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History of West Reading
By HOWARD F. RICKENBACH, Borough Manager
The Borough of West Reading, Pennsylvania was incorporated as a borough March 18, 1907. It was formed from portions of Spring and Cumru Townships, the greater portion from the former township. Cumru township comprised the southeastern portion of the village before incorporation.
West Reading is bounded on the north by the Lebanon Valley Branch of the Reading Railroad; on the east by the Schuykill River;Â on the south by the Wyomissing Creek and on the west by the Borough of Wyomissing. The borough at the present time has a population of 4,914 and an area of 375 acres. The population is housed in 1,115 residential dwellings and apartment buildings.
West Reading’s real growth commenced in 1873 when a plan of lots was developed by Frederick R. Brill, the principal land owner of the section in those days. Prior to that time there were only a few houses in the area, principally along the Berks and Dauphin turnpike, now Penn Avenue. The brick house which was occupied for many years by William Hinnershitz and which was demolished after his death a decade ago was probably the oldest house in this section, having been erected about 1810. The house which was located on the north side of the pike opposite River Road, was owned for many years by Samuel Bell. A tavern was conducted in the structure by Abraham Krick. There was a small stone house at the southeast intersection of River Road and the Pike. Then there were three other structures and a large barn on the land which later became a part of the Eckert estate.
Farther west, beyond the toll gate which stood on the south side of the street between present day Fourth Avenue and Tulpehocken Avenue, there were six buildings. North and south of the Berks and Dauphin turnpike there were only rolling acres of farm lands.
The principal structure west of the toll gate was the tavern now known as the West Reading Hotel. It has been hostelry of prominence for more than a hundred years. The ground on which it stands can be traced back to 1738 when it was part of three hundred acres, which John and William Penn, the proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, deeded to David Lewis.
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By HOWARD F. RICKENBACH, Borough Manager
The Borough of West Reading, Pennsylvania was incorporated as a borough March 18, 1907. It was formed from portions of Spring and Cumru Townships, the greater portion from the former township. Cumru township comprised the southeastern portion of the village before incorporation.
West Reading is bounded on the north by the Lebanon Valley Branch of the Reading Railroad; on the east by the Schuykill River;Â on the south by the Wyomissing Creek and on the west by the Borough of Wyomissing. The borough at the present time has a population of 4,914 and an area of 375 acres. The population is housed in 1,115 residential dwellings and apartment buildings.
West Reading’s real growth commenced in 1873 when a plan of lots was developed by Frederick R. Brill, the principal land owner of the section in those days. Prior to that time there were only a few houses in the area, principally along the Berks and Dauphin turnpike, now Penn Avenue. The brick house which was occupied for many years by William Hinnershitz and which was demolished after his death a decade ago was probably the oldest house in this section, having been erected about 1810. The house which was located on the north side of the pike opposite River Road, was owned for many years by Samuel Bell. A tavern was conducted in the structure by Abraham Krick. There was a small stone house at the southeast intersection of River Road and the Pike. Then there were three other structures and a large barn on the land which later became a part of the Eckert estate.
Farther west, beyond the toll gate which stood on the south side of the street between present day Fourth Avenue and Tulpehocken Avenue, there were six buildings. North and south of the Berks and Dauphin turnpike there were only rolling acres of farm lands.
The principal structure west of the toll gate was the tavern now known as the West Reading Hotel. It has been hostelry of prominence for more than a hundred years. The ground on which it stands can be traced back to 1738 when it was part of three hundred acres, which John and William Penn, the proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, deeded to David Lewis.