I'm fascinated with how much Allentown has changed within the last 50 years, and find the railroads a good metaphor. In my youth the city was serviced by several rail branch lines with dozens of sidings, supplying many industries with raw materials to produce products distributed all over the country. Those industries fostered a large middle class, and a high standard of living. We were the truck capital of the world, we were home to the first transistors, and a retail legend. The tower shown above in 1963, and the gas tank in the background, were on Union Street. Although they are both now gone, this blogger will continue to combine history, news and commentary for those of us who still remember a different era.
reprinted from November of 2013
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ReplyDeleteI own the building across the street from the tower
ReplyDeleteTracks are still there and the rj Forman railroad still comes and goes 5 or 6 times a day but nothing like it was in the 50s and 60s when I was growing up