Up through the mid 1960's, you could buy kosher meat in Allentown's 6th Ward. Over the years there were no less than four different kosher meat markets and two synagogues in the 600 block of 2nd Street.
The larger orange brick building on the right was Agudas Achim Synagogue (1893), which remained open until the mid 1990's. It was established by the Russian Jewish immigrants to the city, including my family.
Across the street, now behind the wall of the former Grossman scrap metal yard, was an old meat market. Over the years until 1965, that shop was operated by four different butchers, including my father's uncle, and then his cousin.
No other neighborhood encapsulates both the history and ethnic diversity of Allentown, even now, 150 years later.
As kids in that neighborhood, many was the time the rabbi tried to get one of us turn the lights off. Their religion on Friday wouldn't let them do it. Tempted us with stale crackers, not many takers.
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