Pottstown in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Freight Station - AAA East Penn
Historic Pottstown Walking Tour
Pottstown's growing importance as a regional manufacturing center prompted the Reading Co. to upgrade its facilities here in the 1920's. On the 26th of December in 1924, the Reading Co. revealed plans for the construction of a new $1,000,000 passenger and freight station in Pottstown. The Reading Co. purchased five homes on Hanover St. and several business properties on the south side of the tracks and underwrote the cost of the new plants for Pottstown Cold Storage and Auchenbach Wholesale Grocery Co.
Virtually devoid of ornamentation, the Station is significant architecturally because it shows the development of a “modern” facility emphasizing utilitarian concepts. The station continued in use by the Reading Railroad and later Conrail through 1976. In 1986, Freight Station Associates, a partnership that consisted of Ronald and Eugene Dinnocenti and the East Penn Motor Club, purchased the property for rehabilitation, thereby preserving this historic landmark.
AAA East Penn dates back to 1908, when it was chartered as the Pottstown Automobile club. In 1927, it became affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA); and in 1979, it became the East Penn Motor Club. In 1999, AAA East Penn and AAA Lehigh Valley consolidated their operations and became known as AAA East Penn. As an affiliate of AAA and the Pennsylvania AAA Federation, AAA East Penn provides its members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive services.
Erected 2002 by AAA East Penn and Pottstown 250th Anniversary Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.
Location. 40° 14.64′ N, 75° 39.058′ W. Marker is in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of Hanover Street and South Street, on the right when traveling south on Hanover Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 95 S Hanover Street, Pottstown PA 19464, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Reading Passenger Station (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Clair Mansion (about 600 feet away); The Security Trust Building (about 600 feet away); The Shuler House (about 600 feet away); The PECO Building (about 700 feet away); Weitzenkorn's Clothiers (about 700 feet away); First Iron Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Pottstown News (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pottstown.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,110 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 29, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.