For Alexa Freyman, history isn’t just a collection of old photographs and forgotten stories—it’s a living, breathing connection to the community she calls home. As the creator of Berks Nostalgia, Alexa has spent the better part of a decade documenting the rich and often overlooked history of Berks County, using a blend of writing, videography, photography, and drone technology to bring the past into focus for a new generation.
What began in 2017 as a personal project to document the fading malls of her youth has grown into a comprehensive multimedia platform with thousands of followers. “I started with the Berkshire and Fairgrounds Malls,” Alexa recalled. “They were such a big part of my generation’s experience, and I wanted to document that while they were still around.” Armed with just a phone in the early days, she walked through the familiar corridors, capturing the slow transformation of these once-bustling centers of community life.
From those humble beginnings, Berks Nostalgia evolved into a broader exploration of local history. A pivotal moment came during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when Alexa found herself with time to delve into the history of Berks County’s school system consolidations of the 1950s and 60s. “Every town used to have its own school system,” she explained. “That project took a lot of research, but it was fascinating to see how the school districts we know today came to be.”
🎧 Listen to this Episode: Alexa Freyman: A fresh look at local history with Berks Nostalgia.
Alexa’s research process is a combination of digital sleuthing and traditional archive digging. Subscriptions to resources like Newspapers.com allow her to search through decades of articles from the comfort of home, but some projects still require in-person visits to local libraries and the Berks History Center.
Her most notable project to date has been the in-depth coverage of Stone Man Willie, the infamous mummified man preserved at Theo C. Auman Funeral Home. “When they announced plans to bury him, I dove into every available record,” Alexa said. Through her research, she uncovered a scientific study from 2004 detailing X-rays and imaging of Willie’s remains—information that had never been widely reported. Her call for DNA testing and deeper investigation sparked renewed public interest and media attention, culminating in her most viewed article and video to date.
A key element of Alexa’s work is her use of drone technology, which she added to her toolkit in 2022. “The drone has really elevated the way I can showcase historic buildings and sites,” she said. “It gives a perspective you just can’t get from the ground.” From ornate architectural details downtown to the sweeping views of Berks County’s landmarks, the drone footage adds a dynamic layer to her storytelling.
Berks Nostalgia has grown to the point where Alexa rarely has to seek out topics. “People now reach out to me asking if I’ll profile their business or building,” she said. She also credits her active Facebook community for providing a steady stream of ideas and inspiration.
Beyond Berks Nostalgia, Alexa stays connected to the community through her involvement with the Foundation for the Reading Pagoda, where she serves on the board. The group is working to restore and eventually reopen the iconic landmark, a project Alexa has been documenting through video. She also lends her time to Growing Wildflowers, a local nonprofit supporting families of medically complex children.
Looking ahead, Alexa hopes to turn Berks Nostalgia into a full-time endeavor. To that end, she recently launched a subscription model on her website, offering early access to articles and a way for supporters to contribute financially. “People have asked how they can support what I do, so this felt like the right next step,” she said.
For now, Alexa continues to balance her roles as a mom of two, a web developer, and a local historian, sharing Berks County’s stories one project at a time. “Even if this stays a passion project, I’ll keep doing it,” she said. “There’s always more to uncover.”
To explore Alexa’s work, visit berksnostalgia.com.