Brief History of the Berks County Legal Community

George F. Baer and Baer, Snyder & Zieber

The Reading Railroad The Reading Railroad is widely recognized as one of the properties in the game of Monopoly. Even so most people don't realize that it was one of the greatest coal haulers in the east, and one of the wealthiest companies in the world in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company was established in 1833. Commonly referred to as the "P&R", it became one of America's first conglomerates. It formed subsidiary P&R Coal and Iron Company, and in the 1890's created the Reading Company. In 1902 J.P. Morgan assumed control of the company, and he appointed his close friend, George F. Baer, as President of the Reading Company. In 1924, P&R Coal and Iron became independent, and the Reading Company became the railroad's operating name. Generally thought of as the Reading Lines, the Reading Company operated until it filed for bankruptcy in 1971. Conrail took over in 1976, and the current Norfolk Southern Corporation based in Virginia is its successor. It's interesting to note that Reading Anthracite was a spin-off of the P&R Coal and Iron Company, and it still exists today as one of the largest anthracite mining companies in the world.

Snyder, Zieber & Snyder

Snyder, Balmer & Kershner and Balmer, Kershner, Mogel & Speidel

Mogel, Speidel, Bobb and Kershner

The Nolan Mansion In 1980, Mogel, Speidel, Bobb & Kershner purchased the former Nolan family home at 520 Walnut Street between 5th and Church Streets. Built by Nolan & Brothers construction company in 1899, the home was most likely designed by architect A. F. Smith. Mr. Smith is credited with many elegant residences and churches in the Reading area including Grace Lutheran Church and alternations to the Berks County Court House. The site that the house now occupies was originally part of a much larger parcel of land that in 1842 included a "house, outhouse, barns, stables, gardens, orchards, meadows, fields, fences, ways and wood." The larger property changed hands over the years and at different times included apartment buildings and a garage. The land at what is now 520 Walnut Street came into the Nolan family on June 7, 1890, when James Nolan purchased it from Jerome L. and Susan E. Boyer for $2,500. William Nolan, Sr., (pictured left) was born in Queen's County, Ireland, in 1840. His parents James and Annie (Bennett) Nolan brought their family to New York and later relocated to Reading. One of seven children, William Nolan, Sr., started his career as a stonecutter under master mason Henry Jacobs with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. His success led him to organize his own firm, William Nolan & Co. which later became Nolan & Brothers and then Nolan Construction Company. William, Sr. worked with his brothers Charles and James, and some of the finest roads, viaducts, bridges and arches in New York City, Port Jarvis, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, and along the Schuylkill, and Susquehanna Rivers were designed and constructed by Nolan & Brothers - all great structures that made possible the great transportation industries along the Atlantic seaboard. In addition to being involved with the family business, James was an attorney and became President of numerous companies including the Reading Trust Company, Reading Electric Light and Power Company, and Reading Academy of Music. He also served on the board of trustees of St. Joseph's Hospital and was a director for Farmers National Bank. He and his wife, Kate Stewart, had three children, and their son James Bennett Nolan was a member of the Berks County Bar Association. William Nolan, Sr., and his wife Katherine McDonough had nine children, and sons James, Charles J., Thomas G., Edward C., Bernard J. and William, Jr. all continued the family business. Prior to living at 520 Walnut, early city directories show the extended Nolan family living at 522 Walnut Street. This building was torn down in 1990, and the location is now the law firm's parking lot. William Nolan, Sr., passed away at the family home on February 3, 1903. The renovation of the Nolan family home retained many of the fine architectural details that Nolan & Brothers was known for in their work. These include the domed stained glass window at the top of the center stairwell, three fireplaces and hand-carved wood work on the staircase banisters, windows and doors. Photographs of the home's interior in the early 1900's are displayed in the reception area. Built in 1899. Photos from early to mid 1900's.