Berks County, Pennsylvania is a special place to call your hometown. With all the small towns, the city and the suburbs, we find commonalities that make us proud to be from Berks. Here are some of those things us Berks County people know and love.
1. The pronunciation of Reading
You know Reading is pronounced Redding not Reading.
2. Taylor Swift's hometown.
It's just about the only reason people know about your hometown. Swift grew up in Wyomssing. We are still hoping she comes for a hometown concert.
3. The Pagoda
You don't think it's a weird concept to have a Japanese-style building on the top of a mountain.
4. Baseballtown
The home of the Reading Fightin Phils minor league baseball team. A fun atmosphere for a great night out. Who doesn't love the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor?
5. Santander Arena
Chances are, you have attended a Royals' hockey game, a concert, the Home and Garden show, or a high school hockey game here.
6. The Reading Eagle
It's the new source for the county. Even when you were younger, you enjoyed looking at the Mini-Pages and Voices sections. And who can miss that giant billboard on 422?
7. Koziar's Christmas Village
You are proud to say one of the most beautiful Christmas displays is in your hometown. During the holidays, your social media is probably filled with Kissing Bridge photos.
8. The YNOT awards
The local high schools get together for a Tony Awards type event to display their musicals. The musicals win different types of awards while performing.
9. The history
You know a lot of the history in Berks County. From Joanna Furnace to the Penn Avenue, you grew up learning the history.
10. The way you say your words.
When you leave the county, people correct the way you say some words. Or they just do not understand the word you are using at all.
11. Body Zone
It was the hang out zone for you in middle school or even high school. Open skate nights and hockey games were the main reasons for this.
12. Berkshire Mall
It's one of our only shopping options even though you never seem to find what you need. In the middle school days, you spent a Saturday there shopping. Now, you can barely spend an hour there.
13. Schools have off for the first day of hunting season.
When you go to college, you realize that this is not the norm.
14. Prom at Stokesay Castle
Most high schools hold at least one prom here. Either that or you attended a wedding or another fancy occasion here.
15. Pork and Sauerkraut on New Year's Day
The PA Dutch runs high in Berks, so this tradition always carries through.
16. You can properly pronounce Schuylkill.
It's "SKOO-kill."
17. You know the struggle of 422.
The traffic is unreal. Anyone who doesn't know exactly where they're going can easily get lost.
18. The hail storm.
We're still talking about it. The vehicles still show the battle wounds.
