Fun Facts about Reading

Ghosts and Hauntings

For all that is familiar and odd, we certainly have our share of the supernatural. We go the gammit with a haunted airport, castle (on Spook Lane, no less), a covered bridge with ghostly cows, city hall, museum, schools, B&Bs, restaurants, the Visitors Bureau (yes we have actually experienced Sarah) and the Minor league stadium.

We will also keep you spell bound with our "Hex Highway," a "Witchcraft Road, and " TWO "Spook Lanes."

Take A Ride

Don’t pass go! In 1915, the Monopoly Board was perfected by the first textile industrialist of Reading. Ferdinand Thun decided to develop a game while on vacation, hence that is how the Reading Railroad was included. The game was called “The Landlord’s Game, which later became Monopoly. The actual patent for Monopoly belongs to Charles Darrow of Germantown.

Talk about “Taking A Ride.” The first hill-climbing, gas powered, practical automobile (Duryea) was invented here in 1900. Charles Duryea designed the first gasoline powered engine capable of climbing hills in Reading. His daughter, Rhea, would test drive the vehicle daily after school at the age of 15. He then would make adjustments based on her comments. We now have Duryea Drive as part of our landscape. It is a roadway that climbs a winding, steep hill that goes all the way up to our Mother Landmark, the Pagoda. Hence every year, there is a Duryea Drive race. What a story! The invention of the modern airliner was inspired by an incident at a baseball game in Reading. Alfred Lawson's inventive imagination "took flight" in 1907 when an early airship flew off-course and over a baseball stadium in Reading. Lawson was manager of one of the baseball teams on the field, but stood in awe of the airship and told his players "That's our future!" Twelve years later, Lawson invented the first multi-passenger airliner.

Then there is our most recognizable piece of heritage, the Reading Railroad. It was the largest corporation in the world in the early 1920’s. The city had a population of over 111,000 during that boom. Today’s population is 80,000.

Incorporation of Schuylkill & Susquehanna Navigation Co., predecessor to the Union Canal (1811) and Union Railroad (1826), all eventually part of the Reading system, making it the first-born, through its predecessor companies, of any railroad in the United States.

P. & R. (Philadelphia & Reading RR) becomes first American industry to be financed through private capital in 1843.

Also in1843, Reading main line becomes first double-track rail line in the United States.

Firsts

The first Amish community in the country was established in Greater Reading, Berks County. In fact, the Pennsylvania Dutch originally settled in Berks and were known as the plain dutch.

The "First Defenders” -The first volunteer troops to reach Washington in response to Lincoln's call were five companies from Pennsylvania, who arrived there 138 years ago today. The companies were Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading, the National Light Infantry of Pottsville, the Washington Artillerists of Pottsville, the Logan Guards of Lewistown, and the Allen Infantry of Allentown. These troops would forever be known as the First Defenders.

The Lindbergh Viaduct was the first concrete bridge built on a curve in the United States in 1927. It is located between Mt. Penn and the City of Reading.

The first pioneer to the American West was born in 1734 near the City of Reading. Daniel Boone was born and raised in the Oley Valley. In fact, the Daniel Boone Homestead is a national historic site.

The first general assembly of representatives of local organizations of the Knights of Labor met in Reading, Pa in 1878.