(Reprint from the Reading Eagle in 1892. Reproduced through the courtesy of Mr. Albert N. Burkholder, Editor.)
The buildings at the southeast corner of 3d and Penn sts., presented the above appearance, when, in 1825, Daniel Graeff removed his family and dry goods and grocery store into the corner building (no. 1). His previous location was on the south side of Penn, second door from the 4th, where D.P. Schaeffer & Co. are conducting a dry goods store.
At the time Henry Bickel owned what is now the American house property, 4th and Penn, then called the "Golden Swan," and Henry Bowman (sheriff in 1833-35) was the landlord. Mr. Bickel also owned the store building in which Mr. Graeff conducted business several years previous to his removal to 3d and Penn.
John M. Keim, a prominent business man, owned the adjoining 2-story brick house (No. 2) and removed into with his family in the spring of 1826. It had a front of 22 1/2 feet by 35 feet deep with a one-story back building 13 1/2 by 16 1/2 feet.
Wm. P. Orrick removed his family and dry goods and grocery store into the building No. 3 in April, 1826. He owned the building and it was nearly new. It was a 2-story brick, 25 feet front by 35 deep, with 2-story brick back building attached 12 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
No. 4 was a "small and narrow 2-story frame building in front, with a 2-story brick back building, occupied as an inn."
The space marked No. 5 was an alley 9 feet wide.
At that time the Schuylkill canal ran through the lower part of Reading between Front and 2d. Mr. Orrick had a "basin," 150 by 112 feet, on the west of 2d st., between Cherry and Franklin. There were wharves on 3 sides for loading and unloading canal boats, while the canal extended along the western side. His warehouse, a 2-story brick, had a front of 60 feet on 2d and a depth of 40 feet.
The building occupied by Mr. Graeff, at the corner of 3d, was a 2-story brick, 30 feet front on Penn, and 46 feet deep on 3d. A piazza 7 feet wide, extended along the southern end of the building. The groceries were kept in the cellar and the dry goods on the 1st floor and in one of the rooms on the 2d floor. The building was an old one at that time and the house was estimated (1826) to be worth $2,500. Mr. Graeff died in Phila., nearly 40 years ago. His wife died in Pottstown 57 years ago.
When Matthias S. Richards made the first "directory" of Reading in 1809, Michael Lam occupied the southeast corner of 3d and Penn. He had removed from Heidelberg in 1801, when he bought the corner property, and the 30-foot lot extended 270 feet back to Cherry. He paid "300 pounds in gold and silver money" to Jacob Brecht for it.
"Jacob Kern, of Cumru, gentleman," bought of Thomas and Richard Penn the corner property at the first sale of the Reading town lots in 1752. The lot then had a front of 60 feet by 270, and was subject to a yearly ground rent of 7 shillings. Mr. Kern sold the property and Henry and Ludwig Beierly in 1764, and Jacob Brecht became the owner in 1784, paying 350 pounds therefor.
Michael Lam sold the property to Mordecai Lee, jr., in 1811, and it changed ownership quite frequently during the ensuing 10 or 15 years. In 1849 the late Dr. George DeBenneville, of Phila., devised it to his daughter, Harriet DeB. Keim, widow of John M. Keim, (at one time a partner of J.L. Stichter in the hardware business) who, in 1868 sold it to the late John McKnight, who, in 1882, sold it to J. Hiester McKnight. A hardware store has been located in the building for many years and J.H. Obold & Co. are now conducting business there. George DeB. Keim was the proprietor of the store 35 years ago.
Asaph Prutzman, tinsmith, now owns and occupies the premises that belonged to John M. Keim, next to the corner property, and Wellington VanReed owns the premises that nearly 70 years ago belonged to William P. Orrick. Mr. VanReed bought the property of Rev. Dr. A.S. Leinbach some 15 years ago. Many years ago it was the residence of the late David McKnight. In the 2d story rooms are fine old mantelpieces of imported marble. In the storeroom of Mr. VanReed, merchant tailor, is a chandelier of unique design, which is said to be the first chandelier ever put up in Reading. Forest & Scanlan occupy the eastern portion of the premises for a restaurant.
In 1916 J.H. Obold & Co. changed its name to the Obold Hardware Company, and in 1918 the business was sold to the Worley Hardware Company, who now occupy the premises at this corner and whose advertisement appears on the opposite page [page 90].
Source: Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading, PA, and the 150th Anniversary of the Reading Volunteer Fire Department Sept. 30th to Oct. 6th 1923, ed. by the Chairman of the Publicity Committee, Reading, PA, 1923, p. 91.
Submitted by: Nancy.
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