USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > History of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the anniversary proceedings of the sesqui-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 > Part 21
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Mulberry Street Building; total in line, 169; John Murray, major .- Mixed Secondary, Sallie M. Marsh, teacher .- Male Adv. Prim., Anna A. Rapp, teacher .- Male Adv. Prim., Margaret Reifsnyder, teacher .- Female Adv. Prim , Mary M. Hamer, teacher .- Female Primary, Kate M. Knabb, Blanche Maguire and Amanda De H. Woodward, teachers. -Male Primary, Mame Hemmig and Ruth Bryson, teachers. Girls wore white dresses and white Tam O'Shanter hats; boys, dark trousers, white blouses and caps; and all a mulberry leaf as an emblem.
THIRTEENTH DIVISION.
Jerome Seiders in command.
Tenth and Douglass Streets Building; total in line, 172 .- Male Grammar, Kate E. Barton, teacher .- Mixed Adv. Prim., Naomi Kinsey, teacher .- Female Adv. Prim , Annie M. Shearer, teacher .- Male Adv.
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SCHOOL PARADE.
Prim., Florence Fink, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Sarah Clark teacher .- Male Primary, Alice Hawk, teacher .- Female Primary, Annie Miller, Effie Hemmig, teachers. All dressed as Scotch Highlanders, with caps, kilts and sashes in shepherd's plaid, and presented a very fine appearance.
Twelfth and Greenwich Streets Building; total in line 196. Harry S Brown, colonel .- Female Adv. Sec., Emma C. Houder, teacher .- Mixed Secondary, Minnie Bollman, teacher .- Female Secondary, Edith R. Mengel, teacher .- Female Adv Prim., Rebecca Albright, teacher .- Female primary, Mary H. Brown, teacher - Male Adv. Prim., Anna L Glase, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Eugenia Ermentrout, teacher .- Male Primary, Berta Jones, teacher. Girls and boys wore white suits and caps and red sashes.
FOURTEENTH DIVISION.
George Trievel in command.
Marion Street Building; total in line, 189. Jacob Rothenberger, colonel .- Female Secondary, Clara J. Kissinger, teacher .- Male Secon- dary, Mayflower Breeze, teacher -Female Adv. Prim., Kate M. Det- weiler, teacher .- Male Adv. Prim , Lottie C. Haage, teacher -- Primary, Laura Eisenhower, Martha Goodenough, Carrie N. From and Mary Fegely, teachers. Girls wore white dresses and caps with sashes and cap trimmings in national colors; boys, white waists, dark trousers, with scarfs and yachting caps in national colors.
Twelfth and Windsor Streets Building; total in line, 192; Thomas Gring, colonel .- Advanced Secondary, Annie J. H. Printz, teacher. - Female Secondary, Rosa McConnell, teacher .- Male Secondary, Annie Reaser, teacher .- Female Adv. Prim., Mabel M. Eby, teacher .- Male Adv. Prim., Emma R. Boone, teacher .- Male Primary, Helen Anthony, teacher .- Female Primary, Zettan Gordon, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Annie McDonough, teacher. Girls wore white dresses, blue sashes, white caps with scarlet bows on left side; boys, white waists, dark trous- ers, blue sashes, white caps decorated with small flags.
Tenth and Union Streets Building; total in line, 95. Mixed Adv. Prim , E. Caroline Schantz, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Katherine B. Eby, teacher .- Male Primary, Ida R. Kirn, teacher .- Female Primary, Anna S. Rankin, teacher. Girls in white dresses and caps, and sashes of national colors. Boys in white blouses, dark knee pants, regalias in na- tional colors, white caps in national colors, and Fontleroy sashes.
Spring and Moss Streets Building; total in line, 107. H. W. Leinbach, colonel. - Grammar, Lottie C. Reiley, teacher .- Advanced Primary, Rosa Ernst, teacher .- Male Primary, Eva Rudisill, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Florence Clous, teacher. Girls in white dresses and caps and belts of national colors. Boys in white blouses and caps and ties in national colors.
Eleventh and Pike Streets Building; total in line, 8o. C. E. Wells, colonel .- Male Adv. Sec., Meta Orff, teacher .- Mixed Adv. Prim., Ella Tice, teacher .- Mixed Primary, E. Geneva McDonough, teacher -Male
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Primary, Bessie Mason, teacher. Girls in white dresses, Tam O'Shan- ter hats, and sashes in national colors; boys in dark trousers, white waists and caps and sashes in national colors.
FIFTEENTH DIVISION.
William K. Cotterel in command.
McKnight Building; total in line, 77. Albert Lipphard, lieutenant-colo- nel .- Mixed Adv. Sec., Ida E. Ligget, teacher .- Secondary, Estella K. Reider, teacher,-Advanced Primary, Mary Summons, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Laura H. Mills, teacher. Girls in white dresses, blue sashes, réd caps and badges; boys in dark trousers, white shirts, blue neck ties, red caps and badges. Howard Griesemer was dressed as "Uncle Sam."
Bechteltown Building; total in line, 88. David Faust, major; Second- ary, Ida Hobson, teacher .- Advanced Primary, Elizabeth Edwards and Anna L. Heilig. teachers .- Primary, Margaret Cotterel and Sallie G. Goodman, teachers. Girls wore white dresses and Tam O'Shanter hats with bands and sashes in national colors; boys, dark trousers, white waists and caps, with red, white and blue belts and bands; and all Ses- ·qui Centennial button badges.
Spring and Church Streets Building; total in line, 58. Charles Laramy, major .- Female Grammar, Fannie E. Hobson, teacher .- Advanced Prim., Bertha Gordon, teacher .- Male Primary, Lizzie Miller, teacher .- Female Primary, Naomi Ermentrout, teacher. Girls in white dress and caps trimmed in national colors; boys, in dark trousers, white waist and caps trimmed in national colors.
SIXTEENTH DIVISION.
Charles H. Kiesling in command.
J H. Jacobs' Building; total in line, 62. Harry Miller, colonel; Edw. Schmauder, lieut .- colonel .- Advanced Secondary, Annie McMichael, teacher .- Advanced Primary, Lizzie Bingaman, teacher .- Primary, S. Emma Ziemer, teacher. Girls dressed in white; boys in dark trousers, white blouses and belts in red, white and blue; both wore white caps with red, white and blue bands.
Schuylkill Avenue Building, No. 1; total in line, 89. W. F Slider, colonel; Jos. Matz, lieut .- col .- Advanced Secondary, Annie E. Rettew, teacher .- Male Primary, Bessie Ziegler, teacher .- Male Advanced Prim- ary, Carrie K. Jones, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Estella B. Keppelman, teacher. Girls and boys in regular dress with white hats.
Schuylkill Avenue Building No. 2; total in line, 80. Mixed Grammar, May C. Ermentrout, teacher .- Secondary, Catharine Young, teacher .- Female Adv. Prim., Carrie M. Rhoads, teacher .- Female Primary, Jose- phine Goodman, teacher. Pupils wore school dress and white hats.
SEVENTEENTH DIVISION.
David F. Printz in command.
Samuel Frees Building; total in line, 171. William H. Bellman, colonel. Male Secondary, Sallie D. Missimer, teacher .- Advanced
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SCHOOL PARADE.
Primary, Annie I. Seiders, teacher .- Male Primary, Alma B. McMichael teacher .- Male Primary, Sallie A. Darrah, teacher .- Mixed Primary, Marie E. Gragg, teacher. - Female Primary, Estella L. Baker teacher .- Advanced Primary, Clara Jackson, teacher .- Female Adv. Prim., Net- tie V. Hughes, teacher. Girls dressed in white, and white caps in national colors. Boys in white waists and caps trimmed in national colors. Male Secondary dressed in white hats and blouses and carried tin axes.
Seventeenth and Cotton Streets Building; total in line, 75; D. A Sny- der, colonel .- Female Adv. Prim., Mary S. Herbein, teacher .- Male Adv. Prim., Caroline E. Cressman, teacher .- Male Primary, Elizabeth Yorgey, teacher .- Female Primary, Florence Smith, teacher. Girls in white dresses and caps and red badges. Boys in white waists and caps, and belts in red, white and blue.
Perkiomen Avenue Building; total in line, 204; Charles Longacre, colonel .- Male Grammar, Fannie I. Hughes, teacher .- Female Gram- mar, Elberta Richards, teacher .- Male Adv. Sec., Mary J. Murray, teacher .- Mixed Adv. Sec., Clara L. Maxton, teacher -Mixed Secon- dary, Mrs. Sallie B. Kutz, teacher .- Mixed Adv. Prim., Anna Clouser, teacher .- Male Primary, Kate Mitchell, teacher .- Female Primary, Annabel Ruth, teacher. Girls in white trimmed in national colors; and of grammar department carried Japanese parasols; boys of gram- mar grade wore dark trousers with white stripes, dark coats, white caps and ties in national colors, carrying canes, and of Advanced Secondary, dark trousers, with white stripes, white waists and caps and belts in national colors.
Sixteenth and Haak Streets Building; total in line, 84; Charles Wick, colonel .- Mixed Secondary, Emily F. Pollard, teacher .- Mixed Adv. Prim., Martha S. Bower, teacher .- Male Primary, Lulu Harrison, teacher. - Female Primary, Gertrude Gerhart, teacher. Girls in white; boys in white blouses and dark trousers; all wearing white hats; guards carrying guns.
Preparation for Parade .- For some weeks before the Ses- qui-Centennial, the pupils of all the schools, from the lowest grade to the highest, were drilled in marching evolutions, and they showed great interest in the exercise. The movements were generally made on the streets in the vicinity of the respec- tive buildings, and they attracted much attention throughout the city. The parents generally encouraged the undertaking, and willingly supplied the extra dress and decoration for the parade. When the day came, the community was naturally excited, and took unusual interest in the proposed public demonstration. The display proved a wonderful success and highly gratifying to everybody. It was admittedly the greatest and best of all the
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displays. The numerous pages taken up in this volume in its presentation are entirely warranted, and the Committee on His- tory expressed regret that the names of all pupils, who acted as officers of the respective companies, could not be made a part of this report.
Prize Flag .- Wm. Blough, representing the Blough Manu- facturing Co., manufacturers of flags, of Harrisburg, having sold a large number of national flags at Reading for the Sesqui-Cen- tennial, and appreciating the School Parade, offered a fine bunt- ing flag, 12 by 18 feet, as a prize for the building whose pupils showed the highest number of points as to number, appearance and marching, and he selected four judges to award the prize. After the parade, the flag was awarded to the school from Tenth and Green Building. The averages of the several buildings were as follows :-
Boys' High School, 60; Girls' High School, 90; Girls' High School, second division, 75; Girls' High School, third division, 85; Seventh and Laurel, 75; Ninth and Spruce, So; Franklin and Peach, 75; St. Peter's, 75; Sixth and Chestnut, So; Chestnut and Carpenter, 90; Third and Franklin, 70; Hockley Lane, So; Washington Street, 75; Buttonwood and Pear, 70; St. John's, 65; Fourth and Elm, 65; Poplar Street, 70; St. Paul's, 75; Tenth and Walnut, 85; Tenth and Washington, 70; Ninth and Elm, 87; Twelfth and Buttonwood, So; Twelfth and Chestnut, So; St. Mary's, 70; Tenth and Green, 90; Mulberry street, 85; Tenth and Douglass, 90; Twelfth and Greenwich, 70; Ninth and Marion, 75; Tenth and Union, 78; Spring and Moss, So; Twelfth and Windsor, 90; Eleventh and Pike, 80; Church and Oley, 70; Spring and Church, So; Pear and Exeter, 80; Schuylkill Avenue, 70; Thirteenth and Cotton, So; Seventeenth and Cotton, 60; Perkiomen Avenue, 85; Sixteenth and Hawk, 75.
ILLUMINATION AND CONCERT.
Evening .- Pursuant to the official program, in respect to the illumination of private residences all over the city, the people made a general response by lighting up the stores of their re- spective buildings with gas, electricity, lamps and lanterns, thereby indicating a general co-operation on their part to make the anniversary a success. Penn street was crowded with people, including many strangers. The search lights on the Grand Opera House and Prison Tower were operated actively. And Carsonia Park was largely patronized.
In the evening, Penn Common was crowded with a multitude of men, women and children, residents of Reading and visiting strangers, who had assembled to attend the Grand Choral Con-
25I
GRAND CHORAL CONCERT ..
cert of 500 voices, accompanied by the Germania Band with 35 instruments, and Prof. Edward A. Berg, musical director. A platform was constructed along the embankment at the south end of the park circle, 80 feet wide and 45 feet deep, with 10 tiers of seats for the singers, and a front extension for the musi- cal director and the band. It was handsomely decorated and festooned with national flags and bunting, and brilliantly lighted with five arc lights and numerous Japanese lanterns, producing a most pleasing effect. The program comprised sacred and pa- triotic selections, all of which were rendered in a manner that reflected the highest credit upon all the participants.
It was as follows :-
"My Country, 'tis of Thee,". America
"The Heavens are Telling,"-(Creation) . Haydn
Overture-"Mirella," Germania Band Gounod Festival Hymn . Dudley Buck
"Let the Hills Resound" B. Richards
Reading's Sesqui-Centennial Hymn Thos. C Zimmerman
Theo. I. Heizmann
March-"Stars and Stripes," Germania Band . Sousa
Hallelujah Chorus-(Messiah) Handel
"To Thee, O Country" .
. J. Eichberg
Gloria in Excelsis-(Twelfth Mass) Mozart
Caprice-"Lutzow's Wild Hunt," Germania Band . Weiss
Soldiers' Chorus-( Faust) . Gounod
"The Star Spangled Banner" F. S. Key
The concert was opened promptly at 8 o'clock and continued for two hours without a single break or disturbance of any kind. The highest degree of enthusiasm prevailed, and this created mutual confidence that inspired extraordinary co-operation. Everbody was delighted and the public appreciation was mani- fested at the end of every piece, vocal and instrumental, by rapturous applause. This was particularly so when the last selection was sung. Each of the singers had concealed a small national flag, and just as the words, "Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there" were uttered, it was waved in triumph, thrilling the vast audience.
The rendition of the Sesqui-Centennial hymn, adopted by the Executive Committee, was also highly appreciated. The music was composed by Theodore I. Heizmann, and the hymn by Thos. C. Zimmerman, both of Reading, for the occasion, which were as follows:
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HISTORY OF READING.
SESQUI-CENTENNIAL HYMN.
All hail to Reading's name and fame ! And let the welkin ring With song and shout and roundelay, As we together sing. And may our songs, with glad acclaim, To heav'n, like incense, rise, While glowing hearts in tones proclaim Her glory to the skies.
'Tis sev'n score years ago and ten Since this fair town was born; Its sweet young life must have exhaled A breath like rosy morn. So let us sing till yonder hills Send back the joyous song; Till echoing dales and rippling rills The gladsome sound prolong.
Let others tread life's stately halls, Where princely pleasures flow; Give us our homes, like jewels set In evening's sunset glow. And may our hearts, in swelling pride, Forget not those of old- The men of Reading's pristine days- Whose hearts have long grown cold.
Let all, therefore, with mingled voice, Repeat the glad refrain; Let civic pride. in flowing tide, Rejoice with might and main. And God, the Father of us all, With his protecting care, Will bless us while we praise in song Our city, bright and fair.
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SESQUI-CENTENNIAL HYMN.
SESQUI- CENTENNIAL HYMN.
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Copyright.
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HISTORY OF READING.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8TH.
Morning .- The Committee on Reception from II o'clock to I o'clock received a number of prominent men from the sur- rounding counties who filled representative positions, being stationed in the bar area of the Court room, and while this was done the Germania Band discoursed a fine program of instru- mental music on the balcony of the Court House.
From 9 to 9.30 o'clock the Pompier Life Saving Corps of the Friendship Fire Co., gave a fine exhibition on the front of the Bright Hardware Store, Penn Square, which consisted of ladder drill, ascent of building, time drill, rope exercise, rescu- ing persons, and raising chemical hose. It was witnessed by a large number of persons and loudly applauded.
FIREMEN'S PARADE.
Afternoon .- The parade of the Volunteer Fire Department of Reading was held during the afternoon. The column started at 1.45 o'clock, and marched over the following route: Up Penn on south side from Second to Fifth, thence to Pine, counter- marched to left to Penn, thence to Perkiomen avenue and Thir- teenth. Before the end of the line had reached Penn square, a fire broke out at No. 518 on the square. Alarm box 37 was sounded, and immediately there was great confusion, and the parade was necessarily abandoned. The response was prompt and the firemen soon controlled the fire.
LINE OF PARADE.
Germania Band, 40 men.
Chief marshal, George W. Miller, Chief Engineer of the Reading fire department, riding a large white horse. Aids, Morris Weaver, as- sistant engineer, first district; Calvin Addis, assistant engineer, second district; Jefferson M. Keller, (Rainbow, ) Fred W. Lauer, (Junior,) William R. McFarland, (Reading Hose,) Calvin Addis, (Neversink,) Harry Dease, (Friendship,) A. K. Deysher, (Liberty,) Edward Yeager, (Keystone,) Peter S. Holl, (Washington,) John Gallagher, (Hampden,) E. R. Youse, (Marion, ) Charles Sellers, (Riverside, ) Valentine Hain, (Schuylkill.)
The aids wore handsome silk badges, the gift of Mr. Miller, each bearing his picture, inscribed "Our Chief." Assistant engineer Weaver rode Chief Miller's fine horse "Lady," and following the aids was Chief Miller's fire trap drawn by his well known fire horse "Harry." The vehicle was decorated with flags.
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OFRANKSO
FIREMEN'S PARADE, JUNE 8, 1898.
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FIREMEN'S PARADE.
FIRST DIVISION.
Ringgold band, 40 men; Independence drum corps, 10 men.
Rainbow Fire Company, No. I, George Kemp, captain, So men, wearing handsome blue uniforms carrying state and national flags. Seventy of the veteran members turned out, commanded by William Leitheiser. They wore their old equipments consisting of old style red fire hats and capes. Louis Eisenhower, the oldest member of the company was in line. He has been a member for half a century. The hose carriage and steam fire engine, handsomely decorated and drawn by heavy gray horses, were in line. Marshal, Andrew Bear; aids, Howard Bernhart, Arthur Brunner, Elmer Levan, George Roland.
Delegations of the Columbia Fire Company, No. I, of Columbia, in charge of Chief Engineer Kinzer Hockey, 20 men; and the Volunteer Firemen's Association of Philadelphia, 25 men. in charge of William F. Totten, were in line as guests.
Allentown band of Allentown, 30 men. Junior Fire Company, No. 2, Ellis B. Moyer, captain, 130 men in line, wearing fawn overcoats, black hats and white shields. Ex-Chief Howard F. Boyer was in line. The engine and hose carriage were finely decorated. Marshal, John H. Root; aids, George H. Young, Harry T. VanReed, Louis Battenfeld, Joel Krick, Cyrus G. Schultz, William B. Koch, Joseph Saylor. Colum- bia Fire Company, No. 4, of Allentown, 70 men, wearing new uniforms, led by Pioneer band of Allentown.
SECOND DIVISION.
Sheridan band, 30 men; Reading Hose Company, 65 men, Benj. E. Houser, captain, wearing drab coats, firemen's hats, blue shirts, black ties and trousers. The engine and old ambulance were in line. Mar- shal, John E. Spears; aids, Henry Kieser, Frank Hahn, John F. Hahn.
Catasauqua band, 30 men; Good Will Fire Company, of Allentown, 51 uniformed men, commanded by C. H. Cohn, wearing blue uniforms, white helmets and buff gauntlet gloves.
Athletic band, 24 men; Neversink Fire Company, Oscar Neudoerffer, captain. 70 uniformed men, wearing gray coats, blue trousers, green hats and belts. Their apparatus was trimmed with flags and flowers. Marshal, F. C. Clemson; aid, John Devine.
Fairview band, 30 pieces; Fairview Fire Company, of Bethlehem, S. Charles Seckelman, captain, 80 men, wearing blue sack coats and caps. Delegations of Citizens' Fire Company, of Harrisburg, 12 men; South Penn Fire Company, of Philadelphia, 20 men; Liberty Fire Company, of Allentown, 12 men. Ex-Chief Robinson, of Wilmington, marched in line.
THIRD DIVISION.
Third Brigade band, of Pottsville, 40 men; Friendship Fire Company, 65 men, and apparatus; Edward F. Levan, marshal; aids, William Embree, John W. Morrison, Francis A. Eisenbise, George Ganter and
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Thomas Bausher. Members wore light coats, blue caps and black trousers. Delegations of the fire departments of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and Elizabeth, N. J., were with them. Pompier fire corps of the Friend- ship Fire Company, 10 men, Ira C. Becker, captain. Darktown fire brigade of the Friendship company, hose cart, carriage and truck, 25 men, Samuel Levan, captain. The brigade created much amusement. Members were dressed in grotesque uniforms.
Steelton band, of Steelton, Pa., 40 pieces; Liberty Fire Co., 140 men in line, in uniform of blue coat, vest and trousers, white hat and belt. Charles Morris, captain. All presented a fine appearance. The engine and wagon were in line. Marshal, James E Devine; aids, Thomas Devine, Wm. H. Smith, John Till, Peter Weidner, John Patton, Charles Graeff, Jacob Allgaier, Wm. B. Schaeffer.
FOURTH DIVISION
Liberty band, 25 men; Washington Hook and Ladder Fire Company, So men, uniform of light coat, red shirt and cap; Peter S. Holl, captain. Marshal, Edward Price; aids, Edwin Diener. William Quinter. Mem- bers had their new chemical engine, truck and hose carriage in line. A number of guests from Philadelphia, Pa., and Richmond, Va., accom- panied them.
Perseverance band, of Lebanon, 28 men; Keystone Hook and Ladder Company, 40 men, in uniform of light gray coats, caps and dark trous- ers. Marshal, John Oschman; aid, John C. Krebs; captain, Theodore Kendall. Their entire apparatus was in line.
Peekskill Fire Company, of Peekskill, N. Y., 20 men, Edmund Gavin, captain; Fairmount Truck Company, of Norristown, 60 men, in citizens' dress.
FIFTH DIVISION.
Althouse's band, of Shoemakersville, 20 men; Hampden Fire Com- pany, 55 uniformed men, Samuel Bowers, captain. Marshal, John Gallagher; aids, Albert Smith, Arch Reber, Edward Marquett. Mem- bers were attired in drab uniforms. Engine was drawn by four black horses and decorated with flowers. Winona band, of Shillington, 20 men; Marion Fire Company, 40 men. Marshal, George Trievel; aids, Ellsworth Zwoyer, Harry Seiders, Howard Hemmig; captain, E. R. Youse. Members wore drab uniforms. Their guests included delega- tions from the Niagara Fire Company, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and the Paxton Fire Company, of Harrisburg. Carriage and engine in line, beautifully decorated.
SIXTH DIVISION.
Riverside band, 15 men; Riverside Fire Company, 25 uniformed men. Marshal, John Phillips; aid, J. R. Schwenk; captain, John S. Weber. Gray uniform was worn. The apparatus was in line.
Sinking Spring cornet band, 20 men; Schuylkill Fire Company, 52 men in blue uniforms and apparatus. Marshal, Edward Yoe; aid, John Hiester; captain, Joseph Anthony. Guests of the company included 35
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FIRE ON PENN SQUARE, JUNE 8, 1898.
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FIREMEN'S PARADE.
uniformed members of the Goodwill Hook and Ladder Company, of Atlantic City, N. J .; Charles Matthews was marshal. They had their fire patrol drawn by two roan horses, led by the Eagle Drum Corps, 15 men. They wore a blue uniform.
Fire on Penn Square .- At 2.45 o'clock, when the head of the column was marching along Penn Common and everybody was complimenting the grand appearance of the firemen from Penn square along the entire line, suddenly, and to the amaze- ment of the many thousands of people who were stationed on the sidewalks, an alarm of fire was sounded and a general feel- ing of joy and congratulation was turned into surprise and fear. Immediately the entire line was broken up, and the vigilant and capable firemen directed their apparatus towards the locality of the alarm. The number of the box was ascertained in a few moments, and then they moved swiftly to Penn square. Their dress and decorations were of no consequence to them. Duty moved them by a common impulse. Their readiness and promptness won general admiration, and demonstrated in a positive manner the value and efficiency of the Reading Volun- teer Fire Department. The Chief Engineer and his assistants were at the burning building in a short time and a number of the engines got to work to control the very threatening conflagra- tion. Words can not describe the scene. The excitement on Penn square presented a most impressive sight. A dense cloud of smoke that forced its way out of the front part of the store- room at No. 518, where Oppenheim & Gehring were carrying on a cheap variety store, started the excitement and caused the alarm of fire to be given, and from that store-room the smoke- and flames extended into Keffer's queensware store, and Kline, Eppihimer & Co.'s dry goods store on the east. Before six o'clock the fire alarm tap was sounded, indicating that the fire was out, and the fears of everybody at once subsided. The damage amounted to about $60,000. Fortunately the air was comparatively calm, otherwise the damages might have reached several hundred thousand dollars, as many people feared for a time they would be.
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