USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 128
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for a lodge-room by the "Masons," when the building was sold by the county. Theatres and performances of all kinds were still conducted in large rooms of certain tavern buildings. But its third period as a city had hardly begun be- fore a change was effected to accommodate the public. The first enterprise for this purpose was projected in 1842, when steps were taken by the Masonic Lodge for the erection of a large and commodious three-story hall on the east side of South Fifth Street, near Franklin ; but it failed, notwithstanding a large room was much needed. The academy had been closed to en- tertainments, even concerts.
In 1846 a second effort was made in this be- half. This was by the "Odd-Fellows." They purchased the lot on the southwest corner of Fifth and Franklin Streets, and began building operations in April, 1846. The building- three-story brick-was dedicated as the "Odd- Fellows' Hall," on October 26, 1847. The pro- cession of Odd-Fellows upon that occasion pre- sented one of the finest pageants ever witnessed iu Reading. A large number of the members of the order from abroad, including the digni- taries of the Grand Lodge of this and other States and of the United States, were in attend- ance ; and the various lodges in this county were largely represented. The ceremony of dedica- ting the hall was imposing. It took place between ten and twelve o'clock in the morning.
The procession was under the direction of General Wm. H. Keim, chief marshal.
Thirty-four lodges were present from Phila- delphia and surrounding counties, and the num- ber in line was from two thousand to two thou- sand five hundred. All the banners were beauti- ful and attractive and mostly made for the oc- casion. A levee took place in the evening. Many persons attended. The ball was a splendid affair.
Concerts and entertainments began to be held immediately after its dedication in the large auditorium on the second floor. A dramatic troupe, under the management of J. H. Powell, is worthy of special mention. He opened on May 10, 1848, and continued to play to large audiences for four weeks.
The next was the " Keystone Hall "-an ad- dition erected at the rear of the Keystone House
760
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
-northwest corner of Sixth and Penn Streets, by the owner, Tobias Barto. Its completion was signalized by a "Grand Dedication Ball," on Thursday evening, October 19, 1854. Its capacity was about five hundred. Many en- tertainments, balls and public meetings were held in it during its continuance. In 1866 it was enlarged and much improved, when it was called Keystone Opera-House. It was discon- tinned upon the enlargement of the hotel.
The third was " Aulenbach's Hall," on the south side of Penn street, one hundred feet above Sixth, erected by John S. Aulenbach in
by Joseph Mishler, of Reading, and opened to the public October 1, 1872, with an entertainment by home talent, consisting of an address by Hon. Hiester Clymer, vocal selections by Albert S. Boyer, violin solos by A. S. Bowman, zither solo by Philip Bissinger, the Ringgold Band, under the direction of B. M. Henry, and the Germania Orchestra under the direction of Prof. J. William Jost. Tickets were sold by sealed proposals which ranged from twenty dollars to fifty cents. Col. Eli S. Fox, of the Keystone Honse, was the highest bidder, taking first choice of two seats for forty dollars. Hon.
MILÍ
STAGE OF MISHLER ACADEMY.
1862. Its capacity, including gallery, was about eight hundred.
The fourth was " Breneiser's Hall " on the northwest corner of Penn and Eighth Streets, erected by Charles S. Breneiser in 1869. From 1879 till now it has been known as Association Hall-the second and third floors having been occupied by the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation of Reading till April 1, 1886, and since then only the second floor. The third floor is occupied by societies of Odd-Fellows.
MISHLER'S ACADEMY OF MUSIC was erected
Hiester Clymer had four seats for fifty dollars ; Isaac McHose had two seats for twenty dol- lars, and the following persons had two or more seats at five dollars each : Moses K. Graeff, F. P. Heller, William M. Griscom, H. M. Keim, Adam Kutz, H. A. Kauffman, Ambrose Mc- Hose, Simon Seyfert, Mrs. Frank Seitzinger, Geo. K. Whitner and Dr. W. M. Weidman. There were a good many at $2.50, $2, $1.75 and $1. The auditorium was about two-thirds filled the opening night, but the receipts were $1,384.50. The prices after the proposals had
761
READING.
been opened were : Parquet, five dollars ; par- quet circle, $2.50; gallery one dollar; boxes, forty dollars. The first dramatic performance was given October 7, 1872, by a dramatic con- pany under the management of Mr. John E. McDonough, which remained four weeks play- ing to crowded houses. All the leading Amer- ican stars, except Booth, appeared at the Academy, and the character of entertainments equaled those of any theatre in New York or Philadelphia. Among those that had the largest receipts were Charlotte Cushman, as " Meg Merrilies," May 15, 1873, and on that
Company (two nights), $1280; Thatcher, Prim- rose and West, $685.35; Kiralfy's Around the World, $698.50; E. L. Davenport, $613.50; Fanny Davenport, $652.70 ; and Thomas' orchestra, $1011. A pleasing feature for sev- eral seasons was Mishler's course of lectures, for which the stage settings were made expressly to conform with the subject of the lecture. The Mishler Academy was the first modern com- plete theatre erected in Eastern Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. The Academy occu- pied a space of seventy by one hundred feet, and the auditorium was divided into a parquette,
AUDITORIUM OF MISHLER ACADEMY.
occasion the prices of seats were higher than for | raised parquette circle, and one gallery, with a any other dramatic performance since ; the total seating capacity of over one thousand per- sons. The cost exceeded one hundred thousand dollars. The interior arrangements were com- plete in all their appointments, and the ceilings and walls were magnificently frescoed. prices were $2, $1.50, $1 and seventy-five cents; the receipts were seven hundred and four dol- lars, and as Miss Cushman received five hun- dred and personal expenses for her own services only, there was a loss of several hundred dollars; After a successful career of fourteen years, the Academy was closed also by home talent, February 27, 1886,- the production of the " Drummer Boy of Shiloh," by members of the McLean and Keim Posts, G. A. R. Carncross and Dixey, $646.50; Henry Ward Beecher, $761, $1 having been charged for seats in every part of the Academy ; George L. Fox in pantomime, $769.50; Furbish's Two Orphans
762
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The Academy was always under the manage- ment of John D. Mishler, son of the proprietor.
JOSEPH MISHLER, the proprietor of the Academy, was born at Reamstown, Lancaster County, Pa., March 14, 1820. He located at Reading in 1848, and became an enterprising and liberal-spirited citizen. He was of a jovial, sociable disposition and had an extensive ac- quaintance throughout the State. In the early progress of the city he was among the foremost in the erection of numerous buildings. In 1872 he erected the first modern place of amusement in Reading. It was a gratifying enterprise to his friends and a substantial evi- dence of his liberality and good taste. The last six years of his life he retired from active busi- ness. He died August 20, 1880. He was married to Rebecca Zimmerman, of Lebanon County, Pa., and left a widow and two sons, -John D. and William D.
John D. Mishler was born at Newmanstown, Lebanon County, in 1847, and educated at Reading. He was actively engaged as a merchant at Reading from 1868 till 1872, when he directed his attention to public entertain- ments, in which since that time he has met with great success. He has also shown a high degree of public spirit in other matters pertaining to the progress of Reading. In various charitable affairs he has exhibited much liberality. He was connected with the construction of the first street railway in Reading, the organization of the first Board of Health, the agitation of the City Park, and the projection of the Widows' Home.
GRAND OPERA-HOUSE .- In 1871 the West Reading Market-House Company erected a fine and commodious market-house on Penn Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, extending to Cherry Street in the rear. Shortly after its completion, the company decided to add an "Opera-House " to the front part, and accord- ingly proceeded in that behalf, finishing the building in September, 1873; and in the same month it was regularly opened to the public as a superior place of amusement with a seating capacity for one thousand persons. The cost was forty thousand dollars. The decorations were admirably executed by Frederick Spang, artist, of Reading.
The front of the parquet circle is in panel- work, with handsome life-like portraits of Ru- binstein, Mrs. Billington, Lucca, Miss Nielson, Jenny Lind, M'lle Nilsson, Handel, Haydn, Clara Louise Kellogg, Parepa Rosa, Mrs. Scott Siddons, Madame Sessi, Madame Pasta, and Meyerbeer. These are interspersed with elegant little bouquets of flowers. Above the prosce- ninm, in a recess, is the head of Apollo, and on the ceiling are portraits of Forrest as Macbeth, the elder Mrs. Siddous as Lady Macbeth, Fanny Kemble, Beethoven, Mozart, Schiller and Goethe. In the centre of the dome are four figures, representing Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, which are interspersed with wreaths and bouquets. Encircling these are figures of Music, Tragedy, Comedy and the Terpsichorean art. The stage is thirty-four feet deep, with a recess of twelve feet. The fol- lowing gentlemen composed the board of direc- tors, who attended to the erection of the build- ing : Reuben E. Addams, Charles S. Birch, George M. Ermentrout, John Kissinger, John McKnight, Arnold Mellert, John F. Orth, John S. Pearson and A. W. Potteiger. The president of the board was John Kissinger, and the secretary and treasurer George M. Ermen- trout, Esq.
Mr. George W. Miller has been the man- ager for the past ten years, successfully providing attractive and well attended amusements.
MÆNNERCHOR HALL .- A " Masonic Tem- ple " was begun in 1873, on North Sixth Street, near Walnut, but the project failed during the course of its erection, after the completion of the market-house. Subsequently Hon. George D. Stitzel and several others purchased the property and completed the building. It was opened in 1877, and named after the prominent singing so- ciety of Reading. A small stage was added to the anditorium. The capacity is estimated at eight hundred persons. The market-house was torn down recently, and the owners (George D. Stitzel, Nolan Brothers, William Shomo, John D. Mishler and Garrett B. Stevens) are now erecting a commodious opera-house, to take the place of the " Academy of Music," and to be complete in all its appointments.
There have been other places of amusement
763
READING.
in Reading, but they were not long in existence, and special mention of them will not be made.
PRIVATE MARKET-HOUSES .- Immediately after the public market-houses were abandoned, private individuals erected substantial and com- modions buildings to accommodate the market people, which were opened the first time on May 10, 1871. The following three buildings were erected shortly before: Sonth Reading, Sixth and Bingaman ; Farmer's, on Penn, between Eighth and Ninth ; West Reading, on Penn, between Third and Fourth: In 1874 two addi- tional market-houses were erected,-Northeast, at Ninth and Buttonwood, and the Keystone, on Sixth, near Walnut,-and in 1884, a sixth was erected at Tenth and Chestnut, by Dr. W. P. Deppen.
HOSPITALS .- There are two fine hospital buildings in Reading,-the Reading, in the northern part of the city ; and the St. Joseph's, on Walnut Street, above Twelfth. Both occupy fine positions and command magnificent views of the surrounding country.
READING HOSPITAL .- Prior to' the year 1867 Reading had no institution to provide medical treatment and medicines for the worthy poor. The Reading Medical Association recog- nizing this want, at a stated meeting in Decem- ber of that year, appointed a committee, com- posed of Drs. D. L. Beaver, J. B. Brooke, S. L. Kurtz, Martin Luther, Edward Wallace and W. Murray Weidman, to confer with some of the leading citizens in reference to this charity. On the evening of December 14, 1867, at the office of Dr. Martin Luther, the following- named gentlemen met the committee: A. F. Boas, Isaac Eckert, Wm. Griscom, Dr. Chas. H. Hunter, Chas. Kessler, Adam Leize, Frede- rick Lauer, H. H. Muhlenberg, John McManus, G. A. Nicolls, James F. Smith, Dr. Daniel Ulrich and P. M. Ziegler. It was then deter- mined to open the "Reading Dispensary."
A constitution with by-laws was adopted, a charter was obtained, money was subscribed and a house rented. Messrs. A. F. Boas, Henry Bushong, Hiester Clymer, Isaac Eckert, Wm. Griscom, Chas. H. Hunter, M.D., Charles Kessler, Adam Leize, Frederick Laner, H. H. Muhlenberg, John McManus, G. A. Nicolls,
John S. Richards, Esq., Daniel Shaaber, Hon. Warren J. Woodward, James F. Smith and P. M. Ziegler composed the first board of man- agers.
On the 27th of January, 1868, the Reading Dispensary was opened at No. 618 Court Street for the reception of in-door patients. One sur- geon and one physician were appointed to be in attendance daily. Out-door patients were pre- scribed for every afternoon except Sundays, between the hours of two and three. Ward physicians were appointed to attend patients too ill to call at the institution. All this work was performed gratuitously by the members of the Reading Medical Association. In February, 1874, Frederick Lauer, Drs, Brooke, Kurtz and Weidman were appointed as a committee by the board of managers to purchase a site for the erection of a hospital building. The. spot selected was that on which the Reading Hospital now stauds and was purchased of Michael Hanser. During the financial panic of 1874 the demands on the dispensary were greatly increased and the collections diminished to such an extent that the managers were com -: pelled to close the building on Court Street. A room was obtained in the building of the Reading Relief Association, corner of Franklin and Plum Streets, where all out-door patients. were attended daily, and the services of the ward physicians continued as above mentioned. In 1883 the charter was revised and the name changed to the " Reading Hospital." The State appropriated twenty thousand dollars on condi- tion that twenty-five thousand dollars be col- lected from citizens. This being accomplished, a plan of building, designed by Furness & Evans, under the direction of the building committee-namely, W. E. C. Coxe, J. B. Brooke, M.D., Geo. F. Baer, Harrison Maltz- berger and W. M. Weidman, M.D.,-was adopted, and the building commenced.
The members of the board of managers at present are W. E. C. Coxe, president ; P. M. Ziegler, treasurer ; Israel Cleaver, M.D., secre- tary ; B. R. Lee, M.D., representative of Read- ing Medical Association ; George F. Baer, Esq., Elijah Bull, Charles Breneiser, J. B. Brooke, M.D., A. B. Dundor, M.D., Henry S. Eckert,
764
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
.
S. L. Kurtz, M.D., Harrison Maltzberger, Esq., W. F. Muhlenberg, M.D., John B. Raser, P. R. Stetson and W. Murray Weidman, M.D.
The hospital comprises a superior and com- modious two-story brick structure with a cut lime-stone base in a fine, elevated position, which commands a magnificent view of Reading and the surrounding country. It contains all the modern improvements, especially designed for a complete sanitarium, with two large wards, each having a capacity for twelve beds, a female ward for five beds and three apartments for
P. M. Ziegler
500 00
Caleb Wheeler 500 00
George F. Baer 500 00
John B. Brooke. 500 00
John Endlich 500 00
Adam Leize 500 00
John Maltzberger 500 -00
E. J. Deininger 500 00
Hauser Estate. 500 00
W. E. C. Coxe. 500 00
James Jameson 500 00
George Brooke .. 500 00
Mrs. William M. and Mr. Isaac Hies- ter 500 00
READING HOSPITAL.
"pay " patients. When finished it will be under the care of a physician and surgeon, matron and nurse, with several assistants.
The building is situated one mile north from Penn Street, and is accessible by convey- ance or by the street railway, the northern ter- minus of which is only a short distance from the inclosure. The property includes a tract of over three acres of ground.
The following subscriptions have been re- ceived towards the Reading Hospital to Decem- ber 31, 1884 :
John S. Pearson ..... .. $500 00
William MeIlvain and Sons. 500 00
Eckert & Bro. 500 00
J. H. Sternbergh. 500 00
Philadelphia Friend. 500 00
Orr, Painter & Co. 350 00
Reading Hardware Co. 350 00
Charles Breneiser. 250 00
G. A. Nicolls 250 00
Horace Roland. 200 00
McHose & Co. 200 00
Rick Bros 200 00
Mrs. Sarah Haywood. 200 00
A. Wilhelm & Co. 150 00
Mrs. Catharine E. H. Jones 150 00
Miss Mary Eckert. 150 00
Mrs. Esther Otto. 100 00
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READING.
Miss Clara Gries 100 00
Mrs. Susan B. Good. 100 00
Miss Susan E. Benson. 100 00
J. L. Stichter & Sou 100 00
Kline & Eppihimer.
100 00
D. H. Wingerd.
100 00
Moses K. Graeff.
100 00
H. A. Muhlenberg
100 00
M. A. De Wolfe Howe
100 00
J. V. Craig.
100 00
J. H. Craig, Keystone Iron-Works. 100 00
Jacob Snell.
100 00
Jesse G. Hawley
100 00
E. D. Smith. 100 00
W. D. Smith, 100 00
Bentley H. Smith. 100 00
L. Heber Smith
100 00
W. A. Arnold
100 00
F. Leaf Smith ..
100 00
Thomas P. Merritt. 100 00
Reading Friend. 100 00
J. O. Geise. 60 00
H. H. Muhlenberg. 50 00
J. E. Wootten. 50 00
James F. Smith 50 00
W. T. Hain 50 00
Samuel Buch 50 00
R. T. Leaf.
50 00
Mrs. A. L. Campbell. 50 00
Graul & Co .. 50 00
Miss S. F. Wharton 50 00
Samuel H. Kutz 50 00
Lodge No. 62, A. Y. M. 50 00
Chandler Lodge, No. 227, A. Y. M ... 50 00
St. John's Lodge, No. 435, A. Y. M .. 25 00
Reading H. R. Chapter, No. 152 25 00 Christian Eben 39 00
A. Harvey Tyson 35 00
George Gasser. 30 00
Daniel Borkert, Jr., & Co. 30 00
George W. Greisemer & Bro. 30 00
Douglas & Connard. 25 00
F. P. Howe. 25 00
Samuel Koch. 25 00
Mellert Foundry & Machine Co 25 00
J. C. Bright.
25 00
Winter & Goelz. 25 00
H. S. Getz & Co 25 00
John R. Miller 25 00
W. H. Reinoehl & Co. 25 00
John Hendel.
25 00
Henry B. Hendel 25 00 High & Geiger 25 00
DeLong Bros.
25 00
Cash, H. A. & A 25 00
S. E. Ancona. 25 00
Mrs. R. T. Leaf. 25 00
Leymaster & Bricker 25 00
J. H. Cheetham 25 00
P. Barbey & Son.
25 00
Martin Streng.
20 00
Christopher Leoser. 20 00
Solomon Weida. 20 00
F. S. Jacobs.
20 00
C. F. Kessler.
20 00
Dr. Joseph Coblentz. 20 00
C. Stolz.
15 00
Miss Marion Baer.
10 00
Penn Hardware Co.
10 00
Levi Rothenberger
10 00
Sundry subscriptions less than $10, Fairs, etc 11,126 00
Total.
$26,290 00
During the year 1885,-
Reading Hardware Co
$350 00
M. A. De Wolfe Howe.
100 00
A. Wilhelm & Co.
50 00
Reading Foundry Co.
42 00
Liquor Dealers' Protective Assoc'n 25 00
Sundry contributions.
32 51
Total
.$509 51
ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL. - The land on which this hospital is located, on the north side of Walnut Street, above Twelfth, was long known as the Vollmer property. It was purchased in 1873 for ten thousand dollars and contained three and a half acres, on which were then a two-story brick dwelling, twenty by thirty feet, a frame structure and a stable. The dwelling was arranged into wards, appropriately fur- nished, and the institution was opened as a hos- pital in August, 1873, under the immediate stewardship of the Sisters of St. Francis. Im- mediately after the organization of the hospital, the Pathological Society of Berks Couuty, at a meeting held for that purpose, appointed a com- mittee to tender the services of its members as a medical board of the institution. The offer was gratefully accepted and a board was organized, with the following membership: Drs. D. L. Beaver, Martin Luther, Jeremiah Breidenbach, H. M. Nagle, Henry Landis, J. G. Kalbach, Samuel Ermentrout and M. A. Rhoads, which was subsequently increased by the addition of James M. Hoffman and A. J. Cressman. The same medical society is to the present day the efficient medical staff of St. Joseph's Hospital.
The corner-stone of the new St. Joseph's Hos- pital was laid in July, 1882, and the building
766
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
placed under roof some time during the follow- ing winter. On account of the lack of funds, the building was not completed until 1885, when, on May 25th, it was solemnly blessed by the most Rev. P. J. Ryan, Archbishop of Phil- adelphia. Soon after this it was properly fur- nished and occupied. Since then it has done a noble work, as from thirty to forty patients at a time have been carefully provided for. The main building has a front on Walnut Street of sixty-five feet ; its depth is fifty feet, with addi- tions both in the front and to the rear. On its west side it has four stories, on the east three. Spacious balconies on the east and west sides afford patients who can leave the house pure air, a most beautiful view of Reading and has surroundings and opportunity for light out-door exercise.
The interior arrangements, with all modern improvements, are well adapted to the comfort and improvement of its suffering inmates. The building contains fourteen single rooms, well furnished for private patients, and three wards with twenty-six beds.
There are other large rooms and halls that can be made into wards for patients, if necessary, so as to double the capacity of the institution. The hospital occupies an elevated location on the western slope of Mount Penn. The grounds belonging to the institution are principally oc- cupied by productive vineyards, fruit-trees and shrubbery, thus affording convalescent patients ample opportunity in mild weather for amuse- ment and recreation. Easily accessible from all parts of the city, with an inexhaustible flow of pure mountain spring-water, and affording a magnificent view of the city of Reading and the surrounding country, it is most eminently adapted to the purpose for which it was erected.
Though conducted by the Sisters of St. Fran- cis, a well-known religious society in the Catholic Church, it is by no means a sectarian institu- tion in the dispensation of its charities. The statistics of the hospital show that more than one-half of the patients treated were not of the Catholic, but of the Protestant persuasion. Its doors are open alike to the sick and afflicted of every race, color and creed. Comparatively few of its inmates are able to pay for their board, and most of them are charity patients.
The institution was built by charitable con- tributions. Its greatest benefactor was the late Francis A. Drexel, who kindly remembered it by a handsome legacy among his most munificent charities. Next to him stands the charitable George R. Frill, of Reading, who has donated to the institution ten thousand dollars' worth of stock of the Reading Land Improvement Com- pany, on which the hospital may realize at some future day a handsome sum for its support. Meanwhile, the hospital is supported by the charity of the citizens of Reading, solicited from time to time by the Sisters in charge.
PRIVATE PARKS .- A number of small parks are situated in different parts of the city,- Lauer's, Third and Elm ; Fairview, Ninth and South ; City Hotel and Grand Central, in East Reading ; Andalusia (Hertwig's), North Read- ing; and the Highland House, on Neversink. The first has been prominent in social and con- vivial affairs, in political demonstrations, and in celebrations of various kinds for many years. The last was set apart in 1884 by A. S. Gan- ser, who erected thereon a fine, commodious, three-story frame building and constructed an inclined railway. This place affords a mag- nificent view of Reading, and also north wardly over the Schuylkill Valley, and westwardly over the Lebanon Valley .; and near by are "look-outs" (elevated platforms), one at the east- ern end of Neversink, looking west and north, and two others, on the same mountain, looking south and southeast over the Schuylkill Valley, in which the "double bend," bridges, " Big Dam " and fine farms are conspicuous features.
The Highland House has one hundred and eighteen rooms. It is elevated above the Schuyl- kill River seven hundred and twenty-eight feet, and nine hundred and seventy-two feet above tide-water. The inclined double track railway leading to it is one thousand eight hundred feet long. The cars are drawn by a double cable, and moved by an eighty horse-power engine. Eighty acres are included in the property with timber of thirty years' growth. An artesian well is upon the premises, the depth of which is five hundred and sixty feet, with a daily water supply equal to fifty thousand gallons. The total cost is about sixty thousand dollars.
767
READING.
MINERAL SPRING .-- The property in the eastern section of the city, owned by the city of Reading and commonly known by the name of "Mineral Spring," must be mentioned in this connection, for, if not a private park, it is a prop- erty used as a park by many people on pleasant days. It has been much improved lately. The place is remembered with pleasure by many on account of the " chickens and waffles " furnished there for thirty years by Mrs. Roland.
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