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Server Time:
2024-03-29 08:08:49
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Location DB >
United States >
Pennsylvania >
Reading >
Pagoda
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Publically Viewable |
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
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Type: Building
Status: Active
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
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Height: Seven Stories, 886 feet above the City of Reading, 1200 feet above sea level. Construction cost: $50,000
Dimensions: 28 feet wide, 50 feet long, 72 feet high.
Walls: Five feet thick at the base, tapering to two feet at the top of the second story. From second story to the top, walls are frame covered with terra cotta tile shingles.
Roof: Five overhanging with upswept corners. Each recedes two feet from the one below.
Portico: Originally of wood, replaced by concrete in 1949.
Interior: Walls are of concrete plaster, floors are concrete. Trim is of solid oak, 87 steps lead to the top
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At the turn of the century, William Abbott Witman Sr. bought ten acres on the southern tip of Mt. Penn. It was his intention to quarry its stone. However, his stone quarrying operation defaced the look of the mountain side. He suffered public criticism and was finally persuaded to abandon his operation. Witman was then shown a postcard of the Philippines by his friend Charles C. Matz, who had then just returned from the Spanish-American War. The oriental structure fascinated Witman so much that he hired Charles Matz and his father James Matz to build a similar structure. It was his idea to replace the damage left by the stone quarry. This new pagoda was intended to be a luxury hotel. In 1908 his "resort" became reality. A red brick and tile pagoda built in the style of a cattle castle of the Shogun Dynasty of Japan stood above the city. The interior had red and yellow tile floors and a majestic oak staircase leading to the upper floors. A shachihoko (dolphin) was poised on the rooftop and a Japanese temple gateway, known as a torii, graces the entrance. Unfortunately, the ensuing application for a license to serve alcohol was denied. As a result, the luxury inn never materialized and the building went into the hands of a local bank. In 1910, the land and the seven-storied pagoda were sold to Jonathan Mould, a prominent businessman. After one year, Mould and his wife resold the pagoda and the surrounding ten acres to the City of Reading for the sum of one dollar.
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By the 1960s weather, fire and the ravages of time took their toll and the pagoda was in desperate need of repair and restoration. Pagoda-Skyline, Inc., composed of private citizens, was given official city recognition in 1969 as the fund-raising group to work on the project of renewing the pagoda and developing Mt. Penn as a public recreation area.
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The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.
This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
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This location's validation is current. It was last validated by
Mickael on 4/22/2006 8:20 PM.
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on Apr 22 06 at 20:20, Mickael validated this location on Apr 17 06 at 14:46, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 007.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:46, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 016.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:46, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 015.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:45, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 013.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:45, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 012.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:45, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 009.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:45, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 008.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:44, PAexplorations updated gallery picture Pagoda 003.jpg on Apr 17 06 at 14:42, PAexplorations created a new gallery
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