Author Archives: familyhometheater

John Updike Childhood Home receives American Family Insurance award

Posted on November 4, 2019

Because of their work preserving The John Updike Childhood Home and turning it into a museum, The John Updike Society was chosen as one of 100 nonprofit organizations to receive a $2500 donation from American Family Insurance and the American … Continue reading →

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JU Childhood Home approved for National Register listing

Posted on April 26, 2019

The John Updike Society today received notice that The John Updike Childhood Home was formally approved for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The other Pennsylvania property approved this round on April 22, 2019 was Oaks Cloister in … Continue reading →

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JU Childhood Home to get Historical Marker

Posted on March 15, 2019

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission announced yesterday afternoon that The John Updike Childhood Home was one of 18 new historical markers approved out of 55 nominees. The other high-profile approval was musician Jim Croce’s home. John Updike, who lived … Continue reading →

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Updike house featured in new PBS short film

Posted on September 16, 2018

WITF, the PBS affiliate television station in Harrisburg, Pa., recently produced a five-and-a-half minute film on “John Updike’s Shillington” for a national series titled “Great American Read.” These clips will be shown across the country, as we understand it. And … Continue reading →

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Updike family donates more items

Posted on August 9, 2018

On August 2, 2018, Elizabeth Updike Cobblah and her husband, Tete, got to see the restored John Updike Childhood Home for the first time (“The place looks great!”) and also brought another batch of unique, one-of-a-kind donations for display in … Continue reading →

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Reading Eagle supports museum delay to ‘get it right’

Posted on July 27, 2018

In today’s Reading Eagle, the editorial board weighed in on the The John Updike Society’s recent announcement that the grand opening of The John Updike Childhood Home would be delayed until October 2020, when it was decided that it would … Continue reading →

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Society aiming for 2020 Childhood Home Grand Opening

Posted on July 21, 2018

As the Reading Eagle reported today, The John Updike Society, which owns The John Updike Childhood Home, is now planning to hold the grand opening of the museum the first week of October 2020, to coincide with the 6th Biennial … Continue reading →

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Shillington approves renaming section of creek Rabbit Run

Posted on April 24, 2018

In an unsigned article published in the Monday, April 23 2018 Reading Eagle, it was announced that the Shillington Borough Council “on Thursday voted unanimously ‘to name a portion of the unnamed tributary to the Angelica Creek, which runs along … Continue reading →

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Updike house interior restoration nearly complete

Posted on October 14, 2017

With only a kitchen slate sink left to install and a Tiffany-style light fixture in the dining room—work that will be done when the pieces can be located—the interior restoration of The John Updike Childhood Home at 117 Philadelphia Ave. … Continue reading →

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Miranda Updike visits house, brings family treasures

Posted on October 13, 2017

John Updike’s children—Elizabeth, David, Michael, and Miranda—have been supportive of The John Updike Society from the beginning, even to the extent of participating in the society’s conferences. And they’re supportive of the society’s efforts to restore The John Updike Childhood … Continue reading →

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