Reading, is beautifully situated on the eastern side of the river Schuylkill, in 40° 20' N. Latitude, and Lon. 1° 03' E. from the city of Washington. Its distance from Philadelphia is fifty-two miles, and it is the same distance from Harrisburg. The following interesting account of the location of the town, and its first settlement, is transcribed from an article in the Ladies' Garland, for February, 1839.
"As early as 1733, warrants were taken out by John and Samuel Finney, and 450 acres of land surveyed under their sanction, which are now entirely embraced within the limits of Reading. Whether the inducements to this selection were other than its general beauty and fertility, it is now difficult to say, though it is asserted that when the Proprietaries, John and Richard Penn, became aware of its advantages, and proposed to re-purchase for the location of a town, the Messrs. Finney long and firmly resisted all the efforts of negotiation. This produced a momentary change in the design of the Proprietaries, as they employed Richard Hockley to survey and lay out the plan of a town on the margin of the Schuylkill opposite its confluence with the Tulpehocken. This survey is still to be found on record, though divested of any date or name by which the precise period in which it was made can be ascertained. It is now only known as an appended portion to Reading, under the designation of the 'Hockley Out-Lots.'
"The importance as well as reality of the design now appears to have subdued the objections of the Finneys to the sale of their claim, as they immediately relaxed in their demands, and finally yielded them to the proprietaries, who at once caused the 'Hockley plot' to be abandoned, and in the fall of the year 1748, that of Reading to be laid out.
"The difficulty in obtaining water even at great depths through the limestone, was the specious reason generally assigned for the sudden vacation of the former site, as the new one was remarkable for the numerous large and copious springs existing within its limits.
"Thus Thomas and Richard Penn, proprietaries and governors in chief of the province of Pennsylvania, became private owners of the ground plot of Reading, the lots of which they carefully subjected in their titles to an annual quit or ground rent. Singular as it may seem, this claim became almost forgotten through neglect, and the circumstances that resulted from the change in the old order of things produced by the revolution; indeed when recurred to at all, it was generally believed, to have become forfeit to the State, by the nature of that event. But a few years ago it was revived by the heirs, and its collection attempted under the authority of the law; but so excited were the populace, and adverse to the payment of its accumulated amount, that it was generally, and in some cases, violently resisted, till the deliberations of a town meeting had suggested measures leading to a more direct, amicable and permanent compromise.
"Like most of the primitive towns of the State, Reading is indebted for its name, as is also the county in which it is situated, to the native soil of the Penns.
"Its area comprised about 2194 acres of a rich calcareous soil, sloping gently from Penn's Mount, an elevation on its eastern side, to the river Schuylkill; thus presenting natural facilities for its drainage, and the prevention of accumulated filth, and adding a decided feature to its well established character for health.
"The streets intersect each other at right angles, and form in their direction almost correct indices to the cardinal points of the compass. Their original names were retained to a very recent date, (Aug. 6, 1833,) and were characteristic of the loyalty of the proprietary feeling, as well as family attachment and regard.
"King, Queen, Prince, Duke, Earl and Lord streets, sufficiently evidence the strength of the former, whilst the main or central streets, Penn and Callowhill, are as distinctly indicative of filial regard.
"Hannah Callowhill, their mother, was the second wife of William Penn, and had issue beside Thomas and Richard, of John, Margaret and Dennis, whence also had originated the names of Thomas, Margaret and Richard Streets. Hamilton Street from James Hamilton, Esq., who was Deputy Governor of the Province at that period.
"The names now substituted 'as more compatible with the republican simplicity of our present form of government,' are similar to those of Philadelphia, as the streets running north and south commence at Water street, on the Schuylkill, and extend to Twelfth street, while those running east and west are called Penn, Franklin, Washington, Chesnut and Walnut streets.
"In 1751, Reading contained 130 dwelling houses, besides stables and other buildings—106 families, and 378 inhabitants, though about two years before it had not above one house in it.
"By the census of 1830, the population had increased to 5631, and it now may be safely estimated at about 8,000.
"The original population was principally Germans, who emigrated from Wertemberg and the Palatinate, though the administration of public affairs was chiefly in the hands of the Friends.
"The former by their preponderance of numbers, gave the decided character in habits and language to the place, as the German was almost exclusively used in the ordinary transactions of life and business, and is yet retained to a very great extent."
The borough is divided into four nearly equal parts by the intersection of its principal streets—Penn and Fifth. This division is recognized in various borough arrangements, and is of much practical convenience.
The houses are numbered from these streets. The boundaries of the Wards are also marked by them.
There are four wards, deriving their names from their relative local situations. The N.E. Ward, includes that portion of the town lying between North Fifth and East Penn streets. The S.E. Ward, that part embraced between East Penn and South Fifth streets. The S.W. Ward, between South Fifth and West Penn streets. The N.W. Ward, between West Penn and North Fifth streets.
Reading is the largest borough in the United States. The extent of the compact part of the town at present, is about one mile east and west, from the Schuylkill to Twelfth street, near the foot of Penn's Mount; and about half a mile north and south, from Walnut to Chesnut street. The town lies pretty much within the above limits, though it is now rapidly extending south in the neighborhood of Fourth and Fifth streets. Indeed, for the last few years, the course of improvement has taken a decided southern and south-western direction. This is owing principally to the business furnished by the Schuylkill canal, and by the extensive manufacturing establishments which have been erected along the bank of the river, in this part of the borough. The great advantages possessed by this spot for manufacturing purposes, advantages only lately discovered, and but just beginning to be improved, will no doubt take this part of the borough the residence of a numerous population of mechanics and laborers, and enterprising citizens of every description. It may safely be predicted that within twenty years from this time, those fertile fields between the rail road and the river, will all be converted into town, compactly built.
Submitted by: Nancy.
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