Most of you know that in addition to this blog, I also administer a Facebook group, Allentown Chronicles. Endlessly requesting membership, are people who just joined facebook three hours earlier, and want to sell members Allentown tee-shirts. If such shirts would actually be delivered if ordered, I do not know, I do not accept their membership.
On another local group I noticed the post above, which is actually a promotion. A quick search revealed that the gentleman is only not from Allentown, he's not even from United States. Nevertheless, hundreds of people "liked" the post, and make suggestions as what should be added. Many were surprised that certain landmarks were excluded. You must forgive the man, he never heard of Allentown before. He sells these posters to nostalgiacs everywhere.
Being the party pooper I enjoy being, I placed the following comment on the post...Everybody should be aware that this is a commercial company with no connection whatsoever to Allentown, which is harvesting your input to sell you a poster. They do the same everywhere.
You'll be relieved to know that my revelation didn't discourage the nostalgiacs from suggesting more of their favorite places. The clever merchant puts a "like" after each one, giving the nostalgiacs beloved feedback.
But allow me to use the scam for my own purpose. Please note that Lehigh Parkway has the dominant spot on the poster. I can only assume that the poster's solicitation for suggestions came up with Lehigh Parkway the most often.
Perhaps those in the current administration might consider that for most Allentonians, Robin Hood is the prime memory of Lehigh Parkway, and removing that rubble from the bridge's piers could only be a feather in their cap.
Mike: You really are a curmudgeon...I like that. I bet 95% of the posters are sold to people who moved out of Allentown to live in suburban places like Parkland etc.. Many of these poster buyers have a lot of understandable sentimental memories of all the good things from Allentown's past (who wouldn't crave a piece of strawberry pie from Hess's Patio?) but at the same time, those who moved out must share the blame for some of the difficult problems facing the City today. I'm staying in the City, remaining optimistic and hoping/anticipating better days ahead.
ReplyDeleteOther than the fact that he misspelled "Birney" and "Bogert" it's a great piece.
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