Allentown's Syrians of The 6th Ward

When my grandfather first arrived in Allentown, he lived in the Ward, on 2nd. Street. It was around 1895 and the neighborhood was full of immigrants. Some groups came from the same area in the old country, most noticeably the Syrians, from the village of Amar. They were members of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, a Christian minority in a Muslim country. The congregation of St. George's Church on Catasauqua Ave., largely is descended from those immigrants. Well known names in Allentown, such as Atiyeh, Haddad, Hanna, Makoul, Koury and Joseph are among their members. They were among one of the first groups to organize, and those organizations still exist. The photo above was organized by the Syrian American Organization in 1944. Note that Jewish, on the left, is treated as a nationality.

click on photo to enlarge

UPDATE: This post is reprinted from March 2010, then titled The 6th Ward. An article in today's Morning Call describes the dilemma and concern the current conflict in Syria is causing the local Syrian community. I know from my Syrian friends that supposedly Assad's father's childhood nanny was Christian, and that Christians were protected under the Assads. It is not the purpose of this post to speculate on the current conflict in Syria, but to wish the relatives of our Syrian community safety.

Smell The Roses

Friends of the Allentown Parks will host an accessible tour of Allentown's famed Malcolm Gross Rose Garden, tomorrow morning, Saturday June 15, at 10:00a.m. Leading the tour will be none other than Paul Pozzi, caretaker of the garden. Take the time, smell the roses.

vintage postcard from Allentown's traditional park era

The Last Jews of Egypt

There are only a few dozen Jews still living in Egypt, all in either Cairo or Alexandria. The number of remaining synagogues outnumbers the remainder of Jews. Many of these synagogues are magnificent structures, and to the credit of the Egyptian government, they are protected and some are being restored. Prior to 1948, well over 80,000 Jews lived in the two cities. The current Ben Ezra in Cairo dates from 1892. The site, once a Coptic Church, became a synagogue in 882.. Tradition marks this as the spot where the prophet Jeremiah gathered the Jews in the 6th century after Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the Jerusalem temple. The adjacent spring is supposed to mark the place where the pharaohs daughter found Moses in the reeds, and where Mary drew water to wash Jesus. It was here that the famous Philosopher Maimonides studied. Last century a collection of ancient manuscripts was discovered in the compound.

reprinted from June 2010

Morning Call Cross Dressers

Blogger Bernie O'Hare has joined Bill White's infamous Hall of Fame. Although O'Hare does protest, White believed that he secretly hoped for admission. O'Hare admitted that just the nomination alone jacked up his viewership. Although Bernie's inclusion will increase his readership, there's a reluctance on the part of hard and soft copy readers to cross back and forth. Occasionally, I bump into someone who tells me that they haven't seen a letter by me in the paper recently, and that they enjoy them. I thank them for that, then explain that I have a blog, and write a piece almost every day. Next time I see the person we have the same conversation, over and over again, they just won't cross over. While hardcopy readers dwindle, it's hard for the papers to make up the loss with their websites. The hardcopy readers are stubborn, and the web readers fickle. Meanwhile, congratulations to O'Hare and his Lehigh Valley Ramblings.

Slim Pickins In Blogosphere

I feel sorry for you blog readers, it's slim pickins out there! The only must read is by Bernie O'Hare, but then you must wade through his neuroses. Between his battles with other bloggers and commenters, and his political mancrushes, reading it is exhausting. Then there's George Wacker and his tabloid titillater; I've never gotten beyond the titles to visit that 8th grade locker room. LVCI relies on cyber mining. His post today on swimming pools was a push/pull survey by the former park director two years ago, trying to justify building a water park at Cedar Park. Although the concept has already been rejected by Council and the Administration, it's new stuff to that net surfer. We mustn't forget Chris Casey and Poliblog. He uses a complex algorithm to come up with wrong predictions. Then there's me....

Turning Out The Light

The train tower on Union Street was demolished in 1971. It survived years beyond need because the gates were never automated, and the remaining track was used for switching freight cars. The junction yard behind the State Hospital property, near the border with Bethlehem, is still active. The freight trains travel south Allentown toward Emmaus several times a day. In the quiet of early morning, you can still hear that whistle almost everywhere in the city.

photograph by Dave Latshaw is part of the Mark Rabenold Collection

reprinted from July 2011

De Beams, De Beams

Allentown's all a twitter about the beams arriving for the 15th Street Bridge. Allentown Director of Public Works, Richard Young, appeared on local TV saying that the project is on schedule. He forgot to mention that it's a snail pace schedule, stranding south Allentown for years. He forgot to mention that the two Tilghman Street bridges, west of Allentown, were removed and replaced in a matter of months. He forgot to mention that more is done in a few weeks at the Arena, than has been done on the bridge project since it began. He forgot to mention that his department allowed the previous bridge to rust away from neglect. He forgot to mention that he didn't intercede with his counter point on the state level, also named Young, to postpone construction on the 24th/Oxford Street bridge. He forgot to mention...

UPDATE: Although this post is critical of Allentown Public Works, the real blame lies with the Administration.  Although Allentown's share of the project is only 5%,  it occurs to me that the relaxed schedule seems to be built into a cut rate bid on the project.  If Allentown's priorities were geared toward citizen convenience, instead of the mayor's Big Arena Razzle Dazzle, I'm sure that Young would have just as soon payed more for an accelerated schedule on the bridge.

Union Street Slowdown

By the early 1960's, things had slowed for Allentown's manufacturing base and the rail freight cars that served them. Train lines had consolidated, and tracks and spurs had been removed. Remaining plants were supplied by trucks, and people traveled by bus and car. The remaining train station would soon close, but the term rustbelt had not yet entered the vocabulary. Western Electric (AT&T) on Union Blvd. was now making transistors, and there was still confidence in the new economy. Allentown was the All American City.

reprinted from July 2011

Friends In The Park

This morning, Friends Of The Allentown Parks, sponsored an Accessible Discovery Nature Walk in Cedar Park. Leading the well attended event, with his back to the camera, was Phil McGrath, retired naturalist with the Pa. Dept. of Conservation and National Resources.

The Union Street Train Tower

The Union Street crossing was a busy place. It was located between the Jordan Creek and south 3th Street. Virtually all the train lines serving Allentown converged here. The Lehigh Valley Railroad's old main line also crossed Union Street further east, toward the Lehigh River. Allentown was at this time served by two train stations, the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station which was built over the Jordan Creek, and the New Jersey Central, which still stands as a closed restaurant and bar. This photograph, from 1930, is first in a series which will chronicle both the demise of our railroad era, and manufacturing base. Today, the tower is long gone and only one track survives. It is used by a private short line operator.

photograph from the Collection of Mark Rabenold 

reprinted from July 2011

The Trains of Union Street

Up to the late 1960's, Union Street, between the Jordan Creek and Lehigh River, was crossed by numerous train tracks. In addition to the main tracks for the New Jersey Central and Lehigh Valley Railroads, the area hosted many sidings for the industries that once huddled along this historic river front area. There was a small rail yard with five sidings between the UGI gas storage tank, which dominated Allentown's skyline, and Allentown Meat Packing Company.  The photo above dates from the late 1940's.  The map below from the early 1930's.



Small rail yard on bottom left of map. Allentown Meat Packing was the former H.H. Steinmetz Co. in 1932.

Armstrong's Editorial

State Democrats, teachers union betray the poorest students.

   Dramatically rising expenditures are forcing Pennsylvania’s fiscally stressed urban school districts to balance their budgets with draconian cuts and higher taxes.  In Allentown, the Lehigh Valley’s poorest municipality, the ASD’s 2013-14 preliminary budget calls for an 8% tax increase and the furloughing of 155 employees (132 teachers, 12 administrators, 10 custodial, and 1 clerical). Yet, these unprecedented measures leave the district short of a balanced budget, and projections indicate further tax increases and cuts will be necessary next year and possibly the year after that.

  Even though the ASD is regarded as one of the state’s best run urban school districts, it is facing a very  bleak future. The main culprit is the ballooning cost of mandatory PSERS (Public School Employee Retirement System) contributions that will increase by 37% next year (91% over the next three years). The rising cost of these PSERS is in effect transferring funding out of classrooms into this very generous and unsustainable retirement system.  For now, wealthier suburban districts are able to weather these increases, but for already cash strapped urban districts there is no margin left to absorb these new costs.

    It is interesting to note that these same urban areas constitute the base of Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party. Geographically, small areas like Allentown provide huge tallies of Democratic votes in state wide elections, that have the effect of swamping Republican turnout in the much larger Republican suburban and rural areas. One would think the state’s Democratic Party would appreciate the value of these voters and act to protect the better interests of this vital constituency.

   Think again, right now Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party  is putting its allegiance to labor unions ahead of the best interests of  urban voters by blocking urgently needed reform of the state’s unsustainable pension system. In other words, the basic educational needs of  poor and minority Democratic urban voters are being effectively abandoned by Democratic leaders so that the lavish benefits of more affluent union workers can be preserved.

   While the cost of their sky high benefits are bankrupting urban public schools, the teachers’ union tactic is to blame Harrisburg. Rather than enter into useful negotiations that could lead to necessary reform, they point the finger of blame away from themselves and their cohorts, the state’s Democratic Party and state employee unions.

  Pennsylvania’s poorest children are now bearing the brunt of the rising cost of state employee luxury pensions. State employee unions and the state Democratic Party want the current administration to cover the pension shortfall with higher state taxes. In effect, they want those who have less to pay more to those who already have more. Pennsylvania’s urban poor would be wise to note the obvious duplicity and callousness of their Democratic elected officials.

Scott Armstrong

Armstrong is an elected member of the Allentown School Board.  The above editorial appears in today's Morning Call

Park Ranger Report

Well boys and girls, it's been almost a year since my first Park Ranger Report. Former Park Director, Greg Weitzel, is no longer with us. I have been contacted by someone in Idaho who is underwhelmed by Greg, he apparently took his Water World Plan with him to the new job. While on the subject of swimming, I made a disturbing discovery on a recent walk in Fountain Park. Although the City claims that the pool there is closed because of a filter problem, I noticed that the pool building hasn't been painted in so many years, that it's green paint is actually fading away. That lack of maintenance suggests that closing that location was planned years ago.

Rick Holtzman, Park Superintendent, served as acting Park Director between Weitzel and his replacement. During Holtzman's tenure, the park system was struck by Hurricane Sandy. As reported previously on this blog, the damage was extensive. Dozens of trees were lost throughout the system, especially in Cedar Park. To complicate the situation there, one tree smashed the walking bridge, just west of the rose garden. Holtzman did a terrific job cleaning up the parks, replanting trees, and even replacing the destroyed bridge.

I'm proud to report that awareness of the WPA has increased to the point that this outlaw was asked to conduct a tour of Lehigh Parkway. Soon, I hope to report that some funding has been secured for restoration of those iconic structures. Lastly, I got an opportunity to meet the new Park Director, John Mikowychok. I made a pitch for both the WPA and the traditional park system. My current park project is attempting to save the Robin Hood Dam from being removed by the Wildland's Conservancy. They received a grant to remove dams. Removing that small dam could well undermine the Robin Hood Bridge, and will destroy the ambience of the WPA designed section of the park. Hopefully, the City will protect this irreplaceable part of our history.

Allentown, Where Nothing Matters Except The Arena

Schreiber's Bridge and Mill

If the snail pace of construction on the 15th Street Bridge isn't enough to aggravate Allentown southsiders,  they have a new insult coming.  Although the Administration is fast tracking the arena, they are unresponsive to the fact that the State will close northbound traffic on the Oxford Drive/24th Street  Bridge for the summer.  Considering that the 15th Street Bridge was delayed for decades, one would think that the Oxford Drive project could wait until the 15th Street Bridge is complete. Schreiber's Bridge, built in 1828, will now receive  even more traffic.

PennDOT Announces Start of Oxford Drive Bridge Project in the City of Allentown, Lehigh County  On behalf of Governor Tom Corbett, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced work will begin Monday, June 10 on a project to rehabilitate the Oxford Drive Bridge over the Little Lehigh River in the City of Allentown, Lehigh County.

The project includes bridge deck overlaying, expansion dam replacement, beam repairs, substructure and parapet repairs, and other miscellaneous construction. Beginning on June 10 and throughout construction, northbound Oxford Drive will be closed and detoured between Fish Hatchery Road and Lindberg Avenue. Northbound Oxford Drive traffic will be detoured on Fish Hatchery Road, Cedar Crest Boulevard and Hamilton Boulevard. Southbound traffic will be maintained. 

Work is scheduled to be complete this September. 

UPDATE: Dan Hartzell, of The Morning Call, reports on the closure at 4:30 this afternoon. As usual, no acknowledgment of this blog, despite my numerous posts about the abuse being sustained by Schreiber's Bridge.   The PennDOT press release is dated May 30th.

The Alchemy of the NIZ

All over the state, politicians clamoring like baby birds for worms, want to have a NIZ in their district. Although not one new person has yet to step foot in downtown Allentown, by their criterion, the zone is a raging success; "We looked at Allentown and said 'Wow!'" Although chemists never succeeded in making gold from lead, new construction is the coin of the realm in politics. Never mind if the project turns into a white elephant. Never mind if the new tenant in Allentown turns Boyertown into a ghost-town. The key words are ground breaking and ribbon cutting. Reilly's two new projects, storefronts on Hamilton Street, and apartments on Linden Street, have received NIZ Authority Approval; What a surprise! Order more ceremonial shovels and oversize scissors. As more NIZ districts are approved, state taxes will have to rise to cover these developer incentives. Once upon a time a new business needed a building. Now we build new buildings that need to borrow a business.

Kline's Island, an Environmental Frankenstein

Today, Kline's Island is synonymous with the sewer plant. It wasn't always that way. Originally, like Adam's Island, it was owned by a family, and had houses. It was the location of the first bridges across the Lehigh, being the narrowest point. Allentown doesn't have a good history with the environment. Besides allowing the Wildland's Conservancy to actually defile our park system with their inappropriate, token science fair projects, we're not much for islands. The sewer plant on Kline's will soon be transferred to the Lehigh County Authority. Far worse for the previous island, we are allowing a company to build a trash to energy plant, which will mix imported garbage and sewage into pellets to burn. This project isn't energy driven, but rather motivated by tax credits and finance. Allentown is the only community which was receptive to such such an environmental frankenstein. The top photo shows Kline's Island in 1939, when it was still an island. Allentown decided that Kline's would be a good spot to use as a fill dump, and filled in the entire western channel of the former island. Please join me in my efforts to save the small historic Robin Hood dam on the Little Lehigh. Believe me, Allentown City Hall doesn't know best.

Allentown, Free Market Reject

With all the press conferences and announcements, sometimes it hard to remember that the Free Market passed on Allentown. Not one project, nor one dollar, is coming from private hands. Credit Pat Browne and J.B. Reilly for the mother of all incentives. Credit Mayor Pawlowski for labeling the public money grab as a Transformation, and The Morning Call for their eagerness to disseminate such propaganda. A decade ago, the real marketplace rejected Heydt's attempt at a $14 million dollar arena. Now, working 7 days a week under lights, using public money, we are building a monument to hope, at 20 times the price.

NIZ Hubris

The Morning Call revealed yesterday that the Arena Authority has been meeting behind closed doors, in violation of the Sunshine Act. The stunning article, by Emily Opilo and Matt Assad, explains how meetings were not advertised, and that a reporter was asked to leave at a recent meeting. In a further demonstration of their arrogance, two attorneys connected with the board, claim ignorance of the violation. The one attorney on the board, Sy Taub, maintained that bond payment arrangements between the Authority and chief beneficiary, J.B. Reilly, should be determined in private executive session. Before the Authority was formed, the Administration made a case that a degree of secrecy was necessary when acquiring properties for the arena, to protect the public cost from real estate speculation. Since the public portion of acquisition has been completed, I see no justification for keeping arrangements between Reilly and the Authority private.

UPDATE: Although the private Executive Session can be technically used under the Sunshine Act for an agency to discuss lease and purchase of real estate,  Sy Taub extending that exception to a private developer is a legal stretch,  showing the contempt this Administration and Agency has for the general public.

Does the Authority exist to service Reilly, or the public good? In the first year of using state taxes, half of the revenue went for Reilly's debt service. Who determined that ratio between Reilly's interests, and that of the citizens? In the two hybrid buildings on the Arena Complex, partially owned by Reilly, who determines what percentage of the building belongs to whom. How could Taub and Jerome Frank justify no public knowledge, much less scrutiny? The Arena Authority has no oversight by the State of Pennsylvania. Last year Sy Taub said that it would be up to the Authority to monitor itself. So far, they have failed miserably with that promise.

High End Malarky

Today, there was another press conference, and The Morning Call once again regurgitated malarky. Pawlowski and Reilly say that high-end apartments are coming to 7th and Linden. To help induce the disposal income  crowd, they're  going to extend the Art Walk, that should do it. Although Reilly had announced this project previously, there's a change. He's now partnering with Pennrose Properties, which specializes in harvesting tax credits for income restricted projects. I'm not one to mince words. Mixed income neighborhoods exist in large cities, where space is at a premium, not in Allentown, not at 7th and Linden Streets. What does another barbershop photo have to do with this story?  In center city Allentown, in 2013, if you look at someone for more than two seconds, they want to know what you're looking at. Imagine walking into a barbershop, in today's Allentown, and photographing strangers, good luck with that. Why would our young office worker want to spend $1000 and up a month, to live at 7th and Linden Streets?  Is he hoping to get shot at the all night convenience store?  Reilly knows better, even if The Morning Call doesn't, that's why he's bringing in Pennrose.

photocredit:molovinsky

Lehigh Valley Transit, Clearing The Tracks

One of the challenges faced by The Lehigh Valley Transit Company was keeping the tracks cleared of snow during long winters. Special cars were constructed with huge plows for that purpose, plus some regular passenger cars had small plows mounted on the front for continuous cleanup. Shown above is a special plow car stored at the Fairview Yard.







The trolley system required much more infrastructure than later buses. Shown here is track intersection being constructed in center city Bethlehem. Corresponding electric lines would have to be constructed overhead to power the cars. For your viewing pleasure, here is an introduction to an available video by Gerhard Salomon on the service in Easton.



More information on The Rockhill Trolley Museum

reprinted from May 2010

Bill Villa, The Tormentor

While Easton was celebrating the ordination of a new priest, Bill Villa was tormenting him. Not too many people want to confront Bill Villa, they just hope his vicious distortions don't come their way. The priest is an easy target for Villa, with forgiveness and all that. First a little background. Villa's daughter was tragically killed in a single car accident, about six years ago. She and a friend were out celebrating her birthday. He served about double the usual prison term for his offense. Everybody has empathy for Villa's loss, the issue is Villa's current aggressive behavior. He started out on a campaign against the District Attorney, Judge and those directly involved in the trial. Soon, he decided that you're either with him, or his enemy. His enemy list now contains 58 people, almost all of whom have no connection to the trial, what-so-ever. The list includes professors and their deans, most of The Morning Call staff, and local clergy, besides the priest. Villa contacts their superiors and demands their dismissal. If they refuse, they join the growing list. He once told me that he considers all fair in his war. He accuses people of doing to him, what he actually does to them. He describes the priest as a sadist and a cyberstalker, he describes himself as a grief stricken victim. Bill Villa is used to being the bully. He doesn't appreciate anybody speaking up against him. This post will move me up a notch on his enemy list, but those other 57 victims need a voice.

Lehigh Valley Transit Freight Service

Lehigh Valley Transit Company began their freight service in 1908, using converted passenger cars. By 1912, they were purchasing cars manufactured for commercial hauling. Various train/trolley websites specialize in the exact specifications of these trolley cars, and trace the history of specific cars. It was not uncommon for a car to be used by three or four different companies, and retrofitted for various uses. Throughout the formative years, Lehigh Valley Transit acquired smaller companies and absorbed their freight operations; The Quakertown Traction Company operated between Perkasie and Quakertown. Lehigh Valley's freight operation extended to the 72nd Street Freight House in Philadelphia.

Several years ago, Allentown lost an expert on our local train/trolley history, Gerhard Salomon. Mr. Salomon was a partner in the family jewelry store, one of few remaining gems from Hamilton Street's past.



reprinted from May 2010

NIZ & Arena Hype

Although the children selected for the arena training program won't be turned into donkeys, and made into slaves, there probably won't be any  NIZ jobs in their future. The 20 kids getting the vocational training camp scholarship are currently between 5th and 8th grade. While The Morning Call article regurgitates the Administration's propaganda that the arena zone will bring thousands of jobs and half a million visitors annually to Allentown, if there is any bloom left on that rose in four years, remains to be seen. For the 5th graders, I'm afraid the arena will already be closed by the time they graduate. If one of those children should happen to be a future engineer, he or she might find the current construction interesting. The undersized steel and prefab concrete panels along Linden Street are being supported by the diagonal braces, which in turn will frame the bleachers for hockey fans. Someone in the trades described it as a lesson in quick and cheap construction. Although I support vocational training, and applaud the Trades Council for their funding ($3,000), lets not get excited and call this Community Benefit. We have a few developers, building a few buildings for a few businesses, with a total few hundred employees. All this is being funded by state taxes. It is the nature of the politicians and developers to overstate the public benefit, but it shouldn't be the nature of the newspaper to amplify that hype.

UPDATE:  Sometimes I'm too nice, such is the case above.  In reality,  18 trade unions, although working on $600 million in construction, contributed a total of $3,000,  or $166 dollars  each.  For this paltry amount, the article states that  the deal was brokered by Pawlowski and Jeff Glazier of the School District Foundation.  Brokered by Pawlowski,  puffed by The Morning Call.  I don't fault the trade unions, I fault the newspaper,  for finding every press release by the city newsworthy.

Capernaum By The Sea

Matthew 4:13: And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum,...

Capernaum, the city of Jesus, is on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The foundation of the Synagogue of Jesus, is beneath the ornate 4th century synagogue, partially restored by the Franciscans in the early 1900's.

Mark 1:21: he entered into the synagogue and taught

Nearby, the modern Church of St. Peter's House was built by the Franciscans in 1990. It's glass floor reveals the lower walls of the 5th century octagon church, which was built around the walls of St. Peter's House. Also there, shown in the photograph, is the Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles. It was built in 1931, during the British Mandate period (1917-1948).

reprinted in honor of Father Alex Joseph

Mount Of Temptation

The Palestinian Authority unsuccessfully tried to increase tourism to Jericho this year, no rush, the town might be the oldest inhabited city on earth, 10,000 years. In 1895 the Greek Orthodox Church built the Mount of Temptation Monastery, where the devil tried three times to tempt Jesus during his forty days of prayer and fast. Steeped in both the Old and New Testaments, next to Jerusalem, it is the most excavated city in the Holy Land.

related post on Jericho

reprinted from December 2010

Light Rail, Circa 1935

The Lehigh Valley Transit Company ran a trolley between 8th and Hamilton and just outside Philadelphia between 1901 and 1951. In 1913 the company completed the 8th Street Bridge, which remains one of Allentown's icons to this day.



The Liberty Bell functioned as a trolley as it stopped in Coopersburg, Quakertown, Sellersville and the different towns along the way, but approached speeds of eighty miles a hour on the open track between them. At the last station in Upper Darby, passengers could transfer to a different company to complete the ride into center city Philadelphia.










Here in the Valley the company transitioned to buses by the early 1950's, and became part of Lanta in 1972. Lanta and Easton officials might take notice that the Allentown Ticket Office, shown in above photo, is only 75 feet from 8th and Hamilton, which was the center of the business district. The intercity rail beds are pretty much gone now. The same people who now advocate light-rail, couldn't wait to tear up the tracks and make bike paths.

reprinted from May 2010

St. Matthew's Monastery

St. Matthew's Monastery in Kurdish Iraq, one of the oldest Christian Institutions in the world, was built by Christians fleeing persecution in 363 AD. Today, 16 centuries later, Christians are once again seeking shelter there. In the last decade it has been estimated that half the Christians have left Iraq. Since the Baghdad Church bombing in October, some Christians are afraid to be seen wearing a cross; Others have fled with little more than the clothes on their back. Pray for them.

St. Matthew's is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church

reprinted from December 2010. Things have only gotten worse for the Christians in Iraq, many more have fled.

Allentown Injures Mayfair

While Mayor Pawlowski cuts ribbons for the hockey people, and pats himself on the back, Allentown health inspectors burped food vendors at Mayfair for $25 each. Additionally, they got out their thermometers and made sure everything was heated or cooled to their exact specifications. Over the years, I heard numerous complaints about the health department and their selective overzealous enforcement. I knew of several Hamilton Street merchants who had to make food a couple of degrees warmer or cooler, to sell in front of their business, although it just came from their kitchen inside the store. News of this sort of harassment circulates among vendors who do these sort of shows. Pawlowski should harass the contractor working on the 15th Street. The snail pace of that job, and the consequences to commerce on the southside, is an outrage.

photocredit:molovinsky/Allentown Fair 1999

The Unemployed Consigliere

Come the new year, and Bernie O'Hare could well be out of a job. How do you explain to unemployment that you're a consigliere, and have lost your influence at the government center? If Bernie fails to get the position renewed, it won't be from a lack of effort on his part. This week he actually compared John Callahan to Abraham Lincoln. Preparing for the worst, Bernie is willing to commute to work. In addition to Callahan, he will photograph and praise Tom Muller this fall, way beyond the normal bounds of good taste. The photograph shown here was taken yesterday. Bernie injured his back and was unable to exercise for three day, during which time he gained 70 pounds.

The Fire Tower Caper

A molovinsky on allentown exclusive. The residents of Allentown are being told that if we do not sell the fire training tower to the Lehigh Valley Hospital Laboratory for expansion, we're in danger of losing a large employer. It appears much more likely that it's the back end of a long standing plan, and that the hospital is accommodating us. There have been plans for at least two years for a new fire training facility, and the city has been soliciting grants for such. The multi-story, multi-million dollar training facility is to be built adjoining the police academy in Lehigh Parkway. The location is the road and hill currently used as the temporary exit road for the park,  and also used as the exit during the Lights In Parkway. In the past this area served the public as park land, used for many years by model plane enthusiasts. The new training center would bring all the heavy fire equipment from nearby counties, necessitating a wider road, moved further east of the current single lane exit road. This would be in line with the new park tradition of spreading more macadam. molovinsky on allentown has also learned that with new adjoining police and fire training facilities, there is discussion of a new position, Public Safety Director. The Director would oversee Police, Fire and EMS. The new position would require appropriate assistants and secretaries, in The City Without Limits.

reprinted from July 2012

UPDATE: Although this blog broke this story almost a year ago, it is now coming home to roost. As it turns out, the hospital now supposedly wants the additional space just for additional parking. Needless to say, there is plenty of room at Queen City to accommodate parking, without tearing down the existing fire training facility. The new facility in Lehigh Parkway would forever deny citizens previous park land and infringe upon the park's passive intent. Michael Rosenfeld, a former director of the Allentown Redevelopment Authority, spoke out against the new plans. Pawlowski's reply: "As a city resident, Mr. Rosenfeld ought to be ashamed of himself for trying to oppose this." In The City Without Limits, opposing opinion is limited.

Allentown City Council

The race that interested me most last evening was Allentown City Council. WFMZ, as of 10:00p.m., when over 65% of election returns were in, had not mentioned that contest even once. The result turns out to be exactly as I predicted. My problem is that I didn't make the prediction here on this blog. I actually said that if any of the non-incumbents win, it will be Daryl Hendricks. Although turnout yesterday was only 11%, Pawlowski/Fleck had their machine in operation. I noticed a campaign worker in the West End, Pawlowski sign on the car, clip board in hand, working 26th Street. The losing incumbent, Jeff Glazier, did come in fifth. How much of an agent of change Hendricks will be, remains to be seen. If he does assert himself, it will not be a game changer for Allentown. If a vote is 6 to 1, or 5 to 2, the Administration still gets it's way, regardless. Independents can still run for Council, and appear on the November Ballot. Let me now make my future prediction in writing. When Peter Schweyer resigns to take the new District 22 seat in Harrisburg, Jeff Glazier will be reappointed to City Council. election chart from WFMZ

The Crassness of Allentown

The last several days I have been overwhelmed by the crassness of Allentown. Despite a $billion dollars in development, Allentown will never be a destination, because like Charlie Tuna, it lacks taste. It has become a tangled web of demolition and grant fueled insider development. Buildings will be built, and people will work here, but at five o'clock they will exit the city as fast as the poorly planned streets will allow. Every decision in the last several years has been based on private avarice, and promoted as progress. Half of the population is in a survival mode, the other half indifferent. We have a newspaper with reporters knowing that new ownership is inevitable, safely not raking any mud, grateful to have a job, and hopeful to keep it. Thanks for your visit, vote today.

picture of a Krass Brother, Philadelphia merchant of clothes.

The Dam Difference Between Easton and Allentown

Excerpted from an article by Randy Kraft on the WFMZ Website.
Will removing a dam ultimately destroy a bridge in Allentown’s Lehigh Parkway? The Wildlands Conservancy has city approval to remove the dam in the Robin Hood section of the Parkway. ..But on Wednesday night, Allentown resident Michael Molovinsky suggested City Council rule that no decision will be made to remove the Robin Hood dam until it’s certain that the bridge won’t be jeopardized....  “It’s essential that we preserve this bridge and it’s not worth jeopardizing the bridge for what is essentially a science experiment for the wildlife conservancy. The bridge belongs to the citizens of Allentown," Molovinsky said.... City planning director Richard Young will look into Molovinsky’s contention that removing the dam will threaten the bridge. Young wants to review Wildlands Conservancy’s report on the planned removal of the dam, to see if it includes “scour calculations on those bridge substructures. I hope they did that.” Molovinsky doubts the conservancy did any engineering work regarding the impact removing the dam will have on the bridge. ...“The stress on that bridge has been pretty intense,” said City Council member Peter Schweyer. “We’ve had one accident there that took out part of the railing.”...  Molovinsky said the irony of the conservancy’s plan is that an LCA sewer line runs along the stream through the Parkway and overflows in heavy rains, putting sewage into the Little Lehigh. He said environmentalists consider removing dams a way to improve stream quality, but in this case “it’s just a token” because of that sewer line. “There’s a limit to how much you can improve stream quality when you have periodic sewage spills,” he said.
The above is excerpted from an article by Randy Kraft on the WFMZ Website.

Although The Morning Call didn't write one word about City Council interceding about the Robin Hood Dam, they did publish a report today about the dams in Easton. In the article, the Wildland's representative, Abigail Pattishall, is quoted as saying the Easton deliberation will take ten years. Here in Allentown, it took ten minutes, on the phone with the prior park director.

The Story of Three Dams

The title shown above was from my original post idea list, it's now actually four dams. The Wildlands Conservancy wants to insure their funding for a decade, and has added the Easton dam to their list. It seems as if in Easton, there is recognition of the dam's historical significance, having been built with the canal. Before I proceed, let me acknowledge that there is indeed a problem with the dam at Jordan Park. Another child was recently caught in the pipe that is part of that structure. That pipe should be blocked off immediately, even before that dam's fate is determined. The third dam in the news is the Lehigh dam by the Hamilton Street bridge. A Colorado company has shown interest in a small scale hydro electric turbine for that location. Shown above is the little Robin Hood Dam, adjoining the iconic Robin Hood Bridge. This dam, dating back to 1941, adds to the ambience and experience of Lehigh Parkway. Removal of the dam could well endanger the bridge, and consequently, parking and use of the park. City Council has committed to prohibiting it's removal, until which time all ramifications are considered.

They Shoot Horses

In the vernacular, the 1969 movie, They Shoot Horses, Don't They, about Depression era marathons, refers to ending the misery of suffering people. That's how I feel about elections, one day before Election Day. The voters have some interesting choices, in both the city and county races, but at this point in time, that's all this blogger wishes to say.

The Train Of Dorney Park

 By Wally Ely
 In 1934, times were tough — in the Lehigh Valley and throughout the United States. The Great Depression was rampant. Unemployment kept willing and able workers out of jobs, with some in food lines or soup kitchens. Dorney Park was just hanging on, waiting for better days. There was no way the park could afford anything new to keep interest in the amusements alive. Nobody could afford to come to the park in 1934, especially not to spend any money. Bob Plarr, park president, was not accustomed to sitting back, waiting and hoping for things to improve. Plarr had an acquaintance, Miles Erbor, from the nearby village of Wescosville. Erbor, known as Mike, ran a machine shop in his garage. Erbor floated his bright idea for a new ride at Dorney past Plarr, and he loved it! Erbor's thought was to build a miniature version of the national train sensation of the day, the Burlington Zephyr. He could do it economically, with many used parts he had on hand.... The new Zephyr traveled the route an old steam engine-powered open-air train had traveled around the west end of the park. The Zephyr Jr. started near the main crossing of Dorney Park road, which divided the park; it continued along Cedar Creek parallel to the Water Skooter boat ride and then passed the swimming pool and rumbled through a short storage building, which served as a tunnel. At the far end, the route approached the boating lake and began to circle back. On the return trip it passed the picnic groves, more Water Skooters, and finally the rocket ship ride and the old mill. A final turn across the bridge near the French fry stand brought the ride back to the beginning. The announcement of the new ride at Dorney Park was welcomed by the community; there weren't many positive announcements in those days. The public responded. Crowds appeared at the park to buy the nickel tickets for a Zephyr Jr. train ride. The nickels added up, and a new, steady cash flow helped pay the bills and enabled Dorney Park to ride out the Depression.....

The above is excerpted from a column written by Wally Ely which appeared in The Morning Call on May 5, 2013. The photo has been added.  Ely is a history,  train buff and author, who has written a book on Dorney Park.

The Mad Men of Allentown

Back in the day, the titans of Allentown would fill the five barberchairs of the Colonial Barbershop, 538 Hamilton Street. That was when the town had three department stores. That was when Wetherhold and Metzger had two shoe stores on Hamilton Street. That was when Harvey Farr would meet Donald Miller and John Leh at the Livingston Club for lunch, and discuss acquiring more lots for Park & Shop. By 1995 all that was gone, but Frank Gallucci, 82, would still give some old timers a trim. The Colonial Barbershop property, closed for many years, has been purchased by J.B. Reilly. It is my pleasure to present this previously unseen portrait of Gallucci, toward the end of his career.

 photocredit:molovinsky

The Dinosaurs of Sumner Avenue

Up to the early 1950's, Allentown was heated by coal, and much of it came from Sumner Avenue. Sumner was a unique street, because it was served by the West End Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The spur route ran along Sumner, until it crossed Tilghman at 17th Street, and then looped back East along Liberty Street, ending at 12th. Coal trucks would elevate up, and the coal would be pushed down chutes into the basement coal bins, usually under the front porches of the row houses. Several times a day coal would need to be shoveled into the boiler or furnace. By the early 1970's, although most of the coal yards were closed for over a decade, the machines of that industry still stood on Sumner Avenue. Eventually, they took a short trip to one of the scrap yards which are still on the avenue, but not before I photographed them.

photocredit: molovinsky

reprinted from December of 2011

The Coal Yards of Sumner Avenue

The West End Branch train line ran along Sumner Avenue, crossed Tilghman diagonally at 17th Street, then looped back east, at the northeastern end of the Fairgrounds, terminating at 12th and Liberty Streets. The branch allowed this area to become the coal district of Allentown, when city homes were mostly heated by that fuel. In the early 1970's,  I photographed Sumner Avenue. Although the coal era was mostly over, some relics still remained. Shown above is a coal sorter at the Morris Wisser Coal Company, at Fulton and Green Streets.

photocredit:molovinsky

Police Chief Hoopla

Despite a press conference about transparency and public input, sources have told molovinsky on allentown that  three contenders for Police Chief have already been picked, and provided me with the names. All these gentlemen have current or former ties to the Lehigh Valley. I will not reveal their names at this time, so as not to jeopardize their chances. Is it possible that the public is not really part of the decision? Would that be new for Allentown?
UPDATE:Please note that I have changed the word finalists to contenders. My sources state that at least one of contenders would drop out if his ultimate selection is in doubt. They expect Wasserman, the hired consultant, to bring at least three additional applicants to the table, for his fee.  Interesting how the mayor is promising public input this election year for something that is usually an executive decision.  It would have been nice if the public had a voice in the  trash to energy plant, the arena, the water lease or any of the previous decisions.  But,  you won't have a real voice this time either,  even City Council doesn't get that.

The Hamilton Street Bridge

The current Hamilton Street Bridge was completed in 1959, replacing the former steel trestle bridge. With the new Hamilton Street entrance ramp aligned further to the south, a small portion of front street and a few houses were vacated. Additionally, an entrance ramp was added from Union Street, which previously ended at Front Street. The photo above shows a portion of the earlier bridge and the former A&B meat packing plant, beyond their office building.  The office building has been incorporated into the America On Wheels Transportation Museum. lower photo shows entrance to former steel trestle bridge, with entrance ramp skirting A&B Packing House.

O'Hare Fumbles Assist To Browning

In a post last evening meant to bolster Dean Browning against Scott Ott, Bernie O'Hare inadvertingly raises some questions which could end up hurting Browning. O'Hare's premise was that Browning out-raised Ott two to one, and that half of Ott's donations came from local business woman, and County Commissioner, Lisa Scheller. An analysis of Browning's contributions show that half of his contributions came from out of state, and seem to be dominated by the private aviation industry. An anonymous comment on O'Hare's blog reveals that Browning works for Jeff Citron, a financier who received a monumental fine by the securities exchange. Bernie's fumble was that in criticizing a candidate for being supported by a locally respected business woman, it ended up being revealed that his candidate of choice, is supported by a national figure with a controversial reputation. None of this would normally interest me, except for one of my unwritten posts. In that post, never put to words before, I question if there is an attempt to sabotage The Lehigh Valley Airport. The board of directors seems to make one poor decision after another. Recently, they hired the private company director who failed to retain a major airline. They now have invested in a custom station for international flights, when they cannot even be competitive domestically. Cunningham appointed Pawlowski to the board when he knew that Pawlowski's sole interest was selling Queen City. The future County Executive could have a large role in deciding if that airport will ever serve the interests of the public, or just private aviation. I'll let O'Hare pick up the worms, he's the one who dropped the can.

Bernie's Over Enthusiasm

Occasionally, I have to take my fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare to task for his enthusiasm for one candidate over another. Me, I don't like anybody. Long time readers of O'Hare know that he likes Dean Browing, but dislikes Wayne Woodman and Scott Ott. He currently has a post demonizing Woodman's wife, Lisa Scheller, for contributing half of the funds raised by one commissioner candidate, $5,000. In another post today,  he accuses her of trying to subvert democracy, by contributing to the executive branch race, while she's a legislator. If he would apply the same aspersions to Brown's campaign report, he could report that Brown raised $5,000 each from two sources out of state. He also raised $2,500 or more from 14 more people out of state, many from Texas. He could say that Brown raised over $57,000 from interests outside of the state, almost as much as Ott raised altogether. Expect a long defense from O'Hare.

Angelina Jolie's Courage

This post is out of my normal comfort zone. I seldom use this space to comment on national or international issues, certainly not celebrity news. However, the disclosure by Angelina Jolie that she had a preventative double mastectomy, strikes me as very courageous. It would be courageous for any woman to make such a revelation, but for a sex appeal goddess, it took courage of notable mention. She will be an inspiration to other women conflicted by similar test results, showing the high probability of impending breast cancer. Her husband should be also commended for his support in her difficult decision and public disclosure.

Allentown's Park Dilemma

Last night, I had an opportunity to listen to some environmentalists express their wish list for our park system. I noticed an irony that they would never acknowledge. Although they support, in lockstep unison voice, riparian zones, they are equally concerned about invasive species. Seems as if these riparian, no mowed zones, are ripe for the proliferation of invasives. The control and removal of the invasives requires much more manpower than just cutting the grass; much more manpower than the park department and/or volunteers could ever realistically expend. I have heard, through numerous sources, that even the riparian zones that were supposedly expertly planted,  by the Wildland Conservancy, had no follow up maintenance. Invasives had to be controlled by mowing in the fall. In other words, these are taxpayer, grant funded science experiments, which compromise both the view and access to the streams, for no real purpose other than making the ecology types feel better about themselves. Perhaps, the classic park designers of yesteryear, actually knew more about sustainability than our green friends realize.

This classic postcard, circa 1945, shows Lehigh Parkway's east entrance, with the Boat Landing. In 2009, with help from friends, I uncovered the previously buried Landing. Support our historical park system.

The Barbershops of Allentown's Past

photocredit:molovinsky
I was never a frequent patron, but one of my reoccurring photographic interests was barbershops. Although Allentown now has more barbershops than ever, mine are from a different era. Some of the shops still exist, although the name and clientele has changed. Shown above is the former K&K, on S. 6th Street, still a barbershop. This image was taken in 1996.

All photos on this blog will enlarge when clicked.

The Parkway Bridge

General Harry Trexler hired Meehan and Associates, of Philadelphia, to design Lehigh Parkway's Robin Hood area. In 1935, when the WPA began it's park projects, Allentown was shovel ready. Although the General was killed in 1933, his trust was already established in 35, and helped fund the monumental structures. In addition to the park entrance wall, the WPA built the bridge, to provide a parking and a picnic area for park enjoyment. A dam was built 18 feet beyond the bridge, to complete the magic that has endured during the last 78 years. Although the WPA used experienced stone masons, they were not bridge engineers. The Wildland's Conservancy has received a grant to remove 9 dams, including the Robin Hood dam, by the bridge. How this removal will effect the durability of the bridge piers, and ambience of the Robin Hood, has not been considered. Although generally dam removal improves water quality, in this case, the net result would just be tokenism. A major sewage line runs right next to the stream, which occasionally overflows during heavy rains. To jeopardize the bridge, considering these realities, would be poor park management. The permission to remove this dam was given in the transition period between park directors. This evening, I will attend a meeting and have an opportunity to meet our new Park Director. Let the Conservancy instead remove 8 dams, and ensure that our WPA bridge is not endangered.

Images Of Allentown Past, #2

Tillie's Bakery, on the narrow 900 block of Liberty Street, was actually a family factory outlet store. Behind the house, whose living room served as the store, facing an alley called Fountain Street, was Long's Bakery. Long's produced small plastic wrapped shoefly pies and breakfast cakes, which were distributed in local grocery stores throughout Allentown. Tillie Long would open the bakery store several hours each day, and the small selection of wrapped bake goods would quickly be snatched up by knowledgeable neighbors. Peter and Tillie operated the factory and bakery front for the better part of a century. Afterwards, the business was operated by their son, William. The bakery building on Fountain Street is now apartments.

The Bicycle Lanes Of Allentown

In what will be neither scenic or safe, Allentown is starting to mark off it's new bike lanes. One lane of Turner Street in center city will be eastbound, while westbound will waste one lane of Linden Street. The lanes will be virtually unused by bicyclists, but will succeed in congesting traffic during the weekday business hours. Here's an opportunity for our ten City Council candidates to chime in on the wisdom of this project. Although the plan received virtually no support during the planning stage, Pawlowski went ahead with it anyway. I will periodically change the photograph used on this post during the next couple days. Pedal on my spandex friends.
UPDATE:  I have just been informed by a reader that I misunderstood the new plan, the the symbol is for Shared Lane Use, called Sharrow.  The right lane can be used by both motorists and bicyclists, with the bicyclist permitted to use the middle of the lane.  How many center city residents will know the meaning and protocol for the symbol?    I'm relieved that the city modified it's original bike only lane plan.  Apparently, the Administration decided to go ahead and spend the money with the stencil company.  Check back for changing photographs.

As Allentown Turns

Linden Street is reduced to one lane today, as a private contractor installs stencils on the street for the bike lane. I had forgotten about this idiotic plan. Let us hope that the projections for the arena's success are more realistic than their vision for the bike lane's use. Also observed on my patrol today was the unbelievably slow progress of the 15th Street Bridge project. More concrete and steel is completed in one day on the arena and City Center buildings, than has yet to be completed on the bridge. The entire southside of Allentown remains prisoner to misplaced priorities. Talking of misplaced priorities, yesterday the Administration applauded itself for starting the eastside fire house, a year and half late.
UPDATE: ABOUT THIS POSTCARD- Earlier this week I used a postcard of Lehigh Parkway in the Give A Damn, Save A Dam post.  Both cards have a similar coloration and were photographed by Harold Becraft in the early 1950's.  Becraft was a photographer from Suffern N.Y.,  who produced many of the images used in the postcards of Allentown's parks.  These cards were produced locally by E.H. Schall Co.  In addition to Becraft's name on the front, they're also marked Kodachrome.  Although Becraft did many park scenes for Schall, the image shown above is one of his few cityscapes.