Comments on: Reading News Building

By: Cmdtrgd

Cmdtrgd — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Hello Mr. Brimley, I have recently performed in Reading and just two blocks away from our hotel was this building which I chose to photograph. Upon looking up this information you have so generously shared I see that you say it was demolished. I here to say that it is alive and well, actually it is empty, and waiting for someone to bring new life to its existence. This photo was taken yesterday. Note that the building next door is no longer there. Regards, Robert

By: sketchup island

sketchup island — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:28:29 +0000

Funny, I just discovered these HABS photos too on the LOC web site. If you fly into Google Earth and turn on “Street View” (or use Google Maps and do the same thing) you can see which buildings are still standing and which are not, and what is there now. I remember as a small child the bas relief mural being made at this same location on the new structure.

By: Jim Boyer

Jim Boyer — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:37:22 +0000

Chris,
I sent Frank an e-mail yesterday to inform him that I brought up 5th and Penn Sts. on Virtual Earth and found that the entire west side of that block had been torn down and replaced by single new building. That includes the Berks County Trust office building. The original bank itself, which was next to the office building facing Penn St. is still there but kind of boxed in by modern buildings.

By: Chris Brimley

Chris Brimley — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:36:23 +0000

Jim,
Thank you for sharing that experience with us, I didn’t plan on evoking memories from anyone’s past. It was a wonderful surprise though. When I was doing my research for this article, I was unable to find information on the other buildings. Whether they were still standing or not and so on. Frank and I would love it if sometime in the future you were able to get some pictures of the American Bank. With those and any other info you have on that building or block would be amazing.
Thank you,

By: Jim Boyer

Jim Boyer — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:58:16 +0000

BTW, the taller building at the left (South) end of the block is the former Berks County Trust Co., later American bank. As far as I know it is still there. The next time I get to Reading, I’ll try to get a photo of that block as it is now.

By: Jim Boyer

Jim Boyer — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:51:28 +0000

Frank,
If I remember right I believe the window sashes and the trim above the front door and window was a faded, peeling brown, even when it was in use. I thing the front doors were a light grey. I seem to remember it housing a tailor shop at one time.

By: Frank Giacobbe

Frank Giacobbe — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:18:39 +0000

Jim,

With a first-hand memory of this prototype structure, is there anything you can recall that would be worth sharing about the building? Such as the color of the window trim, etc? Chris pointed out that the facade was limestone and terra cotta, but just thinking it would nice to know any other specifics.

By: Jim Boyer

Jim Boyer — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:12:03 +0000

Chris, I remember that building well. As a Reading cop in the 70′s 5th and Court Sts. was my regular post on day shift, doing traffic duty on that corner. Spent a lot of time in the luncheonette on that corner! Thanks for the memory.