USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > History of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the anniversary proceedings of the sesqui-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 > Part 3
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The fire company was active. Four volunteer companies were conducted successfully, (Rainbow, Junior, Reading and Neversink, ) partly through pecuniary assistance from the munic- ipal government, but mainly from the spontaneous efforts of their members.
The system of common-school education was actively con- ducted, there being 17 schools, 31 teachers and 2064 scholars. Five newspapers were published successfully. Advertising was a prominent feature in all of them. The political sentiment of the inhabitants was favorable to the Whigs in local affairs, but to the Democrats in state and national.
The public markets were largely attended. The market men came regularly twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Councils had proposed no improvement beyond the advantages first afforded in 1766, and rents were still collected.
The semi-annual fairs were kept up. Dancing, drinking and fighting were conspicuous features. The militia spirit main- tained its activity; and exercise was carried on annually in May, which was known as "battalion day."
Most of the people were domestic in their daily life. Garden- ing was carried on either in lots, upon which the dwellings stood, or in out-lots. Fruit trees were numerous, and plums, peaches, cherries and apples were plentiful. "Preserving" fruit was common, not "canning" as now. And nearly every family boiled apple butter in an open fire place in the fall of the year. Home-made sausage, pudding, scrapple, hams and mince
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REVIEW OF READING.
were in every household. About Christmas time the cellars of housekeepers were well stocked.
The fuel for domestic purposes in cooking and heating was almost wholly wood, and this was consumed in a "ten-plate" stove; and sawing of cord-wood by hand was a common occupa- tion. Coal had been known to the community for nearly forty years, but it was not used for domestic purposes, its consump- tion having been principally in public places, shops and factories.
The light was produced from fluid, oil and tallow, even com- mon fat, the first two having been used in stores, and the last two in dwellings, especially of the poorer classes of inhabitants. The streets were not lighted up in the evening. Lanterns were carried to shed light upon the roadway. There were no "street crossings." The customs of the residents had not yet come to convert night into day for amusements of various kinds. Dra- matic entertainments were just starting out, and the demands for an improved light were gradually growing greater.
The town was not large. The principal portion lay between Walnut, street on the north and Chestnut on the south; Ninth street on the east and Third on the west. Business of all kinds was done almost entirely during the day-time, and merchants derived their chief support from the farmers. Two constables were watchmen of the night, and for several hours before and after midnight they called out the hour and the condition of the weather in a monotonous, low tone of voice.
The pump was used throughout the place, notwithstanding the general supply of superior water afforded by the Reading Water Co. ] It was convenient in every block, if not on or near every street corner. At least 100 pumps were in daily use. Penn street was especially well supplied. Ice had come to be furnished in small quantities for about ten years, but not for drinking purposes.
CITY-1847 TO 1897.
The events that transpired in the succeeding fifty years, after the incorporation of Reading as a city, were so numerous that a narration of them must be necessarily brief to bring them with- in the limits of this compilation. They will be mentioned by decades in the order of their occurrence as near as possible, referring the reader to other parts of this volume for a more extended description of them.
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HISTORY OF READING.
1847-57 .- During the decade from 1847 to 1857, business affairs grew more active, and continued to do so till towards the close when a panic ensued. Gas was introduced for lighting purposes in 1848. The first large hall was erected by the Odd Fellows in 1847, which provided a meeting place for the society and accommodations for the public in respect to entertainments. The Charles Evans Cemetery was founded in 1848; the Trinity Lutheran and Roman Catholic cemeteries on the northern slope of Mt. Neversink were laid out in 1849; and the Aulenbach cemetery in 1851. Interments were then made in these cemeteries; and the remains of many buried persons, in grave- yards in the central parts of the city, were transferred to them. Numerous buildings were erected, both dwellings and industrial establishments, the latter including prominent enter- prises which have been continued until now.
Two railroads were constructed in 1857, the "East Penn" to the northeast, and the "Lebanon Valley" to the west. The militia system was active and battalion days were devoted to military exercise. In 1856, there was a battalion comprising 6 com- panies with 539 men enrolled. The fair days at the market- houses passed away without regret from any one, and in 1852, an agricultural society began holding a county fair for an im- proved annual exhibition of goods, live-stock, etc. An excit- ing topic at this time was the discovery of gold in California, and several parties went there from Reading, but their discourag- ing letters dispelled the charm, and the excitement subsided. Various political questions agitated the people, and one of them, that of slavery, caused the presidential campaign of 1856 to be particularly enthusiastic.
A public high-school was established in 1852, and the tax- payers realized the promises of its projectors in affording advanced education to such as attended the common schools. The greatest freshet in the Schuylkill valley occurred in 1850, and the people of Reading suffered damages estimated at more than $500,000. Both bridges were swept away. The flood rose to a point 25 feet above the ordinary level of the river. On January 8, 1854, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company machine shops on Seventh between Franklin and Chestnut streets were destroyed by fire, causing a loss of $50,000, which was the most destructive fire at Reading until that time;
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and on April 20, 1857, the roof of the same shop broke down for a space of 40 by 180 feet by reason of a great fall of snow on the day before (Sunday) followed by rain, this happening while 300 workmen were underneath, all of whom escaped unhurt.
1857-67 .- In the decade from 1857 to 1867, the Civil War was the most engrossing subject which engaged the attention of the people. Many companies of men were enlisted here, and the excitement on many occasions was intense. The people of the city supported the government devotedly and liberally in its great efforts to suppress the Rebellion. In 1863, houses were numbered by Councils by an admirable system through the efforts of Jacob Knabb, postmaster, to facilitate and dispatch the delivery of letters. The streets were regulated by a topo- graphical survey from 1864 to 1867, and the fixing of lines and grades encouraged building operations, especially in the northern section of the city. The water works were purchased by Coun- cils in 1865. Efforts were made to improve the city charter by amendments in 1861 and 1864.
The Firemen's Union was organized in 1861. The co-edu- cation of boys and girls in the high-school was started in 1859, and all the wards were consolidated into one district for school purposes in 1864. The people were active and energetic in every department of life, and the wealth of the community was increased millions of dollars. Weekly newspapers became more thoroughly circulated, and the daily newspaper was success- fully established in 1858. Postal facilities were increased to the great convenience of the people; and another railroad was ex- tended to the southwest in 1864, affording direct communication with Lancaster and Columbia. Political excitement reached the highest point which the community was able to bear without resulting in a public disturbance.
1867-77 .- In the third decade from 1867 to 1877, general enterprise was very active in the beginning and continued so for several years, but then it began to decline and finally showed marked effects from the financial panic which prevailed throughout the country. Great fires at Chicago in 1871, and at Boston in 1872, destroyed much property, resulting in losses amounting to more than $200,000,000, and a large proportion had to be paid by fire insurance companies, located in different parts of the country, which caused great embarrassment. It
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HISTORY OF READING.
seemed that some evil genius hovered over this community also, because there were many acts of incendiarism in the most popu- lous parts of the city about that time, but the volunteer fire companies by their vigilance prevented serious losses.
In 1872, two steam fire engines were added to the fire depart- ment, and in 1873 the electric fire alarm system was introduced, which immediately demonstrated its great value. The old market-houses were removed in 1871, and private build- ings for market purposes were substituted The limits of the city were extended northward in 1871, increasing the area to more than 3200 acres. A large modern hall for amusements was erected in 1872 on the north side of east Penn square, which afforded increased opportunities for witnessing dramatic and operatic performances. The postal card was introduced in 1873, and the business of the post office was largely increased. The P. & R. R. Co. erected a large and commodious "Union Station" at the junction of its several lines of railroad, which was opened for travel on August 3, 1874.
The general Act of 1874, for the government of cities of the third class-which included Reading-was accepted; the water of Antietam creek was appropriated by the city and a storage reser- voir was constructed in Alsace township with a capacity for 30,000,000 gallons. Railroad communication was extended by completing the road to Wilmington to the south, and to Slating- ton to the north; and the street railway was introduced along Penn and Sixth streets. The "Centennial Exhibition" at Philadelphia was a prominent subject for several years, especially from May Ioth to November 10th, 1876; and the display of productions by Reading manufacturers and of educational work by the Reading School District was highly complimented. The management of the schools by the first city superintendent, elected in 1867, proved very successful, and during the decade ten large brick buildings were erected.
In October, 1869, there was an unusual freshet, the river ris- ing twenty-three feet and inflicting damages to the shops along the river amounting to $50,000. On Sunday, June 26, 1870, the P. & R. R. Co. car shops at Sixth and Oley streets (168 by 710 ft. ) were destroyed by fire, causing a loss of more than $100,000; and on January 16, 1872, there was another large and costly fire at Fifth and Penn streets, which destroyed
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Stichter's hardware store, Ebner's building, old "State House," and other buildings on Fifth street, resulting in a loss exceed- ing $100,000. The store was rebuilt in thirty days by Joseph L. Stichter-a circumstance commented upon for many years. The building and savings associations were in a flourishing con- dition.
The political sentiment of the people manifested a great change, and the process of changing from the Democratic party to the Republican by 1876 had developed a high degree of ex- citement, the election returns of that year causing the loudest demonstrations ever witnessed at Reading. Enterprise reached out in different branches of industry, giving employment to a largely increased number of mechanics and laborers. Merchants showed a high appreciation of the value of advertising in local newspapers, and as they attracted the residents to their stores, the Philadelphia merchants did the same to theirs by advertis- ing their goods in the Reading newspapers.
1877-1887 .- The fourth decade from 1877 to 1887 went far in advance of the previous decades in public affairs, private enterprises and social amusements. It started with a serious disturbance on account of the labor question, which culminated in a riot on July 23, 1877, causing the death of ten persons, and the wounding of thirty-nine, and the loss of the large bridge across the Schuylkill on the Lebanon Valley railroad. The riot took place at Seventh and Penn streets. The strike was general, extending through Pennsylvania and other States. In the previous decade, allusion was made to the panic, but it did not seriously affect Reading. However, conditions gener- ally. grew worse and on November 18, 1877, the Reading Savings bank, Bushong's bank, and Dime Savings bank sus- pended, which caused the greatest financial excitement that Reading ever felt, and the day is still recalled as "Black Friday."
An earnest beginning for a city park was made in 1878, by cleaning up and improving the triangular part of the Common which adjoined Perkiomen avenue and Hill road, this having been done by tax-payers in the vicinity who raised over $6000 by voluntary contributions, and in 1884, Councils instituted legal steps to recover that part of the common which had been occu- pied by the Berks County Agricultural Society since 1852, and they were successful. The co-education of boys and girls was
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HISTORY OF READING.
found unsatisfactory, and in 1881, after a trial of 22 years, they were separated, the girls remaining in the high-school building. In 1883 the commodious Boys' High School was erected, and then the school controllers transferred their meeting place and offices to it. In that year, the county bridges at Reading were declared free, and electric power began to be supplied for shops . and factories.
The water works were much enlarged in 1880 and 1884, in- creasing the storage over 50,000,000 gallons. The building and savings associations were in a flourishing condition, 25 hav- ing been kept up whose payments and investments ran into millions of dollars. Societies of all kinds were very active, particularly secret, beneficial and social, numbering altogether 150, and their membership including almost every man of age in the community. Factories of all kinds were carried on ex- tensively, especially for hats, stoves, cigars and building materials. And one of the most important events in the decade was the construction of the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley railroad in 1884, and the direct connection with the Pennsyl- vania railroad system thereby afforded.
1887-1897 .- The closing decade of the city from 1887 to 1897 was the most active of all the decades in every department of life. The progress was remarkable, and it exceeded everything in the previous history of the place. The supply of water was largely increased by the introduction of the water from the Maiden creek; Penn Common was improved year after year un- til it came to be the most attractive spot within the limits of the city; the school buildings were increased in number and im- proved in character, and so were the church buildings, the moneys appropriated and collected for these two purposes sur- passing all previous efforts; the U. S. government supplied a superior building for post office purposes; the subject of streets and sewers was agitated for a long while with apparently little progress in behalf of these public improvements, but it prevailed eventually, and the years 1896 and 1897 became notable, a million dollars having been expended in their construction; pub- lic demonstrations, parades, excursions, and conventions were unusual in number and character, which developed the reputa- tion of Reading as a place of industry, substantial wealth and superior advantages to a remarkable degree.
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The street railway system was extended very much and the mountain roads were established. The application of electricity as a motive power for running the street cars was applied to the cars on the East Reading line of street railway in 1890, and it. was extended to all the lines in the city in 1893.
Industrial establishments for various articles were erected, especially for steel, hosiery and bicycles, affording employment to several thousand additional persons and yielding to the com- munity over a million dollars in wages. Conduits began to be laid for under-ground wires by the Pennsylvania Telephone Company. The greatest fires in the history of the city occurred, the losses reaching a million dollars, three worthy of special mention being the Carpenter Steel Mill, Reading Hardware Works, and Sternbergh Nut and Bolt Works; and the city was visited by the greatest storm in 1889, having demolished the silk mill and part of the East Penn railroad shop, killing 22 persons and injuring more than 100.
Civil War .- The Civil War in the United States was carried on from 1861 to 1865. It was caused by the attempt of seven Southern states to secede from the Union, on account of the election of Abraham Lin- coln as president by the Republican party, whose political platform was resolved against slavery. After an attack had been made upon Fort Sumter at Charleston, S. C., on April 12th, by certain Confeder- ates, President Lincoln made a requisition for troops on April 15th, to which there was a quick and earnest response by the Northern states. The first company to respond was CAPT. JAMES MCKNIGHT. the Ringgold Light Artil- lery, a superior company at Reading, under the command of Capt. James McKnight. This was on April 16, 1861. The feeling here for preserving the Union, from that time until the close of the.
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HISTORY OF ] READING.
war, was strong and continuous, the people of Reading doing their whole duty, both in furnishing men and appropriating money.
In answer to the first call for troops for three months, Reading supplied six companies and two bands of music. The names of the captains were James McKnight, Henry Nagle, George W. Alexander, Frank M. Cooley, Albert F. Rightmyer and David A. Griffith (three of them surviving until now, Rightmyer, Alexander and Griffith) and the bands were the "Ringgold," whose leader was John A. Hock, and the "City," whose leader was E. Ermentrout, the former having kept up its organization until the present time. Subsequently, until the close of the war, Reading supplied about 40 additional companies. Alto- gether it is estimated that the city furnished about 4000 men for the service, and appropriated for purposes of carrying on the war about $375,000. The people of Reading can point to their record of patriotism during this trying ordeal with a great deal of local and personal pride.
PART II. - INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The internal improvements comprise those buildings and con- structions of a public nature, whether paid for by the govern- ment or by private individuals and corporations. The following comprise those that have contributed to the general welfare, whose total cost to the community and to the projectors amounts to many millions of dollars.
Court House .- The court house was the first public edifice at Reading. It was a two-story stone building, erected in 1762, in the centre of Penn square, and there it remained until 1841. The first story was in one room and set apart for the courts; the second in three rooms for jury purposes. Public elections were held in it until 1840. For ten years previous to 1762, the sessions of court were held in a room at some tavern of the town. The present court house, three-story brick structure, was erected in 1838-1840, at a cost of $59,000. Upon its com- pletion, the courts were held there, and the county officers took possession of rooms provided for them respectively, in which to transact the public business and place the records. Additions
READING Gra
COURT HOUSE.
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COURT HOUSE.
were made in 1869 and 1888. The steeple is 142 feet high. The wooden figure on the top representing "Justice" was taken
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N. P. det.
PREISS BROS
READING PA
COURT HOUSE-1762-1840.
down in 1897, and the bronze figure representing "Liberty" was substituted.
Market. Houses .- In 1766, the Penns granted a charter to the town for holding semi-weekly markets; also semi-annual fairs on June 4th, and October 27th; and then a market-house was
1149124
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HISTORY OF READING.
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 in- creased accommodations at a cost of $6400, and abandoned in 1871, when they were sold and removed. The semi-annual fairs were discontinued in 1852, when the Berks County Agricultural Society was organized to give annual exhibitions in their stead.
County Prison .- The first county prison was erected in 1770, on the northeast corner of Fifth and Washington streets. It
PREIS'S BROS. READING
COUNTY PRISON-1770-1848.
was a two-story stone building, plastered, and used for confining prisoners until 1848. The sheriff occupied part of it with his family. The second floor was set apart for prisoners, having been arranged in four compartments. This building is still standing, though much altered. The present substantial and attractive stone structure on Penn Common was erected in 1847-48, and, upon its completion, the prison was removed into
BERKS COUNTY PRISON, 1848-1898.
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STATE HOUSE.
it. The management was transferred to a board of elected in- spectors, which has continued until now. A two-story stone addition was built at the north end in 1869. The total number of cells is 94, arranged in two stories.
State House .- A two-story brick building was erected by the County Commissioners in 1793, on the northeast corner of Fifth
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STATE HOUSE-COUNTY OFFICES, 1793-1840.
street and Penn square, for the county officials and the county records and papers. It was used for this purpose until 1840, when it was sold. The second story front room was occupied as a hall for various purposes.
Water Works .- 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 centre. The well was 53 feet deep and the water was of a superior limestone character. It was abandoned in 1871, when the market house was removed.
In 1821, a water company was formed to supply the inhabi- tants with water, and then a reservoir was constructed at the head of Penn street with a storage capacity of 100,000 hogs-
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HISTORY OF READING.
heads. In 1865, the city purchased the plant for $300,000. The sources of supply then were Hampden spring, Edelman spring and Bernhart creek. The supply was largely increased by introducing the water of Antietam 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 four miles to the city line by two Worthington pumps, one of which has a daily ca- pacity of 5,000,000 gallons and the other 10,000, 000. Total net cost of water supply to April 1, 1897. $1,684,600; debt $532,500, less sinking fund $37,770. Total storage capacity 181,532,000 gallons; daily possible supply 15,000,000 gallons; average daily consumption, 6,000,000 gallons. Total quantity received for year 1896-97, 2,204,742,987 gallons, and con- sumed 2,197,457, 160 gallons. Supply is from six sources, which, with per centum, is as follows :- Antietam, 43.7; Bern- hart, 28.2; Maiden creek, 24.4; Edelman, 2.4; Hampden I .; and Hampden drift, . 3.
Public Roads .- The public roads figured prominently in con- nection with Reading from the beginning of its history. The ford at the Schuylkill N was a central point from which they were ALSACE CHURCH. CENTRE TURNPIKE. extended in various MAIDEN-CREEK. W E directions. When the SCHUYLKILL FERRY town was laid out, there were regular highways; north to - the mouth of the FORD TULPEHOCKEN- Maiden creek, almost SCHUYLKILL- RIVER in a straight line for six miles; north-east NEVERSINK. through Alsace; OLEY. ALSACE FERRY. south-east through LANCASTER. Exeter to Philadel- phia; south - west through Cumru to Lancaster; and west EARLY ROADS FROM READING. through Cumru and Heidelberg, also in a straight line, to Lebanon. And afterward
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VIEW OF READING RESERVOIR, LOOKING NORTH.
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R-E-Ca
VIEW OF READING RESERVOIR, LOOKING SOUTH.
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LOCATION OF READING.
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 continued 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, Washington 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 oblique angle, the most prominent being Bingaman street, Perkiomen, Centre and Schuylkill avenues. The total number of miles of projected streets is 135; of which 77 miles are open for public use.
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