Old timers have noticed that the contractor's building on Hanover Avenue transformed into a community center for Overlook Park. But only the oldest, or train buffs, realized that the building was the freight depot and office for the Lehigh & New England Railroad. Lehigh & New England was formed in 1895, primarily as a coal carrier. The line ran from Allentown to Maybrook, New York.
In 1904 it was acquired by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. The line ceased operation in 1961. Among it's infrastructure were impressive bridges across both the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers, both of which were dismantled. Ironic that a remnant of our industrial era is being utilized by the successor of a public housing project.
reprinted from February of 2014
So whatever happened to the plans to build a new road from Union Boulevard and connect it to Hanover near the former freight depot/office?
ReplyDeleteIt was to be called New England Avenue.
Probably years till that's completed. American Parkway took decades to complete.
DeleteAt least there’s one thing thy didn’t destroy fromallentowns history !.,
ReplyDelete