A Brief History of the Reading Liederkranz

The Reading Liederkranz, one of eleven local German organizations in the late 1800's, was organized by eight Germans as a German Singing Society in Bowman's Hall, North Tenth Street, Reading, Pennsylvania, on 23 July 1885.  August Grube was the first president.  For the first seventeen years the singers practiced in a number of rented facilities throughout Reading.  Finally on 26 March 1902 property at 833-835 Chestnut Street was purchased.  In 1909 the building was razed, and a new clubhouse was built, designed to be a singing hall.  The new building was dedicated on the occasion of the 5th Sangerfest of the United Singers of Pennsylvania, 19-22 June 1910.  The Chestnut Street building was the clubs home for the next 88 years.  In 1990 the current property was purchased at 143 Spook Lane.

Now, with 2,500 members, we continue to celebrate the rich heritage and traditions passed down to us by the original founders of the club.  Today, the Reading Liederkranz comprises five sections:  The Reading Liederkranz Singer's, established 23 July 1885; the Germania Soccer Club, established 1922, joined the club 26 April 1926; The Ladies Auxiliary, established 1938; the Gebirgs-Trachtenverein Edelweiss, established in 1949; and the Eagle Mountain Home, established 10 July 1902, joined the club as a section in 1990.

The clubhouse is nestled on a beautiful 10.2 acre property perched very near the top of Mount Washington, close to the cities famous Pagoda, offering ample parking and home to Berks County’s premier outdoor festival facilities and the club's historic Biergarten.  The clubhouse has a large dining room, a stage, a large dance floor and a separate bar/dining area.  Our outdoor facilities include a new kitchen, bar, two large pavilions - one for seating and one with a large dance floor and stage, our historic Biergarten and a children's play area.

The Reading Liederkranz, now in its 133rd year, is proud to uphold German traditions - language, culture, cuisine, sport and family.  Our activities are numerous and diverse:  Mai Fest, Friday Night in the Biergarten, Karneval (Mardi Gras), Bockbier Fest, Christkindlmarkt and the oldest authentic OKTOBERFEST in Pennsylvania - one of the largest on the east coast of the United States, and recently rated 4th BEST in the WORLD behind Munich, Germany by BusinessInsider.com, and #1 in the USA by USA Today.  We invite you to join us!