Allentown Chronicles Going Private

Several years ago, I started a new local Facebook group titled Allentown Chronicles.  My goal was for a group somewhat more historically oriented than the existing nostalgia groups, where members keep asking which shop had the best pizza or chili sauce. There's nothing wrong with nostalgia, and those groups are very popular, but there was no need for an additional one.

As administrator I have rejected countless people, from mostly the third world, who would like to sell the members a sweatshirt with Allentown printed on it.  While this was burdensome, I preferred  keeping the group public so that any current or former Allentonian had easy access.  The ever changing Facebook is now changing the guidelines, and anybody can join a public group without approval. 

On November 8th the group will become private. If you have been visiting the page but haven't yet joined, you may want to do so in the next few days. 

Shown above was a father promoting the Easter Egg Hunt in Little Lehigh Manor in the 1950's. Allentown has changed a lot since then, and the group-- through posts and personal anecdotes-- tries to provide a place for these recollections. 

photo courtesy of the Williams' family

above reprinted from November 5, 2021 

ADDENDUM APRIL 6, 2026: The Chronicles has continued to grow, and is pushing toward 11k members. While my posts there still reflect my personal experiences, more posts by others are becoming Wikipedia based. I have relaxed the guidelines somewhat, but try and keep the group unique. 

Here on Molovinsky, things have become somewhat more chaotic. My disillusionment with the Trump administration has alienated some of my readers. My unwillingness to continually beat up Tuerk has alienated some others. Allentown is a very different city than the one I grew up in. I still take the city, and especially the park department to task, but for 2020 standards, not those from 1955. And I still appreciate your readership.