Christmas Past In Allentown

For over a century, before Allentown was a hole charging your credit card for tickets to a yet to be built hockey arena, it was a holiday destination. Shoppers from near and far would flock to Hamilton Street, where merchants fulfilled their every expectation. This post chronicles the golden era of that street. By the early 1950's, our major department stores were operated by the second generation owners. Max Hess Jr. become a merchandizer of national reputation. His store windows presented displays as sophisticated as any major city. One holiday novelty exists to this day, Pip The Mouse, and can be seen at Zion Church. The fourth floor toy department had eye popping, life sized, automated stuffed animals from Germany. Needless to say, Santa Claus was on duty at Hess's. Families had their favorite department store. While my mother patronized Hess's, others were loyal to Leh's and Zollingers. Although I'm sure that their Christmas displays were also top notch, I have no personal memories. While we now charge citizens to drive through a park with lights, downtowns used to compete with attractive displays. Allentown was famous for the Bell Lights on our iconic light posts, which would rock back and forth, as if ringing. Although times have changed, this blog will remind those few who remember.

Simon Gets Brother's Verdict

Louis F. Simon(Right) tell his heavyweight brother that he is proud that he lasted into the thirteenth round of his fight with Joe Louis last night. Mike Jacobs announced after the bout that the two would be rematched in New York on May 16th.

Blogger's Notes: The above is an Associated Press "Wirephoto" that appeared in newspapers across the country on March 22, 1941. The title and caption is the actual Associated Press copy. Mike Jacobs was Joe Louis's manager. Abe Simon actually ended up fighting four more opponents and waiting over a year before the rematch; they met for second time and the title in Madison Square Garden on March 27, 1942. Simon was knocked out in the 6th round, he never fought again. His career record was 36 wins, 25 by knockout, 10 loses, 1 draw.

reprinted from April 2008

The Bridge To Unfulfilled Expectations

Allentown has been preoccupied with the American Parkway Bridge for decades, therein lies the problem. This preoccupation contributed to the neglect of the 15th Street Bridge, and the current isolation of Allentown's Southside. I find it shortsighted that this unnecessary additional bridge is being built with taxes from all levels of government, while existing bridges deteriorate from lack of funding. Although the concept was born out of jealousy of Bethlehem's route 378 spur route, American Parkway pales in comparison. It's first big flaw is that it does not connect directly with Route 22. It certainly wasn't designed fifty years ago to feed the Riverfront, when considering that plan was unveiled last week. What it will do is reduce the commercial viability of Airport Road, Union Boulevard and N. 7th Street.

post card shows soon to be neglected Tilghman Street Bridge and Union Boulevard.

Simon Fearless Against Bomber

The 1941 June edition of Ring Magazine featured the Abe Simon vs Joe Louis fight in March. Editor-writer Nat Fleischer was in awe of Simon's courage against the unbeatable Brown Bomber. Fleischer wrote "They (fans) saw Abe Simon give the Bomber the greatest battle he has had since he won the crown..." Although Simon Lost by TKO in the 13th, this image of Simon grinning at Louis while taking the 8 count in round 7, is one of my favorite photographs of that fight.

reprinted from September 2009

Stairway To Progress

In 2008 the WPA steps at Fountain Park had saplings growing from between the stones. My first post on the problem was entitled Stairway To Shame. In addition to blog posts, I also sought greater exposure of the problem from The Morning Call; Eventually, Paul Carpenter wrote a column. The following May I conducted a public meeting at the Faith Baptist Church. Please join us a week from today as we discuss and analyze the new plans, which change the historic nature of our park system. My personal goal is to promote awareness the of the WPA stone structures and the proper maintenance of those landmarks. What aspect of the parks do you want to protect? Allentown has been through many changes in recent years which the average citizen has had little control over, lets stand up for the parks. Last year I began a series of meetings at the public library, again with some publicity from the Morning Call.

The current December bulletin by Friends Of The Parks announces that the group hopes to contribute to the restoration of several of the WPA structures in the coming years.  I am pleased that such a well placed organization has taken a position on such an important issue.

December issue Friends Of The Parks

molovinsky on allentown, and my associates from the Allentown WPA Association,  will also continue  our efforts in regard to these most important symbols of our history and park system.

Boxing's Giant Era

In California these days, everybody walks around with a yoga mat strapped to their back. That certainly wasn't the case in the 1930's, when heavyweight contender Lou Nova studied yoga. Nova was the World Amateur Heavyweight Champion and a proponent of clean living. He won his first twenty two fights as a professional. His promoters said he perfected the Cosmic Punch. Only 6'2", he fought in the era of giants. He handed giant Abe Simon his first defeat after thirteen victories, eleven by knockout. Nova knocked out 6'4'' Max Baer twice. The 1939 knockout is one second away, in the above photograph. Baer himself had won the championship by knocking out Primo Carnera, the Italian giant who was 6'6" and weighed 284 lbs. Baer lost the championship to the Cinderella Man, Jim Braddock. Joe Louis took the belt from Braddock and held it for twelve years, being arguably the best fighter in history. Clean living didn't serve Lou Nova so well with the notorious dirty fighter Two Ton Tony Galento. Galento almost gouged his eye out, putting him in the hospital for weeks. Nova got his shot with Louis on September 29, 1941, but fell in six. Nova would go on to act in movies and even was a write-in candidate for President of the United States. He dropped out of the campaign because his mother was afraid he would catch a cold shaking so many hands. She wasn't afraid of him being in the ring with some of the toughest men in the world.

reprinted from September 2011

Hoping For Approval

I love the pomp and ceremony packaged by Allentown's new oligarchy. The two architectural renderings for the waterfront project included in yesterday's Morning Call article were classic. Apparently, the illustrator doesn't know how to draw baggy jeans worn below the waist. In the second drawing, not shown, the neighborhood is blurred away, which is the oldest and poorest in Allentown. But the topic for today's sermon is the Allentown Planning Commission. The article states that the developers face a lengthy approval process by the city and that there are several hurdles developers must clear before receiving city approval. We all remember too well how the Planning Puppies yelped about not being included in the Arena Plan Loop. So Pawlowski arranged a perfunctory meeting where the planners got to see partial plans. One puppy asked if the service entrance garage door would be pretty. Another asked if any trees would be planted. Then the puppies scampered over to Pawlowski for treats.

A Wedding Day

One would hope, after all the discussion, expense and subsidizes given to create an arts district, lofts and studios, something will be named after Greg Weaver; he inspired a generation of local artists.

I took this photo of Greg and Fran the morning of their wedding

reprinted from March 2008

Greg Weaver Art Scene

For about ten years, mid 70's to 80's, Allentown was graced with a one man art machine. Greg Weaver studied at Carnegie Mellon and then returned to the Valley to become artist, promoter and inspiration to dozens of local artists. His large studios, which moved from one low rent location to another over the years, became hubs for innovation and social activity. He was very prolific with his work, and generous with his encouragement. A typical monthly bash involved perhaps a poster by Mark Beyer( now an internationally known underground comic) performance by a jazz group such as Gary Hassey,(Greg also had a band) and perhaps a new showing by a local artist, such as Barnaby Ruhe. The loft parties were always mobbed, by many of the same people who now attend the Museum social events. This art "scene" cost the taxpayers nothing, it was done by artists, and it was real. Greg suffered from diabetes, and eventually lost his sight. Although blind he continued to produce art and inspire people until his death. Several of his works are in the Allentown Museums' permanent collection and his memory is in the hearts' of his friends. The image here is from Mark Beyer, representing an invitation to a Weaver event.

reprinted from September of 2007

This post, which I originally wrote in 2007, inspired the resurgence of a local artist group and scene. Another friend of Greg Weaver, in a recent conservation, referred to the current art establishment (Allentown Art Museum and Baum School) as pretenders. He credited Richard Gregg, then museum director, for purchasing and supporting Weaver's art at the time. For this upcoming holiday, please consider treating yourself to a work of art from a local artist.

Where you can buy local art

In the Renaissance Building at 542 W. Hamilton St.:
Antonio Salemme Foundation, suite 203
Expressions Studio, suite 301
Bessesdotter verkstedt, suite 302
Studio 606, 606 W. Hamilton Street 
Art Works, 818 W. Hamilton Street (inside the Burrito Works)
Deli Plaza 2 Gallery, 840 W. Hamilton St.
Alternative Gallery, 904 W. Hamilton St. (in the Holiday Inn)
The Mansion, 221 N. 8th Street
Condra Studios, 127 N. Lumber Street
TMD Gallery, 10 S. 13th Street, 2nd Floor

Web page For Local Art Updates

Two Ton Galento

In an era of tough men, Tony "Two Ton" Galento was a standout. Although he would never win a Mr. America contest, his left hook could knock down any man, including the legendary Joe Louis. Tony owned a bar in Orange, New Jersey, didn't train, drank beer and ate large meals before he fought. Between 1928 and 1944 he fought 110 times, knocking out 56 of his opponents.

He met the Baer brothers in back to back fights later in his career, losing both bouts, but not before knocking 6'7'' Buddy Baer down. The famous fight with Louis occurred at Yankee Stadium in June of 1939, before Galente beat Lou Nova in the infamous dirty fight. Tony was king of the world in the third round as Louis lay on the canvas, but he got up at the eight count, and knocked Galante out in the next round. Louis would later say that Tony Galante was one of the toughest men he ever fought.
Galento with press after the Lou Nova fight

reprinted from May 2011

The Karaite Tradition

While Jews celebrate Hanukah worldwide, no menorahs will be lit in  Karaite Synagogues. Although they only number 50,000 followers worldwide, their tradition goes back to 8th century Babylonia, and perhaps much earlier. The Karaites reject The Oral Law, also known as Rabbinic Judaism, as formulated over centuries by Jewish scholars, in a compilation known as the Talmud.  Karaites believe that only the Torah, or the Five Books of Moses, is G-d's word to be followed. Because the miracle of Hanukah would not occur until over a thousand years after Moses received the law on Mt. Sinai, it is not in the Torah, or Karaite liturgy.  After World War 2, the Egyptian community of Karaites, then the largest remaining, migrated to Israel, where there are now 30,000.

photograph of Karaite Synagogue in Turkey

Baer vs. Simon, 1937

When Max Baer beat Primo Carnera for the Heavyweight Title in 1934, he became a celebrity overnight. In the year that he held the title, his nightclub carousing was legendary, including a Vanity Fair Magazine profile. His younger brother, Buddy, 6'7", decided he too would become a boxer. Between 1934 and 1937 Buddy fought40 times.



"On August 30, 1937 Buddy took on his first highly regarded opponent, New York's rising prospect, Abe Simon, at Yankee Stadium*. Baer won by TKO in the third. "Simon gave Baer a beating in the 1st round and had him in distress, but he came back in the next two sessions with a succession of blows to the body and head that had his huge opponent reeling when the bout was stopped" (New York Times). Baer then went on to beat Two Ton Tony Galento, setting himself up for a title shot with Joe Louis. Louis had called Galento the toughest man he ever fought. Like Simon, Buddy Baer got two chances at Louis. In the first fight he went 7 rounds, in the second fight, he got knocked out in the first round. Also like Simon, he would retire from the ring after his second Louis fight. Baer would later say, "The only way I could have beaten Louis that night was with a baseball bat."
*Buddy Baer-Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

reprinted from April 2010

Lessons From The PigPen

Billed as the Lehigh Valley's #1 Entertainment Complex when it opened in 2009, life was short for the sports bar which hoped to capitalize on the nearby baseball park. Don Cunningham honestly said that 72 home baseball games are not enough to support a business year round. How about 40 home hockey games? Another local bar owner said of Cola-Coca Park, "They have everything in there that they need. Nobody in the area really prospered from the ball field." PigPen owner Les Bartholomew cited the casino as his downfall, and their deep pockets to attract entertainment. The reality of competition, and few home matches, will create a barren night scene in Pawlowski's little apple. The unique state tax funding mechanism will allow the barren buildings to meet their debt service, but images of middle class patrons walking the streets of downtown Allentown, will be limited to few nights, and architectural renderings.

The Star Of David

Although Jewish heavyweights in the 1930's occasionally wore the Star of David on their trunks, like Abe Simon, none was more famous than Max Baer, and he wasn't really Jewish. Baer's father was half Jewish, and he was raised as a Catholic. After moving to N.Y.C. to be trained by Jack Demsey, he adopted the Star to fight Max Schmeling, Hitler's boxer of choice. Defeating Schmeling in 1933, set Baer up for a Championship fight with Carnera. Baer, who had a reputation as a party animal, was never the less a notoriously hard hitter.

Shown in the ring with the giant Primo Carnera, Demsey stands behind them. Baer would annihilate Carnera and hold the title for one year until the famous fight with the Cinderella man, James Braddock.
Baer's son, Max Jr, would become famous as Jethro Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies. There's more, Max(Sr.) had a brother, Buddy, who was 6'7".....

reprinted from February 2010

The Water War

Wednesday evening Dan Poresky sent a news release to the alternative and main stream media. Although associate Bernie O'Hare got it to press, molovinsky on allentown had already turned off the power. Also today, The Morning Call catches up with Poresky's petition. Meanwhile, yesterday and last night, the uninformed commented on O'Hare's blog. Not to impose on their opinion, but a few facts are in order:

1. City Clerk Mike Hanlon had no choice but to accept the petitions. Over double the required amount were submitted, with criterion used by the administration's solicitor, which was more demanding than the charter actually required.

2. Dan Poresky has been the main energy behind a group effort.

3. There are viable alternatives to the lease, but neither the mayor, or his council will consider them, because they will involve a tax increase. Without the alternatives, homeowners will pay much more for water, lose control of it's operation, and have a tax increase soon enough anyway. The lease behooves pawlowski and council politically, but hurts the homeowners.

If the picture of the monkey and computer offends any of you who comment on O'Hare's blog, I apologize, but I don't know what kind of computers you monkeys have.

USS Arizona

Built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Commissioned in 1916

Modernized in 1929-31 at the Norfolk Navy Yard

Bombed and Sunk on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor, with the loss of over 1100 crewmen

reprinted from December 2011

When Boxing Was King

Although my fascination with boxing from the 1930's began with a family connection, was fed by a curiosity about the many Jewish boxers, the real hook is my love of black and white photography. Some of the best photographers of the era aimed their camera's at the ring during those years. Shown here is a boxing portrait of Izzy Jannazo. This tough welterweight fought the best, from Barney Ross to Sugar Ray Robinson. These photographs are from the Harry Winkler Collection, now housed at the University Library of Notre Dame.

Tony Chavez was the first New Mexican to fight for a title. He moved to Los Angeles to train for his lightweight title fight with Henry Armstrong. Harry Winkler assembled these amazing images while working as the Los Angeles correspondent for Ring Magazine.





Freddie Miller won 210 fights out of 250, between 1927 and 1940. This featherweight champ had two of his most famous fights with Abie Israel.

reprinted from July, 2010

Guns and Ammo

Yesterday, both Bernie O'Hare and I had posts about the shooting in South Bethlehem. Also yesterday, Paul Carpenter had a column on the same occurrence. Carpenter gave Morganelli credit for his courage using the term Culture concerning the shootout, but then batted the topic back and forth so much that he drew no conclusion. Carpenter wondered if Culture referred to young Hispanic males? Morganelli said no, just young in general. I think that Morganelli's Culture referred to young males in a lower social economic demographic, and assorted wannabes, exploring hipness. An extended comment section on O'Hare's blog revealed another culture, which I call Guns and Ammo. That's a reference to a popular magazine specializing on both those items. These are the 2nd Amendment advocates, the NRA members, and assorted gun right advocates. In that world when it comes to bullet caliber, bigger is much better. They have successfully lobbied for the right to carry in most states. The gun industry has responded with a large assortment of small light weight guns, designed for concealable carry, in high calibers. One middle class, self described liberal, anonymously stated that he carries a 45. Although he may feel that this caliber is necessary, and although he may be well trained in it's use, an unintended consequence is millions of lightweight, high caliber weapons in the hands of untrained, undisciplined people, with a chip on their shoulder and a hot head. Thirty high caliber shots were fired last weekend in the South Bethlehem gun battle.

$100 A Week

In 1935, a Jewish boy earning $35 a week carrying 300 pound blocks of ice, was offered three times more to fight; win, lose or draw. For one hundred dollars a week, Jock Whitney, British aristocrat and sportsman, owned Abe Simon. Abe won his first 14 fights, 12 by knockout. On his climb to fight Louis in 1941 he would knock out 27 opponents, including Jersey Joe Walcott.

reprinted from September 2009

You Don't Look Too Bad

Bernie Goetz told his subway attacker in 1984 that he doesn't look too bad, here's another, then shot him again. Bernie O'Hare tells the story of Teddy Roosevelt finishing a speech after he was shot. With the guns and ammunition in use now a days, neither of those things would happen. District Attorney Morganelli talks about the culture of the night people. The two weapons used in the Bethlehem shooting were a 40 and 45 caliber pistol. The 45 was invented during Teddy Roosevelt's time. It was designed to bring down a cavalry horse, not just the soldier. The Zombie Ammunition shown is not some fabrication to illustrate my point, it is an actual advertisement for hyper bullets by a major manufacturer. We have an arsenal of large caliber concealed weapons, filled with high velocity tissue and bone eating ammo, cruising our city streets. Who are the real zombies?

World War Ringside

Joe Louis had won his previous 23 fights, and was expected to do the same against Germany's Max Schmeling in June of 1936. Instead, the large crowd at Yankee Stadium saw the older Schmeling, a former World Champion, outscore Louis, and then knock him out in the 12th. Schmeling would go back to Hitler's Germany a national hero. Louis would go on to beat the Cinderella Man, James Braddock, for the World Championship. The stage was set for the most anticipated rematch in history. The famous 1938 fight, again at Yankee Stadium, was a sellout. Louis and Schmeling embodied everything about the pending war between the two countries. They were given pep talks by no less than Roosevelt and Hitler themselves. Louis carried the mantle for all Americans, but especially Black Americans, in the late 1930's. He would leave nobody down, by knocking out Schmeling in the first round.top photo of German toy produced between the first and second fights
bottom photo, one of three first round knockdowns in 1938 reprinted from March 2012

You Talkin To Me?

About 25 years ago I got into target shooting. As my interest and skill progressed, I purchased several guns. All the guns were designed to punch precise holes in paper targets. They had sophisticated adjustable metal sights, and were long and heavy to control recoil. Recently, I decided to sell them, and visited the local gun stores, for the first time in decades. As is often the case in my life, I once again aged into a dinosaur. The guns stores are now full of very light weight, highly concealable, high caliber pistols, supposedly sold for defense. The light weight creates high recoil, and lack of accuracy. In my era, Carry Permits were sought by merchants who had to make after hour store deposits, into mailbox type chutes, located on the outside of banks. Easy carry laws now permit anybody a gun, for any or no reason. It's little surprise that gun battles, with multiple shooters, are erupting. Welcome to the new wild west. By the way, is anybody interested in a Kodak Instamatic, which uses 126 film cartridges?

Boxing 1930's, Primo Carnera

When Abe Simon fought Joe Louis in 1942, Abe was the biggest heavyweight* fighting. That wasn't the case when Abe began his career in 1935. Primo Carnera was an Italian strongman on the European circus circuit. He fought his first fight in Paris in 1928. It is pretty well known that he was brought to N.Y.C. by mobsters who arranged and managed his fights. The 6'6" giant upset Jack Sharkey in 1933, and held the title for a year until Max Baer had a go at him.

In 1935 Carnera fought the up and coming Joe Louis, who pulverized him into a bloody mess. Primo would return to Europe. Shown in the ring with him in 1933 is Jean Harlow, promoting her movie classic Bombshell.

* 6'7" Buddy Baer, brother of Max, had retired after a beating from Louis earlier in 1942.

reprinted from February 2010

Tragedy At Union Terrace Amphitheater

Last year this blog reported that creek water was becoming dangerously close to the northern pier tower of the Union Terrace stage. An inspection yesterday revealed that the situation has deteriorated, and the pillar is now surrounded by water. It is imperative that the city fill in three sides immediately, and start to plan for a small coffer dam, to enable some fill to be placed on the fourth creek side of the pillar. Union Terrace was the last WPA project in Allentown, and perhaps the one of greatest long term benefit to the citizens. Over the years many generations have enjoyed an occasional performance there, recently being used for outdoor film. The visual symmetry of the two pillars is an esthetic we cannot afford to lose, especially in this the year celebrating our history.

The Legend Begins

On July 4th, 1934 Joe louis made his debut as a professional fighter. Eleven months and nineteen straight victories later, most by knockout, 62,000 fight fans would jam Yankee Stadium to watch the new sensation fight the giant, Primo Carnera.

New York, New York - Primo Carnera, giant Italian boxer and former heavyweight champion of the world, and Joe Louis, hard-hitting negro heavyweight from Detroit, Michigan, weighed-in this afternoon at the offices of the New York State Boxing Commission for their fifteen round bout tonight at the Yankee Stadium. - 6.25.1935

Although badly battered from the first round, Carnera would gamely stay in the fight till it was stopped in round six. The legend of the Brown Bomber was clearly established.
photo of Primo Carnera

This blog has produced 24 posts chronicling the Joe Louis boxing era, many featuring Abe Simon, a Jewish heavyweight of the era; Simon and my mother were cousins. Lately, Allentown political shenanigans have allowed me little time and space to visit Madison Square Garden in the early 1940's. During the next few weeks I will reprint these posts, while still assigning staff to City Hall. One of my attractions to the boxing world is the black and white photography produced during that era. The public would listen to the fights on the radio, and then see the photographs in the newspapers the following day. While reproducing these posts, I may in some instances substitute alternative photographs, all classic images from the age of film and flash bulbs.

Scott Armstrong:Morning Call Editorial

Republican Party Needs An Urban Strategy, Not A New Message
Since the presidential election, much of the political discourse has shifted to an analysis of why Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lost and what the Republican Party needs to do to win in 2016.
Much of the talk mistakenly focuses on the idea that the GOP needs to reformulate its message to gain a larger share of minority votes. In other words, the Republican stand on important issues such as abortion, amnesty, tax cuts, small government and limited entitlements must be reformulated to match what pundits pronounce is the more left-wing outlook of America's urban poor.
Adopting this strategy would, in my humble view, be a huge mistake for the Republican Party. The Republican message is not the reason we take such a drubbing in the cities; the real fault is the complete failure of the Republican Party to communicate its message in these areas.
How are people expected to vote for a party they have never seen in their neighborhood? Why would it be logical to expect people to endorse a message they have never heard?
Republicans need to face the fact that America's urban residents vote Democratic largely because Democrats have been selling the party's message on the residents' radio stations, on their local television stations, at their doors, on their streets, and at their polling stations. Until the Republican establishment commits resources to a long-term strategy to compete on this level directly to the nation's poor and minority urban residents, we have no hope of winning their votes no matter what our message is.
One more warning to Republican Party leaders: Any plan to attract the votes of America's minority voters that puts reformulating the party's tenets ahead of an effort to communicate its philosophy directly to America's urban neighborhoods will fail completely and create a wider divide between the Republican establishment and its conservative base. That will guarantee failure in 2016 and beyond.
Scott Armstrong, a member of the Allentown School Board, is former chairman of the Allentown Republican City Committee, former member Lehigh County Republican Latino Committee and former member of the county Republican Executive Committee.

The above Your View Editorial appeared in The Morning Call on Saturday Dec. 1, 2012

A Shovel At The Trough

The citizen's event on Wednesday didn't receive the fanfare of yesterday's hockey arena groundbreaking. Over at the big hole yesterday were the big people, who are going to benefit on the public's dime. Although I wasn't there, I'm sure I'll be able to see pictures and video galore. They have a ticket to ride for the next decade. Jennifer Mann thanked everyone who stuck their necks out, I think they stuck their hands out. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the citizen's petition against privatizing their water was submitted to the Administration. Although Mayor Pawlowski had repeatedly told the public, and City Council, that a 35% tax increase would be necessary without the water lease, on Wednesday, he told the press that the increase would be 100% or more. The numbers didn't really change, it's that his respect for the little people got lower; He doesn't believe that they deserve a serious dialogue on the issue, and except for Jeanette Eichenwald, neither does City Council.

photocredit: Denise Sanchez / The Morning Call / Nov. 29, 2012

Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go

Now that Lehigh Valley Airport has finished their recent remodeling, they're facing less destinations than they had in decades. It has become the airport to nowhere. Although much blame was assigned to the previous underperforming director, I think that the board must share responsibility for approving a succession of poor ideas, which were expensive to execute. The mother of bad ideas, of course, was taking the Fuller Land by force, necessitating a $26 million dollar compensation. An article in The Morning Call, which outlined cutbacks, failed to mention the cost of remodeling. I do credit the board with their decision to retain Queen City Airport, despite lobbying by Allentown Mayor and board member Ed Pawlowski. On the questionable side, they're considering spending even more money to build a customs station for international routes. One would think after you went broke dressing up in suit with nowhere to go, you wouldn't spend even more on a tuxedo.

Allentown Becomes A Monarchy

Park and Shop Lots

Downtown Allentown boomed for about 100 years. During the prosperity years following World War II, the two car family emerged. Several business leaders of Allentown realized both the parking problem and the potential to enhance sales. Park and Shop was begun by Harvey Farr, Donald Miller and John Leh. The current small parking deck at 10th and Hamilton, above the current uptown police substation, was the first deck in the country. To make the parking lots, shown in the postcard above, houses were purchased and torn down. Although the gentlemen mentioned in this article profited from their influence, they always provided solutions for the betterment of the community. They seemed to be a benevolent oligarchy. As the viability of the Park And Shop enterprise declined along with the intercity shopping, The Allentown Parking Authority was conveniently formed by local politicians, and it purchased the lots using Municipal bonds; The process allowed the aforementioned gentleman to land on their feet, in a downward market.

Flash ahead thirty five years to another downward market, and we have one gentleman, J.B. Reilly, buying up center-city with municipal bonds backed by state taxes. Reilly has purchased far more property than ever owned by Park and Shop. He has purchased virtually the four square blocks surrounding the arena, a significant portion of the Neighborhood Improvement Zone(NIZ). Again the process was facilitated by our elected officials. Let us hope that the new monarchy will be as benevolent as the old oligarchy.

At The Mayor's Pleasure

Yesterday morning, as is my usual routine, I wrote down a topic for today, and in true tabloid fashion, searched the molovinsky on allentown archives for a photograph. The premise was a speculation on why Fire Chief Scheirer was compromising fire staffing standards to endorse Pawlowski's budget. In addition to the short staff, we are short the fire station on the east side. Although I have a better picture of the former station, this was the only one the staff could locate. About mid-day, Emily Opilo, Morning Call Allentown reporter, wrote a blog post about Scheirer. She had located a public letter he wrote about ten years ago, to his wife. In it, he explains that if he is killed fighting a fire, it's probably because the department is understaffed. Powerful stuff Ms. Opilo unloaded. I decided that I would still go ahead with this post, because my slant was the perilous condition that having no firehouse imposed on the east side. Apparently, Emily Opilo and I had the same breakfast yesterday. An article by her on the missing fire house will appear in Tuesday's paper. Not only an article, but an excellent piece, questioning why the former fire house was allowed to deteriorate beyond repair, and acknowledging Dennis Pearson, for his consistent east side advocacy. The supposed delay constructing the new fire station is a one million dollar cost overrun on the estimate. Is this the same city in which a $77 million hockey arena will now cost $244 million, without losing a beat? If ever there was an example of misplaced priorities in a city government, the East Side Fire Station wins the national prize. My early morning speculation yesterday was that Chief Robert Scheirer was playing ball because he wants to be Allentown's first Public Safety Director. Sources at City Hall tell me that such a reorganization is probably not in the current cards, and he simply serves at the mayor's pleasure, to keep his chief's hat.

Downhill on Lehigh Street

During the early 1970's, Allentown demolished the entire neighborhood between Union and Lawrence Streets. It was, in a large part, home to the black community. How ironic that we destroyed the cohesion of a neighborhood, but renamed Lawrence Street after Martin Luther King. The only remnant of the neighborhood is the St. James A.M.E. Church. Going up the hill today we now have a vacant bank call center on the east, and the Housing Authority Project on the west. A whole neighborhood existed in from both sides of Lehigh Street, including black owned shops. The houses were old and humble, but people owned them, many for generations. Some blacks at the time wondered if the project was Urban Renewal or Negro Removal?

reprinted from May 2011

Bahá'í Gardens

The Bahá'í Faith World Headquarters is on the slope of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. It was near there, in Acre, that Bahá'a'lláh, the most recent messenger of
G-d, was exiled during the Ottoman Empire Period. There, for his remaining years, he would produce the doctrines of the faith, The oneness of humankind. All His other social teachings are means of achieving and sustaining the practical unity of humanity so that people may fulfill the purpose of their creation, to peacefully carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The faith began in present day Iran in the mid 1800's, and believes that G-d's word comes through a succession of messengers. Today, there are over five million followers, with Bahá'í Temples throughout the world.

Governor Pawlowski

With three posts written since yesterday, this blog was about to turn off the presses until at least Saturday night, when The Morning Call broke a new story. Seems as if Mayor Pawlowski has visions of himself in the Governor's Mansion. When asked for clarification by reporter Scott Kraus, he indicated that another run for mayor would come first in 2013. The next opportunity for Governor isn't until 2014. Just when you thought things couldn't get better.

No Shopping Zone

Ed Pawlowski and Company have officially declared Hamilton Street a No Shopping Zone. Many years ago I was prohibited from operating a business near 16th and Walnut Streets. I was told that if I wanted to conduct business, I should have opened up in the Business District. The merchants of Hamilton Street learned last year that they were in the Hockey District. Today, Black Friday, Hamilton Street will be closed from 7th to 6th Street, to accommodate the demolition of the former 1st National Bank Building.

watercolor by Karoline Schaub-Peeler

Open Thanksgiving Letter to Charlie Dent

Congressman Dent,
Today I learned from Scott Kraus's informative article in The Morning Call, that you have joined the Cranberry Caucus. Although I thank you for your attentive attitude toward local business, I would like to add a few points of information not discussed in the article. Most of Ocean Spray's employees will follow the company from New Jersey, not providing many new local jobs. New Jersey didn't fight the relocation with much vigor, because the discharge from the juice process is particularly potent, providing an unwanted challenge to their waste water systems. On the other hand, bottling companies have been coming to the Lehigh Valley, because of Allentown's abundant supply of water, and capacity to treat sewage, as distributed through the Lehigh County Authority. As you know, Mayor Pawlowski is eager to lease these systems for fifty years, despite widespread public opposition. In this regard, Ocean Spray is but one more customer for a private water company. Will such a company safeguard both the supply of water, and it's waste treatment, with as much scrutiny and concern as the current public oversight? In the past few years the bottling industry has become a concern to those advocates concerned with the quantity of our drinking water. The Mayor's plan is beyond an Allentown issue; It affects the entire region, which should be involved in the deliberation.
My best wishes for your holiday,
  Michael Molovinsky

The Pension Surprise

When Ed Pawlowski ran for Mayor in 2005, he bored listeners with a long power point presentation, showing that Allentown would be hit with a huge pension shortfall. He had a plan, and would make all necessary adjustments to avoid the calamity. Here we are in 2012, and the sky is falling; Sell the water and layoff the firemen! He brags that there has not been a tax increase under his administrations; There should have been. There should have been both cutbacks in redundant supervisory personnel, and measured increases in taxes. In fairness to Pawlowski, other mayors also buried their head in the sand in the same manner, but I never had to suffer through their power points. Also in fairness, the market crash of 2008 contributed to the shortfall, but that was four years ago. What happen to that supposed steering skill to avoid the calamity? The administration now claims that those calamities are opportunities. He dragged a former mayor from New Jersey to Allentown to explain how wonderful private water companies can be. He now has the Fire Chief saying that we really don't need more than two men on a fire engine. We are a town that can build a $277 million dollar arena, but can't afford proper fire protection.

Burt Luckenbach, Park Activist

`Green' Curtain Blocks Sledding And The View
January 09, 1992|The Morning Call
To the Editor:

Hold your sleds girls and boys! Others, too, on the alert! With the planting of a dense cluster of 60 evergreen trees and the erection of a "No Sledding" sign, creating a veritable iron curtain, the park and watershed people have once again undertaken their repetitive effort of the past 45 years to eliminate a most popular sledding slope in Lehigh Parkway. The motive -- crass self-interest in defiance of public good. The effect -- an impassable barrier and concealment of a magnificent vista of "one of the finest valleys in Eastern Pennsylvania."

Children and adults from the 400 homes with longtime and easy access to the slope and others arriving in cars have enjoyed sledding here after school and into the night and throughout the day and night on weekends. Yet sledding is but one of the attractions of this enduring slope. In summer children and teachers from Lehigh Parkway Elementary School have enjoyed a walk down the slope and into the park for a break from book and blackboard. Birders, joggers, hikers and others on a leisurely stroll engrossed in their particular interest have found the slope irresistible.

For a host of others, this opening into the park after a long stretch of woods presents a charming vista and urge to descend. Interest is immediately evoked by the sight of a mid-19th century log house (now tenanted by a city employee whose privacy is further enhanced by the closure of the slope) and a historic wagon trail leading past the site of a lime kiln to tillable lands of earlier times.

The view takes in an expanse of meadowlands, now groomed, to the Little Lehigh River and up the western slope to Lehigh Parkway North. Indeed, a pleasant view to be esteemed and preserved for generations to come. It was distressing on New Year's Day to see a family and their guests intent upon a walk down the slope suddenly stop in amazement and shock as the closure became evident.

The cost in dollars through the years of the park peoples' fixation on destroying the Parkway slope must be staggering indeed without dwelling on other deliberate depletions. Typically, the placement of the 1991 "No Sledding" sign employed a team of four men with three vehicles -- a backhoe, a panel truck, and a super cab pickup truck, the latter furnishing radio music.

BERT A. LUCKENBACH
ALLENTOWN

Burt Luckenbach was a park activist, who wrote this letter in 1992. Few remember sledding on that hill above the Log & Stone house, but I do. The open hill was located at the end of Lehigh Parkway South, near the intersection with Coronado Street. The Wagon Trail has been blocked off for years by several large fallen trees. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Luckenbach, but like to think that he would approve of my efforts regarding the parks.

Israel's Dilemma Fighting Martyrdom

Rockets fired from inside Gaza City

During the second world War, the United States had trouble wrapping it's head around the kamikaze attacks. There is a similar situation occurring in Gaza. Israel is not targeting civilians; Hamas has placed their rocket launchers in civilian sites, with public approval. The rockets are fired from playgrounds and rooftops. As of Sunday, Israel aborted twenty five air strikes because their pilots reported seeing civilians near the targets. The leadership of Hamas has spoken in the past of jihad and martyrdom. They stated that they form human shields of women and children. Although urban rocket launchers and civilian causalities serve the purpose of Israel's enemies and distracters, Israel must protect it's citizens.

The Mayors of Lehigh Valley

What can one say about The Three Mayors? Bethlehem's mayor John Callahan wants to enact an Amusement Tax. Vision Entertainment Group, which operates the Sands Event Center chose Bethlehem specifically because they didn't have such a tax. In reality, Johnny Callahan already has the ultimate Amusement Tax; This year Bethlehem received over $9 million dollars as their share of the Sands Casino pot. This windfall represents over 14% of the budget, but Johnny wants more. Easton's visionary, Sal Panto, now wants to increase their parking meters to a buck an hour. This is what other destinations, like San Francisco and Miami Beach charge, why not Easton? Sal admits, "Once it is in the budget, it is hard to get rid of." They already have an Amusement Tax. State Theater director Shelly Brown says "The tax adds a challenge." Well Shelly, here comes another one. Last, but not least, Ed Pawlowski thinks that the taxpayers should pay more for their air and water. In an incomprehensible arrangement with a private Trash To Energy & Cash Company, Allentown's trash and sewage will be combined into pellets from hell, and burnt. The technology, or lack of it, is opposed by environmentalists. The plant may also import trash from New York and New Jersey, for more fuel. Our water also will be sold to a preferred bidder. Let us hope he doesn't decide to harvest body parts.

Scrapping Our History

While surveying the progress of the 15th Street Bridge Project, our staff photographer made a depressing discovery. There, lying in the scrap metal area of the City Recycling Yard, was a former icon of Allentown. Once, in our not so distant past, these distinctive light stands symbolized the All American City. This particular light standard, and it's base, were in excellent condition. At one time these lights were so cherished that prominent citizens would use their influence to obtain one for their yard. One can be seen on the northwest corner of Ott and Parkway Boulevard, once home of a well known cardiologist. While the larger version, outfitted with flower bowls, lit Hamilton Street and 7th Street, smaller models illuminated the West End. When Allentown made it's recent plans for it's 250th anniversary, our meager sense of history was apparent. The best our imported mayor could think of was hiring someone to write new lyrics to the Billy Joel song. This city has a proud history, but it will take an archeologist to find remnants of it in the future.