Cultural References
Although the Reading was habitually overshadowed by its larger, longer, and more powerful neighbor the Pennsylvania Railroad, it still managed to make a mark on the public consciousness when railroads dominated the national economy. The railroad was a frequent target for the Molly Maguires, and that conflict is reflected in a number of musical and print works.
Perhaps the greatest impact of the Reading on contemporary American imaginations arose from its being included on the (American) Monopoly game board, just five spaces after "Go". Although many who only knew the Reading through print media (such as the Monopoly board) pronounced its name "REED-ing", it was actually pronounced "REDD-ing", after its namesake city of Reading, Pennsylvania, which in turn was named after Reading, England, which is in the county of Berkshire (pronounced BARKshire). Reading, Pennsylvania, is in Berks County.
Read more about this topic: Reading Company
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