chapter III.]
ASSOCIATIONS
Associations have occupied a prominent place in the social life of Reading for over a hundred years. At first they were few in number, but as the popu- lation increased a desire to organize bodies of vari- ous kinds and for different purposes manifested itself more and more, particularly after the incor- poration of Reading as a city. Then the secret so- ciety became very active, and this activity has been kept up until the present time. They are classified and treated in the following order:
Military Industrial
Musical
Charitable
Religious
of study, and completing its equipment in the way of increased apparatus and facilities for instruc- tion. This plan has met with a marked degree of public favor, and is now in progress of ful- fillment.
The Seminary is under the patronage of the East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangeli- cal Association. Bishop S. C. Breyfogel, D. D.,
is president of the trustee board. Rev. W. F. ized in 1774, and they prepared the way for a long Teel, Ph. M., is principal.
NEWSPAPERS
Associations of this character were again organ- and costly participation in the Revolution. They became compulsory in 1775 by legislation. The system, which was established during that trying
From the beginning of the town until 1800, some period for eight years, was preserved and thereby inhabitants received the Pennsylvania Gasctte, pub- a military spirit became a noteworthy feature of
Schuylkill Seminary is uniquely located at the base of Mt. Penn, near Thirteenth and Exeter streets, Reading. The campus, consisting of nearly eight acres, is admirably adapted for school pur- poses. The excellent tennis courts, the baseball diamond, and the croquet plot, furnish ample op- portunity for the necessary outdoor exercise of the student. On the grounds is a spring of the purest water. That, in itself, is an invaluable aid to the institution.
The buildings are three in number, consisting of the main building, the chapel and the gymna- sium. In the main building are the office, the li- brary, class-rooms, the dining-room, dormitories for ladies, etc. The second floors of both the chapel and the gymnasium are used as dormitor- ies for men. All the buildings are lighted with electricity, heated with steam and provided with `hot and cold water. These well-equipped build- ings, together with the beautiful grounds, make the Seminary a very attractive institution. It has an endowment of $65,000.
The purpose of Schuylkill Seminary is to pre- pare young men and women for college and for life. For those who do not intend to enter col- lege, the courses offer special advantages to those preparing to enter theological or other professional Protective Literary schools. Though originally opened as a Seminary Patriotic Secret of a higher grade, which nature it still retains, it Financial Professional was the desire of its founders that it should grad- MILITARY ually mature into a college, by raising the standard The first association at Reading was organized of scholarship for admission, extending its courses in 1754 for purposes of defense against the Indians. It was during the French and Indian war, which affected this section of Pennsylvania from that time until 1763. Conrad Weiser was the most promi- nent military officer. Small companies of men were constantly quartered here, and the spirit of co-op- eration was shown until peace was declared and the Indians departed.
205
READING
the social life of the people. Whenever a call for body of the engine with water, from which it was troops was made, they responded with such alac- pumped upon the fire. Water was thus carried until rity as to be among the very first of the Nation's defenders. 1821, when the Reading Water Company laid pipes through the streets for the purpose of supplying water by gravity. Then the hand engine was placed at the plug nearest the fire, and water was con- veyed into it by a short hose. A long hose ex- tended from the engine to a point near the burn- ing building, and the water was forced through it upon the fire.
The steam fire-engine was introduced here in 1860 by the Reading Hose Company, and within the next few years four additional engines were added to the Fire Department. The following table shows the organization of the several companies and their membership:
FIRE COMPANIES
Company
Instituted
Members
1773
587
1813
690
Reading Hose
1819
432
Neversink
1829
261
Friendship
1848
620
Liberty
1854
875
Washington Hook & Ladder
1855
386
Keystone Hook & Ladder.
1856
187
Hampden
1867
220
Marion
1881
175
Riverside
1890
205
Schuylkill
1892
350
Union
1898
350
Soon after the introduction of the steam fire- engine, the companies considered the propriety of forming an association for more readily accom- plishing the object of their existence. Representa- tives from eight companies assembled on March 18, 1861, and formed a "Firemen's Union." This was an ordinary association for four years, com- posed of five delegates from each company; but finding its powers inadequate, it was incorporated on March 15, 1865, under the name of "Firemen's. Union of the City of Reading," and the Union has since acted under this charter. The management is vested in a board of trustees, elected by the Union annually, composed of one member from each company represented in the Union.
In 1873, the electric fire-alarm was introduced into the city. Previously, the alarm was sounded on the bells of the Trinity Lutheran Church for many years, till 1840; then upon the bell of the Court-House for a period of thirty-three years. The locality of the fire was indicated by a number of strokes on the bell to correspond with the num- ber of the ward where the fire was. Now, the alarm is given publicly in different sections of Reading. Alarms are also struck in the buildings of the respective fire companies.
A fire, therefore, seldom, if ever, occasioned great loss to the community. Leathern buckets were commonly used in which to carry water from the nearest pumps for the purpose of extinguishing fires ; and they sufficed for a score of years. But the progress and increasing compactness of the During 1871 and 1872, there were numerous false alarms of fire, and these became so annoying that a remedy had to be provided. Henry W. Spang advocated the Gamewell fire-alarm system, and through his efforts councils adopted it in 1873. The battery, mechanical apparatus and switchboard town required an improved method. The demand was satisfied by the introduction of a forcing en- gine, operated by manual labor, in 1773, when the Rainbow Fire Company was organized, and it was used until 1860. Buckets were then not entirely dispensed with ; they were useful still in filling the are located in the City Hall. This system embraces
From the close of the Revolution until the Civil war of 1861-65, the "Militia System" was very active both in the city and county. In 1856 the militia comprised altogether twenty-four companies with a total enrollment of 1,463 men, of which six companies were from Reading with a total en- rollment of 539 men. At the close of the Civil war, the military spirit was greatly reduced, but the system was nevertheless continued by virtue of an Act passed in 1864 under the name of the "National Guard of Pennsylvania," with a limited representa- tion from the city and the county.
Since 1865, there have been three companies, which were engaged in the Spanish war of 1898, Rainbow two from Reading, and one from Hamburg. [See Junior Chapter VIII.]
Armory .- Capt. H. Melvin Allen, of Company A, 4th Regiment, N. G. P., revived the subject of providing an Armory for the National Guard at Reading. He raised $12,000 by soliciting subscrip- tions from the business people of Reading and pur- chased a lot (77 feet by 155 feet) at the northeast corner of Walnut and Rose streets, and, with the encouragement of the State authorities, a superior and commodious building was erected in 1908 and 1909, costing $50,000.
PROTECTIVE
Before 1773, the inhabitants of Reading were in a primitive state with respect to their ability to extinguish fires, but the town was small, the build- ings were limited and comparatively scattered and the investments in property were inconsiderable.
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