click photograph to enlarge
The merchants who built Hamilton Street counted on architecture to attract shoppers into their emporiums. Large neon signs wouldn't appear for another fifty years. The soffit and fascia shown above, halfway between 7th and 8th on Hamilton, is one of the most elaborate facades in Allentown. One thing you can say about Allentown City Hall, they never let culture, art, or history get into the way of their plans. As successful cities come to value and profit from their history more and more, Allentown keeps using the standard catalog of proven failures. I know from other projects on Hamilton Street that Pawlowski isn't big on history. The Cityline Building in the 800 Block was permitted to stucco over beautiful brickwork. Sad that the puppies, who are directors at the Art Museum and Historical Society, remain silent on the planned destruction. It's hard to describe the magnificence of the skylight shown below, also in the targeted block. It's very large in three sections, in pristine condition. Should be quite a snack for Pawlowski's bulldozer.
The bulldozer prevailed, and the former architectural treasures of our mercantile history were not preserved, save for this blog's archives. Above is reprinted from May 2011ADDENDUM: This past weekend, a member of Old Allentown Preservation Association, and an active local Democrat, bragged on facebook about how he had recycled an old second floor office door from the demolished buildings in the arena zone. In truth, Old Allentown also turned a self serving, callous eye to the destruction noted in the above post. Although I'm glad the door was recycled, allow this post to note the irony and hypocrisy of the Association.
reprinted from January of 2015
UPDATE NOVEMBER 16, 2017: Although there's always some group bestowing some award on any new development, the Allentown NIZ is certainly no architectural destination. Although I've taken hundreds of photographs in Allentown, including the ones shown here, I have yet to buy film for any new building in the NIZ.
Unfortunately, we have a tendency to destroy in the name of progress instead of restoration in the name of history for future generations.��
ReplyDeleteMany years ago, there were 3 row homes behind the Hess's parking lot, slated for demo; one had a wooden arch above the front doorway. I assumed that this unique piece of wood would be claimed, by someone. 2 days later, it lay on top of the pile, broken in three pieces. All I wanted to know was Why?
ReplyDeleteCriminal.
ReplyDeleteDean 10:36am
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing those quaint old three homes, as I turned left from Court St, back to Linden with my Freeman's Dairy Wholesale delivery truck. Wasn't there a beautiful flower garden next to one?? This was my exit route, after serving product to the Patio Lounge, several snack bars, including a couple of Cafeterias within the complex.
I also remember, and miss, standing on the "lip" of the Center Square Monument marveling at all the beautiful facades decorating the magnificent buildings east and west on Hamilton.
What a sad commentary on our lack of Historical importance.
Thanks Mike for this bitter sweet memory of days gone by!!
The "Old Allentown Curmudgeon"......PJF