Author Archives: John Updike Society

Updike house holiday ornament contest announced

It’s that time of year again! John Updike’s first love was art and his first ambition was to be a cartoonist. In that spirit, the John Updike Childhood Home will sponsor an annual holiday ornament competition, with the winners ornaments … Continue reading

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TLC Fore Reading Education Series visits the Updike house

John Updike Childhood Home director Maria Lester welcomed another group of schoolchildren to the house recently, which resulted in a YouTube video documenting the visit. Education Series—John Updike Childhood Home offers a nice account of what goes on when young … Continue reading

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Reading Education Foundation to support Updike house visits

On September 14, 2022 the Reading Education Foundation announced their grant awards for the year. Among the approved projects was one proposed by John Updike Childhood Home director Maria Lester titled “Teaching Berks County’s Native Son, John Updike.” The grant … Continue reading

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Drone shots of Updike house featured on Berks Nostalgia

Alexa Freyman put together a nice feature on The John Updike Childhood Home, 117 Philadelphia Ave., in Shillington, using shots from an expertly controlled drone. Even those who’ve seen the house in person will find the drone shots interesting for … Continue reading

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Wikipedia discovers The John Updike Childhood Home

Students use it, and if truth be told, so do teachers. And recently, Wikipedia added an entry on The John Updike Childhood Home. Thanks to some civic-minded Berks Countians, the house-museum is now searchable (and findable) on the biggest and … Continue reading

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Don’t forget to follow The John Updike Childhood Home on Facebook

If you’re a fan of John Updike, make sure you don’t miss anything Updike related by not only following the blog-websites of The John Updike Society and The John Updike Childhood Home. You should also like/follow The John Updike Society … Continue reading

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Governor Mifflin students plant victory garden

As part of the continuing partnership between Governor Mifflin School District and The John Updike Childhood Home, students under the direction of Intermediate School teacher Damien Drago planted four raised beds with vegetables that were either mentioned by Updike as … Continue reading

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Gov. Mifflin Middle School students visit Updike house

On Monday, May 2, about 120 students from Governor Mifflin Middle School toured The John Updike Childhood Home with their teachers, Ms. Werle and Miss McKay. Organizing the event and leading the tour was Director of Education Maria Lester, who … Continue reading

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WFMZ reports on Updike 90th birthday celebration

It was a soft (and occasionally noisy) spring day in Shillington when a crowd of around 40 gathered on the side lawn of The John Updike Childhood Home, 117 Philadelphia Ave., in Shillington, Pa. They came on Friday, March 18, … Continue reading

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In case you missed it: Updike’s 90th Birthday Celebration

John Updike was born 90 years ago on this date. To celebrate, John Updike Childhood Home Director of Education Maria Lester organized and hosted a reading featuring prominent Berks County residents. Watch the Facebook Live recording of the 90th Birthday … Continue reading

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