Details:
In July 1877, the City of Reading was swept into the nationwide upheaval of the Great Railroad Strike, culminating in what is now remembered as the “Reading Railroad Massacre.” On September 25th at 6PM, join the Berks History Center as local historian and former trustee, Brian Engelhardt, revisits the explosive events of the “Reading Riots,” when labor unrest erupted into two days of violence, destruction, and tragic loss of life. This presentation will go beyond the initial chaos to examine the aftermath—funerals, court proceedings, and public investigations that stretched well into the following year. With dramatic stories of militia missteps, contested legal battles, and divided civic response, Engelhardt brings new insight to a pivotal moment in Berks County’s industrial history. Light refreshments will be available at 5:30 AM, and the lecture will begin promptly at 6PM. Tickets cost $5 for BHC Members and $10 for Non-Members, which includes museum admission. Off-street parking is available in the BHC's parking lot, located at 160 Spring Street, Reading, PA 19601. For more information and to register, please visit: berkshistory.app.neoncrm.com/.../neonev.../events... About the Speaker: BRIAN C. ENGELHARDT is a native of Reading, Pennsylvania where he resides with his wife, Suzanne, a good sport about any number of things. They have three daughters, and four grandsons. A graduate of Dickinson College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Brian practiced commercial law for more than 40 years until he retired in 2017. Since then he has been an adjunct professor at Albright College, teaching Business Law as well as Sports Law. A former trustee of the Berks History Center as well as a BHC Ambassador, Brian makes presentations to groups on behalf of the BHC, the subjects of which are assorted matters of local historical note including certain political controversies (the juicier the better), profiles of various historical figures, events from the early days of Berks County relating to relations between settlers and Native Americans, as well as matters of local baseball history.
