Reading Pagoda

By -

When one thinks of a pagoda, they normally picture the pagoda to be in a place like Japan or China. However, one of Reading, Pennsylvania's most famous landmarks is also a pagoda. Built on a hillside at the south end of Skyline Drive on scenic Mount Penn, the Pagoda offers a wonderful historic and scenic experience.

Constructed in 1906 by William Witman, Sr. with a cost of $50,000 by William A. Witman, Sr., the Pagoda was completed in 1908.  The pagoda was orginally built to be a luxury resort atop Mount Penn, but due to a bank foreclosure and the denial of a liquor license, Witman never opened the Pagoda. By 1910 the Pagoda and the surrounding property were sold to a local business owner. In 1911, the Pagoda was sold to the City of Reading for the grand sum of $1.

The Pagoda stands 7 stories high, 28 feet wide, 50 feet long, situated 620 feet above Reading at 866 feet above sea level. There are 60 tons of tiles and terra cotta on the pagoda with a total of 87 steps from the bottom to the top. The Pagoda in Reading is the only pagoda in the world with a fireplace and chimney, which relates to the pagoda's original intended use as a luxury resort. The pagoda's bell on the 7th floor was cast in Japan in 1739. The bell was purchased by Witman in 1906 and shipped via the Suez Canal to New York Harbor, and arrived in Reading on May 5, 1907.

Before the advent of radio broadcasting, lights from the Pagoda flashed as signals to the people of Reading and Morse Code was used to direct emergency services, promote events and give local sports news.  The Code used was based on lights, with a white light was a dash and a red light was a dot. Lights from the Pagoda also flash every Christmas Eve at 9pm to let everyone know that Santa Claus and his reindeer are on their way. The Pagoda is also where Reading's Pagoda Patty announces every Groundhog Day whether to expect an early spring or six more weeks of winter.

The Pagoda is open weekend afternoons with a small gift shop and café, plus you have the opportunity to walk through the Pagoda. The nearby grounds are also open to view the Pagoda and the scenic views of Reading and its countryside.

The Reading Pagoda, draped in a blanket of fresh snow.

A scenic view of Reading, Pennsylvania.


The Pagoda's chimney.


View of the pagoda from below.


Sources and Links:
The Pagoda, Reading, Pennsylvania - Welcome to the Pagoda
The Pagoda, Reading, Pennsylvania - History
BerksFun.com - Groundhog Day at the Pagoda
Location: 98 Duryea Dr, Reading, PA 19602, USA

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 27, 2019 at 9:10 AM

    I know about this pagoda! I actually visited this wonderful landmark! My finacee's hometown is Reading. And she introduced me to the pagoda.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Somerfield and the Great Crossings Bridge

By -
Image
West of Addison, US 40 crosses the Youghiogheny River at what once was the town of Somerfield.  When crossing the current modern two lane bridge, you many not realize that it is actually the third to cross the Yough at this site.  The first - a stone arch bridge - was known as the Great Crossings Bridge.  Built in 1818, this three arch bridge was part of the original National Road.  The name Great Crossings comes from the men who forded the Youghiogheny here - George Washington and George Braddock. (1)  If you cross the bridge at the right time, this historic bridge and what was once the town of Somerfield will appear out from underneath this massive man-made lake. Historical Postcard showing the 'Big Crossings' bridge and Somerfield.  Image submitted by Vince Ferrari. The Great Crossings Bridge was located in the town of Somerfield.  Somerfield, originally named Smythfield until 1827, would develop as a result of the National Road. (1)  Somerfield would go th
Read more

John Eisenhower Bridge

By -
Image
When you explore the back roads around Gettysburg, you'll most likely find some great things.  Just behind the Eisenhower Farm on Red Rock Road - and not that long of a stroll from Sachs Covered Bridge - is an 1886 iron truss bridge named after Dwight Eisenhower's son, John.  John Eisenhower was an officer in the United States Army, served as the US Ambassador to Belgium, and was a military historian. The John Eisenhower Bridge crosses Willoughby Run, and its use is limited to bicycles and pedestrians.  The 84-foot-long bridge was designed and constructed by Gibert & Smith.  It is a Pratt-through truss design.  Flood waters severely damaged the bridge in 1996.  Two years later, the bridge was completely restored.  In 2012, Adams County completed a project  fully refurbishing the bridge deck. Willoughby Run Like the nearby Sachs Covered Bridge, the Eisenhower Bridge is considered haunted.  It is known locally as the " Suicide Bridge ;" ghost hunters from throughout
Read more

Pine Hill Vista

By -
Image
Within the friendly confines of Pinchot State Forest in southern Lackawanna County, there are quite a few scenic areas. One of these scenic areas is the Pine Hill Vista, at the top of the Big Pine Hill at 2260 feet above sea level. As I have become more interested in seeing the various scenic vistas of the Keystone State, a recent trip to the Poconos pointed me in the direction of the Pine Hill Vista. After all, I enjoy visiting fire towers and other scenic overlooks no matter where my travels take me. Traveling along some bumpy dirt roads through the Pinchot State Forest near Thornhurst, I reached a closed gate on Pine Hill Road and walked the rest of the way up to the vista, which was about a quarter of a mile long. You also have the option visiting the Pine Hill Vista as part of a longer hike, utilizing part of the Pinchot Trail system in the process, or by following a hiking loop on a number of trails. Once you reach the summit of Big Pine Hill, you are at one of the highest
Read more