Review
This book explores life in and around downtown Reading from the time of the Indians through the establishment of a thriving market town and county seat.
Kathy's cast of characters includes all the usual suspects - William Penn and his sons, but they're hardly the focus. If we concentrate on those so-called important people, it's too easy to forget who really settled Reading, says Kathy.
The Lenape played an integral role in the commercial and cultural life of the colonial settlements - some in spectacular fashion.
In one case, they conspired with farmers and merchants in generating huge fortunes collecting, cultivating and exporting American ginseng to meet the insatiable consumer demand in China.
Kathy's book is replete with stories galore, maps, portraits, plot plans listing original lot owners, and artwork of Lenape artist, William Sauts Netamuxwe Boch. --Joseph N. Farrell, Reading Eagle
I assigned to Mrs. Scogna the lead story in the Spring 1998 issue of the Historical Review of Berks County;Reading Frontier Town: Conrad Weiser's Influence on the New Community.
Her voluminous research for that article brought forth a major book: The Ford at the Schuylkill: A Glimpse of early Reading, PA, from Lenapehoking to Frontier Outpost.
It became the definitive book of the 250th anniversaries of both the City of Reading (1998) and the County of Berks (2002). --Chet Hagan, Bookends
I assigned to Mrs. Scogna the lead story in the Spring 1998 issue of the Historical Review of Berks County<i/>;Reading Frontier Town: Conrad Weiser's Influence on the New Community.
Her voluminous research for that article brought forth a major book: The Ford at the Schuylkill: A Glimpse of early Reading, PA, from Lenapehoking to Frontier Outpost<i/>.
It became the definitive book of the 250th anniversaries of both the City of Reading (1998) and the County of Berks (2002). --Chet Hagan, Bookends
About the Author
Kathy Miller Scogna was educated at the Thomas School in Rowayton, Connecticut and Colorado Women's College in Denver.
When she was growing up, in the early days of TV's popularity, her parents decided not to make TV available to their children. Instead, Kathy's mother brought home treasures of books from the local library, twenty or more at a time, principally histories and biographies.
Kathy lived several years in California with her first husband and two children. Then she met and married Joe Scogna, from Pennsylvania, an enthusiast and writer in the field of self awareness and energetic medicine. She was proofreader on some fifty of her husband's books and became a writer in the field herself.
There were three children from the second marriage. After Joe's death, she and her five children moved to a farmhouse, part of which had originally been a log house. She began a major renovation, which led to a whole new career. She wrote and produced a history of her township in 1992, followed by five more books.
Ms. Scogna, through The Ford at the Schuylkill, was able to bring forth one of Berks County's forgotten heroes - Conrad Weiser.
As a result of her efforts, through school and civic appearances, when Berks County celebrated its 250th anniversary, Conrad Weiser was declared, Man of the Year
Ms. Scogna now resides in California, where she is publishing the works of her late husband through Life Energy Publications and the Internet.
Ms Scogna has written articles for the Reading Eagle/Times; West Berks Crier; Berks County Living; Company; National Jesuit News; and Historical Review. She has served as Trustee on the boards of various historical societies. She is past Editor of The Historical Review; was awarded Volunteer of the Year (1997) from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and was named a Penn Ambassador in 2000.
