Step back in time and learn about Reading, Pa’s vibrant history as a top resort and wine making region while sampling local wines and cheeses.

Thursday, October 16, 6:00-8:00 pm
German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
$20
In-person
RSVP info: Sign up here

Join us for a fun evening as we learn about the fascinating history of Reading, Pennsylvania’s winemaking industry and resort culture. Local author Mike Madaio will talk about his book Lost Mount Penn: Wineries, Railroads and Resorts of Reading, in which he explores the vibrant society and culinary culture that made Mount Penn one of the best-known resort regions in the country until financial difficulties and the passage of Prohibition spelled its end.

German immigrants of the nineteenth century brought their traditions of winemaking and mouthwatering cuisine to the slopes of Mount Penn high above Reading. With a Santa Claus beard and a long-stemmed pipe, the hermit of Mount Penn, German-born Louis Kuechler founded Kuechler’s Roost, where travelers flocked for feasts, literary soirees and free-flowing local wine. The opening of the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad brought a flurry of tourists from around the nation and fueled the creation of resorts throughout the countryside. Spuhler’s Hotel hosted renowned pig roasts from noon until midnight. The fresh waters of Lauterbach Springs attracted wine and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

None of the wineries described in Lost Mount Penn still exist, but after the talk, we will sample German-style wines made today near Reading by Galen Glen Winery, paired with some delicious local cheeses. Copies of Lost Mount Penn will also be available for purchase, and if you’d like you can have them signed by the author.