The Union Street crossing was a busy place. It was located between the Jordan Creek and south 3th Street. Virtually all the train lines serving Allentown converged here. The Lehigh Valley Railroad's old main line also crossed Union Street further east, toward the Lehigh River. Allentown was at this time served by two train stations, the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station which was built over the Jordan Creek, and the New Jersey Central, which still stands as a closed restaurant and bar. This photograph, from 1930, is first in a series which will chronicle both the demise of our railroad era, and manufacturing base. Today, the tower is long gone and only one track survives. It is used by a private short line operator.
photograph from the Collection of Mark Rabenold
reprinted from June 2013
Always enjoy your historical pictures. The Union Street area is particularly interesting.
ReplyDeleteI was driving through the area a couple of days ago and noticed one lonely old utility pole (the kind with multiple cross arms) between the tracks and the used car lot. Overgrown to the top with ivy and no wires on it at all, just a precarious remnant of the past.
Also, the footprint from the old UGI tank is still evident on Google satellite view.
Another ghost from the past.