• History of Lauer’s Park

    Frederick Lauer and Family

    In 1826, George Lauer, father of Fredrick Lauer moved the family from Womelsdorf to Reading to establish a small business. Fredrick and his brother George because his successors. However, George retired several years later to work on his own business in Pottsville. Fredrick became the sole owner, and enlarged the business gradually until he came to send his products throughout the county and adjoining counties.

    Frederick Lauer was a public-spirited man and labored assiduously for the development and prosperity of Reading. He co-operated heartily in the advancement of the place from a borough into a city in 1847; and under the amended charter of 1864 he represented the Fifth ward in the select council from 1865 to 1871, serving as president of that body in 1867. He was a devoted adherent of the Democratic Party, and active in behalf of its success for many years. He represented the Berks district as a delegate to the National Convention which met at Charleston, S. C., in 1860, and notwithstanding the platform and the defeat of the party nominee for President, when the Civil war broke out, in 1861, he espoused the cause of the Union in a most earnest and patriotic manner. He assisted materially in organizing the Berks County Agricultural Society in 1852, and officiated as president for a number of years; also in projecting the construction of the railroad from Reading to Lancaster and Columbia, serving as a director for twenty years until his decease; and by special appointment of the governor he served for several terms as trustee of the Keystone State Normal School. He gave liberal support to local charities by aiding the Dispensary and the Relief Society.

    You can find the Frederick Lauer Monument at Penn’s Common in City Park Reading

    Lauer’s Park Ball Field

    Lauer’s Park was constructed in 1907 offering limited recreational and outing facilities. In 1919 the International League started a baseball team in Reading, PA. Their home field was Lauer’s Park at 3rd & Elm Streets. They were first named the Reading Coal Barons in their first season in 1919 and then the Reading Marines in 1920. In 1921 they became the Reading Aces, a name that lasted twice as long as the previous names; an entire two years. Then in 1923, they became the Reading Keystones finishing in 3rd place in their first year. However, they struggled until 1928 when they finished 4th in the league. In 1932, the owner and manager Mr. Rowland moved the team to Albany, New York to become the Albany Senators. In 1941, the stadium was demolished, and became a parking lot for many years before the Reading School District built an elementary school there in the late 1950s.