Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart Department Store.......Part one

[coinsarefun]

Interesting point #1.........................Pomeroy's landmark store on Penn Street was built in stages from 1892 to 1957

Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart (Pomeroy's)
600 Penn Street
Reading, Pennsylvania




Interesting point #..........................2Harrisburg, Pennsylvania



One of the most important events that occurred in Harrisburg’s history was a fire that destroyed the original state capitol in 1897. With plans drawn for a new capitol, erected on the same site and completed and dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt, in 1906, the community recognized the need for major public improvements throughout the city. Hence, what became known as the "City Beautiful Movement" was launched in Harrisburg in the first years of the new century, involving massive expansion of improvements to the city’s park and public works systems. These included the construction of the famous river wall steps that line the waterfront, erection of a water filtration plant, extensive street paving projects, damming of the Susquehanna River for sanitary purposes and enhanced recreational opportunities, a long range master plan for design of the State Capitol Complex, and numerous water, sewer and other infrastructure improvements, nearly all of which exist today. Only since 1982 has Harrisburg experienced a similar period of extensive improvement efforts and development, which continues now.

Completion of the new state capitol also spirited a surge in commercial office, hotel and retail construction in the city’s central business district giving initial shape to the skyline of today. During the first decades of the 20th century such early high-rises as the Telegraph, Union Trust and Kunkel buildings presented office space for lease showing the advent of service-oriented industries in a new era.Department stores such as Bowman and Co. and Dive, Pomeroy and Stewart grew from modest storefronts into classy downtown edifices and destination points from miles around.

During the early part of the 1900s through the 1930s, the palatial Penn Harris and Harrisburger Hotels rose to grace the edges of Capitol Park; the State Capitol Complex continued to expand northward; Bellevue Park, central Pennsylvania’s first planned community, was developed; new high schools were completed; and important cultural institutions, such as the Harrisburg Symphony and Harrisburg Community Theater, were founded. Although Harrisburg suffered from many of the urban problems that started in the mid-1950s and have plagued most cities since, the city’s achieved and projected development now continues to keep pace with its distinction as being the Commonwealth’s seat of government.




Now...........what is this all about a dumb token you ask?





Well stay tuned for part 2 coming December 6th.




Hint.......this has to do with family memories as a young child, lots of twists and turns but  sweet gentle memories I am willing to share with everyone