Hendel Brothers, Sons and Company Hat Factory
Why it's listed
Three-story brick mill on South Fifth Street in Reading, built in the 1850s as a woolen mill and later converted to hat manufacture. Its central wing measures 62 by 130 feet, with three wythes of brick walls, heavy timber girders and columns, and exposed interior floors and roof framing. The building was remodeled by John Hendel & Brothers after 1871 and operated as Hendel Brothers, Sons & Company, which the document describes as one of the most productive hat firms in the nation. The firm shifted from wool hats to soft fur hats in 1897, and at its peak employed one hundred and seventy workers. Production ceased around 1930, and the building was used mainly for warehousing until the 1970s. It is significant for its link to Reading's hat industry and as a surviving example of 19th-century factory mill construction in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is associated with Reading's hat-making industry, which it describes as the city's oldest prominent industry, and with the Hendel family firm that was a leading wool and fur hat manufacturer. It also treats the building as an example of 19th-century heavy timber mill construction, one of the few remaining in Reading.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002168, listed November 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 517--539 S. 5th St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002168 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1850 |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Acquired by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Reading in 1976 as part of an urban renewal project; the document does not state its current condition or use beyond that. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.32573, -75.92595 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5713135
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.