Allentown benefitted enormously from General Harry Trexler. Most obvious is the park system, which unfortunately has suffered continuous depreciation under Pawlowski's misguided priorities, and The Wildlands Conservancy's agenda. The General's various business interests played an important part in Allentown's prosperity. He was largely responsible for developing the West End, through his lumber, real estate and construction businesses. His connection with the Lehigh Portland Cement Company resulted in several concrete streets, which have lasted almost a hundred years.
Yesterday, Chew Street was blacktopped over the cement, which had been there since the 1920's. Nearby, Allen Street is also still cement from that era. Unlike cement which lasts forever, blacktop lasts about ten minutes; I suppose that's why they use it now.
reprinted from April of 2017
Another place to see the contrast between concrete and macadam (blacktop) is on the Walnut Street hill near Raub Middle school. On the Raub (or south) side of the hill, between the school and the first of the homes further down the hill, there is an old concrete sidewalk. There is no curb there, and the sidewalk has grooves in it to help channel the rainwater down the hill.
ReplyDeleteThe concrete sidewalk is old, yet stands strong while the layers of the macadam street (where the cars park) are washing away from the force of the many (fewer) storms the macadam has been there for.
In the area where the cars actually drive, the macadam is much worse. The macadam there has slid to form a washboard, and is pockmarked with holes that will make drivers feel like they’re in a war zone.
Perhaps one day the road will be resurfaced, giving drivers at least one summer of peace before the roadway begins to fail again. If they do replace the roadway, they will hopefully leave the old concrete sidewalk untouched.
Much like the parks, the sidewalk really doesn’t need any modern “improvements”.
In our western states, where it is much drier than in the humid east, there are many roads first paved in the 1920s and now abadoned, as newer roads replaced them. The roads were old dirt stagecoach paths that basically meandered to and from watering wells for the hoses between the towns, and they were paved in concrete. Now abandoned, those 1920s roads are still there, 100 years later in decent condition, although they are being reclaimed by nature and natural vegetation.
DeleteI believe that asphalting was done during Pawlowski's last campaign for mayor when the walls were closing in on him. He was paving streets all over the city trying to look good to the voters.
ReplyDeleteThe Pawlowski Parks Department, Department Director, Greg Weitzel, laid down macadam trails throughout the park system. These bituminous trails were clearly counter-indicated in all the best practice literature on parks management.
ReplyDeleteThis contradiction was pointed out in private and public sessions by members of the community, including at least one Ph.D., and members of the Mayor’s own Allentown Environmental Advisory Committee.
Weitzel was a product of the Penn State Recreational Department and a supporter of the spandex bicycle posse.
Weitzel moved on to greener pastures before the FBI arrived at city hall.
mj adams