These photographs have been the property of the Reading Public Library for many years. They were digitized with the support of a grant from the Reading Celebration Trust's Historical Preservation Fund. One portion of the collection was the personal photo album of Mrs. Albert F. (Martha Cook) Converse, others are donations to the collection from various individuals.
Joseph Halloran is "the cute little boy squatting in the front row, sixth from the left. Joe is wearing a navy blue (assuming) sailor suit."
Photographed by Alan Armitage, 276 Summer Ave., Reading, Mass. REA. 0789-M
"Taken at the Walker Homestead, junction of Pearl and Charles Sts., Reading about 189?. Front Row: Gertrude Francis (Mrs. Donald Houghton), Miss Hattie Walker, Pauline Foote, Helen E. Ruggles On wall: Elizabeth Choate (Mrs. Sidney Cassey), Helen Francis (Mrs. Carl Sawyer), Bertha Parker (Mrs. Robert Gray), Marion Eaton, Olive Horton." Written on the back of the photograph.
"Built in 1867, was the first Reading High School and used as such until 1906. From 1906 until 1939, this building was used as an elementary school. During World War II, the Reading chapter of the American Red Cross and the Rationing Board were housed here and during the post-war days, the Center School accommodated the overflow of town offices from Town Hall."
"This building was used as a high school for three years, 1864-1867, when Union Hall became too crowded. It was generously donated to the town by Cyrus Smith, Esq. The school committee was not at all happy about the location, known as 'Mudville' because of the noise and distraction of the passing trains. The parents were even less enthusiastic about the location because 'it was so malarious that even the bullfrogs would not live there provided they had the power to die!' (from Town Report 1867). But a kind Providence interceded and allowed the students to survive this horrible place with no lasting effects. The town erected a new school beside the Old South Church and it opened in 1867. The smaller building is now Century 21 Real Estate. It was originally a slaughterhouse on John Street and was moved to the Main Street site in 1889. The field in the picture is now Crosby Road and Edwin Circle and here, holding the flags, are Miriam Nichols Barclay and Josephine Phillips Hunt. The small lad is Ben Nichols."
"Eclectic was the word for the passenger-train consists. [sic] In this September 30, 1950, scene of P-3 3708 leaving Reading with 119, a noon-time run to Dover NH, the RPO is ex-PRR, the combine ex-Reading. To me, it looks like the return of 2914's cars to North Conway."
"Collection of H. K. Vollrath";"Five P-2 Pacifics, Schenectady products of 1911 and 1913 - 3652, 3669, 3627, 3662 and 3673 - are bedded down for an autumn night at the four-stall Reading Highlands roundhouse in September 1951. I don't know they decided who had to sleep outside."
"Looking north on Chute Street from the corner of Haven Street. House on left is the Moulton House. Top left is 42 Chute Street, built by Jos. Temple, 1842."
"Looking north on Haven Street from High Street. 3 story building with mansard roof is 'Weston's Block'. Destroyed by fire on June 18, 1883. This is the site of Johnson's Hardware 1992 near corner of Haven and High Street."
"The first Black's Block was built in 1887 on the corner of Haven and High Streets. There were stores on the ground floor and apartments above. It was destroyed by fire on March 6 1890. Mr. Black rebuilt the block around 1892. The second building, shown here, has been taken down in stages over the years to accommodate the building of the Reading Municipal Light Company." [Later torn down to build Brook's Pharmacy, now Rite-Aid.]
"Excavation has been going forward rapidly on the lot on Haven Street where the new Cooperative Bank building will be located. The building, formerly occupied by the Western Auto Associates store, is down and 'sidewalk superintendants' have been in attendance just about all day every day, watching the dirt and rocks being scooped out for the new foundation.";Photocopy from Reading Chronicle (newspaper)
"It is hanging in the Barclay-Bishop local history room at the Reading Public Library. Depicts Reading Shoe Hospital, owner - Harry Shapiro. It was located next to Rockport Fish Market."
Sign in window reads "Indian MoToCycles.";"Haven Street corner of Linden Street, note Socony Pump at sidewalk edge." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Willis house, SE corner of Main and Haven Streets. Moved around block to Elliott Street, corner of Chapin Avenue, ca. 1926. Built 1816-1817." " -- From the album containing the photograph
"Library upstairs, Danforth's Pharmacy on left, George Prescott's market on right, Main Street corner of Pleasant Street." -- From the album containing the photograph
Theater marquee reads "Next Thursday: Edgar Selwyn's Pierre of the Plains, 5 parts. Matinee 2:30. Evening 7 & 8:30. All seats 10 cents.";"Fruit and vegetable store next door in 1914. Owners in doorway - L, Edward Turnbull R, Mr. Rogers."
"300 acres of beautiful woods and wetlands. Many years ago, several representatives from local organizations planted a circle of pine trees 100 feet in diameter to symbolize the spirit of civic unity and cooperation. The circle is still there and is now called the Old Council Ring. 'Whenever you would go in the forest, the sight of the land, the creatures of nature, the growing things and your own imagination may transport you to a time and a place of your choice..... I am told that in the Old Council Ring, for those who would listen, the excited joyful voices of the gathering citizens, from sixty years ago, still sound. In the forest, the friendly ghosts of the past mingle freely with wind sounds, bird songs and the soft crunch of your own footfalls.' from 'A Year in the Forest' by Jack Cairl." -- From the album containing the photograph
Photograph of a postcard of Bay State Military Rifle Association, pre 1926. History of Camp Curtis Guild. The Camp is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is under the control of the State Quartermaster. Camp Curtis Guild consists of 512 acres. Portions of the total area are located in Reading, North Reading, Wakefield, and Lynnfield. The Camp was acquired by the Commonwealth, acting through the Armory Commissioners, in 1926, from the Bay State Rifle Association, at the cost of $65,000. On March 1, 1926, the Camp was designated Camp Curtis Guild" by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Alvin T. Fuller. The Camp was named for former Governor Curtis Guild, Jr., "in consideration of his public service and intimate connection with the military forces in the State and Nation." In World War I, the Camp was leased by the U.S. Navy and operated as Camp Plunkett. The wooden barracks and mess halls were erected during this period. At the close of World War I, the Navy returned the Camp, with the buildings that had been erected, to the Bay State Rifle Association. In World War II, the Camp was operated by the First Service Command as a staging area for the Port of Boston. The Camp was also used as a training area by the United States Coast Guard. In December, 1988, the Headquarters fo the Massachusetts National Guard relocated from the Armory in Boston to Camp Curtis Guild." -- from the album containing the photograph.
Photograph of a painting.;"Oil painting by Gail Wright of Stoneham." Written on back of photo.;"Camp Rice Moody off Forest Street. Girl Scout camp." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Circus used to practice and train their horses at the corner of Beech and Green Street. Leo and Mae Jackson of Reading were unicyclists with this circus." -- From the album containing the photograph
"The photographs on the following pages were taken at the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4 1976. Reading, as did the entire nation, rang its church bells in celebration, followed by a parade and program on the Common."-- From the album containing the photograph
"A BENCHMARK is a permanent monument, usually a brass plate, that is installed at a known elevation, and it is used by surveyors and engineers when bridges, roads, and other structures are being built. This practice was started in 1893 by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. (U.S.C.& G.S.) In 1930, the Massachusetts Department of Public Works became interested in the project and started to do its own surveying. Their measurements were then sent to Washington for verification and adjustment by the U.S.C.& G. S. Many Benchmarks can be found in Reading: on the roof of the Community Center, on the cupola of the Old South Church, and there is even one in the Ipswich River at the Reading-North Reading town line." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Reading baseball team, season of 1919. Taken in front of Washington Street park. Boston White, ?, Carl Quimby, ?, C. Logan Godfrey, Joe Lang, Rudolf Sussman, _ Gibbons, Percy Anderson, ?, Newt Dillaway, ?, Ernie Gallant, ?." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Front row (L to R): 1. Mabel Coolidge, 2. Gertrude Sillars 2nd row (L-R): 2. Helen White, 3. Helen Taylor Rear: Whitman S. Browne, director. (Do you know any of these people?)" From the album containing the photograph.
"Gathering of workers of Walter Hopkins' farm on Hopkins Street. Mr. Hopkins is in the front row, second from left." -- From the album containing the photograph
"R. Dexter Temple, taken about 1890 in front of old Post Office on Ash Street." Handwritten on photograph.;"House on left is Willis' house, corner of Main and Haven Streets. Large house is home of Waldo E. Perkins." -- From the album containing the photograph
Front row with open book, Robert "Father" Kemp front row far right, Daniel Foss middle row center with large bonnet, Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Alden Kemp others in the troupe: Sarah Temple, R. N. Temple, Mr. & Mrs. Stillman, M. Pratt, Mr. & Mrs. David Brown, Mr. & Mrs. Bancroft, Mr. & Mrs. F. J. Bancroft, Messrs. Brown and Needham Nichols, Henry Brown, Train Sweetser, Henry Temple, Edward Safford - doorkeeper, Mr. & Mrs. Rufus Pierce of Stoneham, John Wiley of Wakefield, Miss Abby Owen of Lowell." from Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, p. 560.;"See chapter 7, 'Vignettes of Reading History'." From album containing the photograph.
"This house, built in 1875, was standing behind the house on the previous page moved from 39 Woburn Street. It was moved in April 1966 to 273 Pearl Street, and was maneuvered into the space between the house and the barn with very little room to spare. It was moved again in 1981 to the lot next door and became 196 Wakefield Street." -- From the album containing the photograph
"House built in 1828. 36 Woburn Street moved in 1966 to No. Reading. Site is now new Baptist Church and parking lot." -- From the album containing the photograph
"House moved from Reading Lumber Yard, North Reading, to near corner of Main Street at Forest Street in 1984." -- From the album containing the photograph
"The Ira Ruggles' house built at 164 Haven Street, circa 1850, converted around the turn of the century to Hodson Bros. decorators. In the 1960s the name was changed to the Paint Store with the Purple Door. In 1984 the owners wanted the property for another use, so the business had to move. This site is a parking lot in 1992. In April 1985 the house was moved through town to its new address on Forest Street where it is a private home again." -- From the album containing the photograph
Photograph of a postcard from the Birch Bark postcard series. Search the title "First known picture of Reading, Mass." for original postcard. (b23710585). "The Pratt house, built on the corner of Salem and Main Streets in 1817-1818, was moved down the hill to its present location in 1905. Wouldn't that have been a sight to see! The vacated site is now the Edgerley & Bessom funeral home." -- From the album containing the photograph
"The Pratt house, built on the corner of Salem and Main Streets in 1817-1818, was moved down the hill to its present location in 1905. Wouldn't that have been a sight to see! The vacated site is now the Edgerley & Bessom funeral home." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Home on John Street built by John Damon. At some time, it was lived in by John Brooks, governor of Massachusetts from 1816-1823. He was a member of the Federalist Party." -- From the album containing the photograph
"This home at 97 Pleasant Street was built circa 1870. This gothic revival structure is an interesting variation of the Fowler octagonal house ideal, using a series of small octagons grouped around a central cupola. Even the side porch has an octagonal shape. The shape represents the nation-wide influence of Dr. Fowler, who proposed this shape as structurally and mathematically elegant and because of increased cross-ventilation, healthier than the conventional box shapes of the day. This appealed to Dr. Horace P. Wakefield, the builder of this quirky dwelling. This is the only such structure in Reading. Dr. Wakefield taught school in Reading as a young man, practiced medicine, was on the school committee, was a town clerk from 1862-1864 and was Secretary of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Less than a decade ago, at the corner of Main and Ash Streets stood the house and adjoining building at one time owned by Jonathan Frost. The Frost brothers, twins, kept a store in the small building in the middle 1800s. In the 1920s and '30s", there was a restaurant there. The property was one of the last pieces of real estate to be disposed of when the National Bank that was forced into liquidation during the bank holiday of 1932 settled up its affairs (paying depositors 100% plus interest). There was an extended controversy as to whether or not the property should be used for a gas line filling station and the advocates of the change won out. A comparison of the pictures is interesting in that many people have fogotten how the corner used to look. At the left is a view in a northerly direction and at the right the view as one faces south." Printed on the photograph.
"Home of A. Newell Howes on Arlington Street. He was a member of the first Municipal Light Board, established in 1894." -- From the album containing the photograph
"House built by Luther Elliott on Haven Street circa 1850. He taught Sylvester Harnden the cabinet and furniture making business." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Lowell Street. The Brown House was built in 1867. It was moved to Harrison Street in 1916 so that the present Town Hall could be built on the site." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Lowell Street. The Richardson House was located on the site of the present parking lot for the Town Hall. The house in the background is the site of the Community Center." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Built in 1847 and demolished in 1941. Now the site of Mass Bank for Savings, Haven Street, Reading (pickup truck appears to be 1938 Ford.)" From the album containing the photograph.
"Home of Lieutenant Loea and Annie (Bancroft) Parker with the Old Mill at 'Slab City', built by Joseph Eaton between 1708 and 1722. His grandfather, Jonus Eaton, owned 80 acres of the 'Pine Playne' adjoining, with a house and a barn, as early as 1673. 'Rooftrees, chapter 43'." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Reading, Mass P.O., view in public lobby looking east. January 3 1918. James Miles & Son Co., contractors, certified P.W. Randall, supt." From the back of the photograph.
"P.O., library, town hall opened in 1918, all in same year. D. Kingman house. 1854 map. Moved from site." Written on back of photograph.;"Corner of Sanborn and Haven Street. Site of new post office, 1918." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Sanborn Street. Now the meeting house of the Reading Knights of Columbus. Telephones came to Reading (thank goodness!) circa 1882." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Ash Street. Formed in 1886. This building, built in 1863, was the first chapel of the Methodist Society. Now it is the meeting house of the American Legion." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Office and appliance store, Main Street. (Next to present VFW.) When the town built the new office on lower Haven Street (see below), this building became McArdle's gift and stationery store. 1928 Town Report photo." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Light and power station. Ash Street. Reading Municipal Light Board was established in 1895 to bring electricity to Reading homes." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Site of present pumping station, Hundred Acres. Photo taken in 1887. Copy print made in 1975. Glass plate of photo belonged to Clarence Carter, Hanscom Avenue, Reading. Men in photo: Ed Burrell [sic] Henry LeClaire [sic] Newton Nichols [sic] [Edgar M.] Martin George Richardson." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Officer Jim Fitzpatrick on right." Written on back of photograph.;"1933 behind police station on Pleasant Street." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Reading Public Library and Town Hall before connection addition was added in 1990. Library has been relocated to Middlesex Avenue. "From the album containing the photograph.
"Connecting addition [to former Reading Public Library] has been built and both buildings are now Reading Town Hall. View of connectiing addition from top of Community Center." -- From the album containing the photograph
"All dressed up for I.O.O.F. convention. Woburn Street near Sanborn Street. Notice Public Library sign. Major fire 1911. Renovated to Security Hall." -- From the album containing the photograph
"First Catholic Church in Reading, located on Washington Street. Now the site of a private home, built in 1955 on the original foundation of the church." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Cornerstone laid October 6, 1870. Erected on the east side of Main Street, next to the Reading Inn. Its name was changed to Unitarian Church of Reading in October 1919. The church was torn down ca. 1920." -- From the album containing the photograph
"During the first part of the 1900s, the Baptist Church was renovated, and it stood until destroyed by fire on February 23, 1965." -- From the album containing the photograph
"When a larger church was needed, members built a new one on Woburn Street, corner of Linden Street, and it was completed in 1884." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Photo of 'refaced' Bethesda church. Reconstruction work done in 1886. Church burned in 1909. See next page." -- From the album containing the photograph
"1905. Note power cables and no telephone wires. Note old clock face is black-opaque with gold-plated brass numerals, not the transilluminated clock of after the fire. Note barrier gate to swing across Salem Street. In my day there was a chain there. I know, I ran into it on my bike at dusk in 1934. Quite an experience." From the album containing the photograph - unknown author.
"1945 - Duo-print photogravure by Samuel Chamberlain AIA. Probably 5x7 view camera. Mr. Chamberlain was extremely popular, widely published, highly skilled in both photography of buildings and as an architect. His subjects were mainly wood frame dwellings of the American colonial style." -- From the album containing the photograph
"This stone on Reading Common marks the site of the first meeting house erected in Reading in 1769. That meeting house was moved to Union Street in 1818. It was then called Union Hall and converted to a school. In 1887, Union Hall was again moved. It was cut in half and the two sections were taken to lower Haven Street to become part of the huge Black's Block." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Dedication services May 28, 1939 at the entrance to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Erected in honor of those Reading citizens who served their country in the World War." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Laurel Hill Cemetery belonged to the Old South Church, and in 1853 they voted to give it to the town of Reading. The first burial in the original cemetery was December 7, 1737." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Dedicated October 5 1865, this monument was erected in accordance with the will of Abiel Holden 'to commemorate the deeds and perpetuate the memories of the soldiers of Reading who have been killed in battle or otherwise, or died from disease contracted, or wounds received, while in the service of the United States...'. Mr. Holden bequeated $500 to the town and requested that the town raise another $500, and with the $1000 'shall erect a shaft of Italian marble'. The location in the cemetery of this monument is called Round Hill." -- From the album containing the photograph
"This 'ten-footer' is pictured in the 1894 Memorial Book [Proceedings of the 250th anniversary of the ancient town of Redding] on page 311. Location unknown." -- From the album containing the photograph
"This old foundation is what is left of Mr. Thomas Mayall's experimental laboratory. It stands behind the home at 37 Knollwood Road. Mr. Mayall was the owner of the business known as the Reading Rubber Mill[s], which eventually became the Sanford Mills." From the album containing the photograph, text by Miriam Barclay.
Note: Sanford Mills was in an adjacent building to the Reading Rubber Mills.
"John DeRonde on left, Ardie Parker on right. House at left margin is 30-32 Elliott Street. Next two houses are 215 and 217 Washington Street. House half-hidden by chimney is 92 Green Street, corner of Elliott Street. House behind man in dark suit is 94 Green Street. Smokestack in background is site of Mayall rubber mill, built in 1882." -- From the album containing the photograph, text by Miriam Barclay
"Twin houses are at the fork of Parker and Haven Streets. House in background is 322 Haven Street, opposite Village Street. Barn to left and back of smoke stack at right edge of photo is in the yard of 309 Haven Street." -- From the album containing the photograph, text by Miriam Barclay
"Destroyed by fire in April 1884. Sketch of Sylvester Harnden's mill yard. Business was started about 1830. When he died in 1873. the business was continued by Edward Manning. The mill yard was located on East Haven Street from Main Street to where Haven Street joins Parker Street today." -- From the album containing the photograph
"Front row left to right: L. Williams F. Elwell L. Alward R. Towle R. Rich J. Lehman R. Holbrook M. Moodie K. Miller M. McNeil D. Shulkey. Middle row left to right: C. Richardson E. Thompson S. Titcombe E. Elwell P. Richardson J. Larson R. Knight R. Anderson A. Sletterink L. Blood N. Johnson B. Castine P. Stevens C. Anderson J. Dagdigian S. Smith. Back row left to right: H. Lander J. Shane R. Berry R. Owen R. Walker M. Hayes B. Brown B. Anderson W. Dear" from the album containing the photograph.
"In 1834, the south school district was formed and erected a house on the corner of Summer and Walnut Streets, the locality of the present one. This was used as a school house till 1853 when it was moved to Washington Street, east of Main Street, and converted into a dwelling. The same year the present house was erected on a piece of common land occupied by the old house." "Three Rs at Hill End by the Bishops" From the album containing the photograph."This house at 167 Washington Street was moved to the spot as one of the first buildings on the residential development on the estate of Edmund Parker. Built in 1834 as a school house, it stood until 1853 on the triangle now bounded by Hopkins and Walnut Streets and Summer Ave. whence it was moved to make way for the Walnut Street (later Chestnut Hill) School." from the Reading Chronicle (undated).
"This school, now the home of Quannapowitt Players, was originally built in 1854, at the triangle of Summer Avenue and Walnut Street (now known as Leach Park). It was called the Walnut Street Schoolhouse. It was moved to its present location on Hopkins Street in 1883 and renamed Chestnut Hill School." -- From the album containing the photograph
"The building was used until 1954, when the increasing school population made the building inadequate. The building then became the Reading Community Center, and then the Schoolhouse Condominiums (1992)."
Later site of Reading High School, which then became the Reading Community Center, then the Schoolhouse Condominiums.;"This house was situated on the lot where Reading High School was built in 1906, on Sanborn Street."
Top row: Shirley Peters Gladys Carter Robert Slaten Helen White Muriel Muese Gordon Goss Julia Eastman. Second row: Betty Johnson Slyva [sic] Batchelder James Doucette Blanshi S. Wilson Powers Albert Doucette Betty Acken. Third row: Helen Toussaint Betty Brown Julian Roberts Jackie White Clifford Dow Collina McLeod Pauline Lewis(?). Fourth row: Loraine Surret Carol Nichols George Rolf Robert Ballou Edward Lewis(?) Edith Hathaway Colan Ware. Bottom row: Frances Philips Verlin Webber James Mellon Helen Malanson Robert Fallon Florence Crowl; Composite photo.
"Front row: B. Sansom unknown M. Jigerian E. Flatter M. McSheehy G. Brown S. Sullivan. Back row: B. Johnson J. Baisley J. Crosby P. Connelly A. Whiteneck L. Bryant M. A. Taylor."
Civil War veteran. From a 1931 Boston Globe cut slip glued to back of photo: "Oldest charter member, First Commander and Present Commander of Veteran Post 194 G.A.R."
"Reading High School [class of] 25th Anniversary picture Dinner and Meeting at Helen E. Ruggle's, 23 Grand Street, Downtown to local photographers for picture, Back to Grand St. June 1929
