The Pagoda in Reading, Pa.

Reading is the home of the Pagoda. Commissioned in 1906 at a cost of $50,000 by William A. Witman, Sr. to cover his stone quarry, the Pagoda was completed in 1908. It was originally intended to be a luxury resort atop Mt. Penn, but due to the bank foreclosure and the denial of a liquor license, Witman never opened the Pagoda. By 1910 the Pagoda and surrounding 10 acres were deeded to local business owner, Jonathon Mould and his wife, Julia (Bell). On April 21, 1911 they sold the Pagoda to the City of Reading for the sum of $1. Since then the Pagoda has been owned, loved and cared for by the citizens and City of Reading. It is 7 stories high, 28 feet wide, 50 feet long. It stands 620 feet above the City of Reading and 866 feet above sea level offering a 30-mile panoramic view of the city and surrounding country-side. It is the only Pagoda in the world with a fireplace and chimney.