A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in the Reading Gravity Racing League’s inaugural “Run Whatcha Brung” downhill race on Mount Penn’s scenic Skyline Drive.
The race drew an assortment of homemade soapbox derby-style cars, some slider trike bikes and other devices that looked scary to sit on but fun to ride once a person got over the fear of potential massive road rash brush burns. The race was well run by event organizer John King, and I’m looking forward to it continuing and growing as people become more aware of what it is and how much fun it is to watch or participate in.
As a Cub and Boy Scout, I spent countless hours on Mount Penn with others in the den or pack and our adult leadership hiking along the mountain’s trails as we picked up trash and litter. What a valuable life lesson this activity was.
To this day when I see trash up there on that gorgeous mountain, I cringe and say to myself, “We need more youth engagement and education about proper stewardship activities.”
My theory is that if young people are educated about how wrong it is to trash a natural resource, and how much work it takes to clean up a place once it’s been trashed, or once it has become accepted that trashing a place is just some sort of normal activity, (which leads to that place becoming a known dumping ground), the educated young people will mature into responsible adults. Those adults then become the next generation of caring stewards of the natural resource.
When up on Mount Penn, I always marvel at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower and the unique Pagoda. I got there early for the gravity race, so I drove over to the Pagoda to enjoy its fabulous views of the city and beyond. As I relaxed there, several tourists came to the Pagoda, but unfortunately it was closed.
Content to listen to my stories about the place, I found myself serving as an ad hoc guide for the historic structure. I enjoyed that experience. After all, I’ve performed concerts, given lectures and engaged in many community activities, not least of which was setting up a live broadcast studio for Radio-WEEU back in the day, inside of the Pagoda. So like for many generations before me, that place on that mountain holds a special place in my heart.
Now it was time for the race festivities to begin, and I returned to the Fire Tower and met up with longtime friend, colleague, author and mountain advocate Corrie Crupi-Zana. She literally holds the keys to the kingdom up there, and she was there as a volunteer to help race organizers and to open the Fire Tower so people could ascend its inner staircase to the open observation deck high above.
“Corrie, while we’re both here, let’s go up to the top and I’ll interview you about anything new with the tower,” I said.
She looked at me and laughed and said: “That’s a long way up. You go up first and I’ll join you in a bit.”
I wasn’t sure she meant what she said, but sure enough, after I had gone up, (stopping to catch my breath several times), I opened the observation deck door and went outside to take some videos. Soon I heard Corrie puffing her way up the stairs to join me.
The views in all directions were really great on this morning, and we could see southeast toward the cooling towers of the Limerick nuclear power plant. In the past I’ve been up there on an ultra-clear day and have been able to see the gleaming skyscrapers of the Philadelphia skyline some 60 miles to the southeast.
As hawks and turkey buzzards floated effortlessly in the sky around us, Corrie and I relaxed and talked about how special this place is, what a tremendous natural resource. She told me that her group, Pagoda Skyline Inc., (she is chair of the organization), makes a sincere effort to have volunteers on site every Sunday to open the tower to the public so people can enjoy the views, the fresh air and the special feelings that have always attracted people to such lofty places.
Cleanup and restoration efforts on the mountain are ongoing and in constant need of volunteers and donations. I’ve known Corrie for decades, and she has always been loyally attached to Mount Penn and its historic structures, idyllic trails and robust historic stories.
“We’re going to build a pavilion with a performance stage over there,” Corrie said as she pointed toward where the old dance pavilion and hotel used to stand before a massive fire wiped them out.
This news was welcome to my ears, and apparently it’s not a pipe dream. Plans for the structure have already been given to Reading’s city government, and Pagoda Skyline Inc. is eagerly awaiting the green light. They’d like to get the pavilion and concert area built this year.
Without thinking, I blurted out, “Well, if that happens, I want to be among the first to put on a public concert there.”
Corrie nodded her approval and promised to keep me informed.
So, if anyone asks you, “What’s new on Mount Penn?” you can tell them that Pagoda Skyline Inc., along with Corrie and her dedicated team of volunteers, are taking proactive steps to return some of the mountain’s former glory to it and the public it attracts.
Thank you Corrie and Pagoda Skyline Inc.
If you’re interested in seeing the interview I did with Corrie, as well as some of the great views from the top of the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower, here’s a link to a supplemental video I prepared. I hope you enjoy it.
Dave Kline is an award-winning writer, photographer, show host and producer, singer-songwriter, travel guide and community advocate. Reach him at davesmountainfolklore@gmail.com.