Reading Township forms the "great divide" of southern Michigan with an elevation above sea level being the highest of this section of the state.

The original hotel in Reading was moved to the back of the alley behind the stores on the west side of the main street and converted into a livery stable. The livery did a thriving business until August 25, 1899, when it was the starting point of the great Reading fire that destroyed ten business blocks, four homes and eight barns.

Dances were the order of the day in the mid-1800s. People would travel the better part of the day—by horse, ox cart or wagon—to get to the dances in Reading, which ran the entire night. The admittance fee would cover a midnight supper, plus horse feed. Women would often bring additional clothes to change at midnight.

In 1891, the Reading Hustler featured a regular equine news column written by their "horse editor."

Carol A. Lackey