Shillington in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

John Updike

(1932-2009)

Photographed by William Pope, February 27, 2024

1. John Updike Marker

Inscription. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and one of America's most noted authors, Updike lived here until age thirteen. He was inspired by his mother, an amateur writer, and his childhood surroundings, which he included in many works over his 50-year career. Best known for his "Rabbit" quartet of novels, Updike was also acclaimed for his short stories and essays. He was honored by two US presidents for his contributions to American literature and culture.

Erected 2020 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.

Location. 40° 18.14′ N, 75° 57.901′ W. Marker is in Shillington, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It is at the intersection of Philadelphia Avenue (Pennsylvania Route 724) and Shilling Street, on the right when traveling west on Philadelphia Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 117 Philadelphia Avenue, Reading PA 19607, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shillington Veterans of War Memorial (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas Mifflin

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Shillington (approx. ¾ mile away); Mohnton (approx. 0.9 miles away); Cyrus D. Hornberger (approx. 1.3 miles away); Kenhorst (approx. 1.3 miles away); Cedar Top Honor Roll (approx. 1½ miles away); Soldiers and Sailors Monument (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shillington.

Also see . . . John Updike.

John Hoyer Updike (March 18, 1932 – January 27, 2009) was an American novelist, poet, short-story writer, art critic, and literary critic. One of only four writers to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction more than once...born in Reading, Pennsylvania...These early years in Berks County, Pennsylvania, would influence the environment of the Rabbit Angstrom tetralogy, as well as many of his early novels and short stories

(Submitted on February 27, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by William Pope, February 27, 2024

2. John Updike Marker

John Updike Childhood House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pope

3. John Updike Childhood House

John Updike, author, at PEN Congress image. Click for full size.

Bernard Gotfryd photograph collection (Library of Congress, via Wikimed Commons), 1986

4. John Updike, author, at PEN Congress

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 331 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 27, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.