As downtown Reading grows more vibrant, I’m aghast at the idea that our Berks County Courthouse — the city’s tallest building — might fall into disuse.
Sure, it’s costly to restore an historic building, but that isn’t stopping others. Just blocks away, Shuman Development Group has brought new life to the Abraham Lincoln, our county’s second-tallest structure. At Trinity Lutheran Church — the third-tallest — we are marking 275 years alongside Berks as the nation celebrates 250. In celebration, we’re beginning a complete, $3 million restoration of our 1791 sanctuary, on the heels of repainting the steeple, replacing the chiller, and renovating the annex.
I pray our neighbors one block south might see what we see: that historic buildings, like a vibrant downtown, are worth every dollar they demand and should remain a point of pride on our prominent skyline.
The Rev. Hans E. Becklin
Senior Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading