Timeline
1770
1776- The Declaration of Independence is read in Reading and Berks County’s own “Liberty Bell” in the Courthouse is rung.
1776- Two battalions composed of Berks County militia fought at the Battle of Long Island.
1776- Captured Hessian soldiers began arriving in Berks County and after several years were moved to the Hessian Camp on Mt. Penn.
1777- Dr. Bodo Otto, a senior surgeon in George Washington’s army, used Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading as a hospital
after the Battle of Brandywine.
1780
1789- The first stage line was introduced between Philadelphia and
Reading.
1790
1793- First Berks County post office established in Reading.
1794- President George Washington stopped in Reading on his way to
Carlisle during the Whiskey Rebellion.
1795- Reading’s 38 hatters produced 54,000 wool hats which were more
wool hats produced than all the other Pennsylvania counties put together.
1796- The Readinger Adler German-language newspaper began publishing
in Reading.