A lot of posts on this blog start out as an extension of my own experience and/or interest in local history. Some of the posts grow out of my interest in my family's history. In addition to this blog, about a year ago I started a facebook group named Allentown Chronicles. Although there were several existing groups based on local nostalgia, I foresaw a group which went beyond who has the best cheesesteaks. Enforcing the group guidelines has alienated some people, but I believe others appreciate the intent.
While the facebook group does have some material seemingly lifted from wikipedia, original pieces have also been submitted. Among my favorites are people's personal snapshots of growing up in Allentown, or the greater Lehigh Valley. Where I'm headed to is a post about my father's meat market in Easton, unfortunately with no corresponding photograph.
I often tell younger people that they should ask questions of their older relatives, because the answers will not be around forever. My father was a workaholic, who had no interest or time for such questions. Although I have researched the history of his Allentown meat market, the one in Easton has proven much more difficult.
The market in Allentown was in the front of a larger building, with the back portion being a former meat packing house. The Easton shop, called Melbern, was a small market contained in the first floor of a former row house. The name came from my father Melvin, and his brother/partner at the time, Bernard. It was located at 34 S. 4th Street, near Pine Street, which was then a very narrow alley. On the corner of Pine was John's luncheonette, which also served Chinese food. Next to John's was Melbern. The buildings were later demolished to make Pine into a wider street. Two partners in another meat business, Drucker and Young, set up the shop for a meat market. However, they were taken to court by another butcher named Brill, who had purchased their former market on Washington Street, with a non-competition clause. I surmise that they were forced to not open their new market on S. 4th, and sold the operation to my father and uncle. Drucker and Young also operated for many years in the Nazareth Farmers Market.
I worked at the Easton market on weekends and summers during high school. Needless to say, I never inquired about the store's history, nor did my father ever mention such things.
The photograph above is of the Allentown meat market, taken after it was closed, but prior to being demolished. To my knowledge, no photograph of the Easton market exists.
reprinted from June of 2020
