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.

Jerry and The Cookie Lady

I'd usually pull in around 6:30 a.m., Jerry had the coffee made and maybe a deputy sheriff or two had already arrived. Downtown is nice in the early morning, most of the unsavory characters are not early risers. Jerry had opened the coffee and cold sandwich shop in around 2004 in the 500 Block of Hamilton Street. By 7:30 several City Councilmen, a few cops, a couple of gadflies and other assorted early morning types would be pontificating on solutions for Allentown. It sure didn't hurt Allentown to have twenty or so gainfully employed people start their day on Hamilton Street. Jerry had started his shop the old fashion way, with his own money. Toward the end of 2005, to accommodate several customers, Jerry made a few eggs on a flat George Forman Grill. Come 2006, the new regime insisted on a code compliant grill, exhaust and fire suppression system, for a couple eggs; The necessary architectural drawings alone would cost thousands. Because his location in the building didn't lend itself to a feasible exhaust system, Jerry was forced to relocate. Again, totally with his own money, Jerry moved his shop up to the corner of 7th and Hamilton. I'll spare all the details, but he could have built a nuclear reactor with no more bureaucracy. Jerry will never recoup his investment (his life savings) because the city closed the building in 2008 because of violations on upper floors which were not in use. That abuse of power is chronicled on several posts on this blog.

Vicky, the cookie lady, opened her very small shop about the same time the city was forcing Jerry out of business. Her shop, Vicky's Sweet Spot, opened in a building operated by one developer who received multiple facade grants from the city. These locations are easily identifiable from the same appearance, stained wood fronts. Although Vicky's shop is only about 250 sq. ft., only sold coffee and cookies, she received a $10,000 restaurant grant from The City of Allentown. Her grant and other similar ones are chronicled on several posts on this blog and of course she was introduced on Allentown Good News. I patronized her shop several times. The last time, right before she closed the business earlier this year, I noticed she was making eggs on a small grill.

I shouldn't have to elaborate on the conclusions, but there are so many apologists in this city, let me spell it out. One man invests his life savings, works his butt off, and gets nothing but grief from City Hall. Another person gets set up for a free ride at taxpayer expense. Vicky's, even after first opening, kept irregular hours and was often closed. I doubt if the whole show; rent, equipment, etc. used up the 10 grand; maybe that's why she called it the Sweet Spot.

reprinted from Aug. 18, 2009

related story: The Morning Call

Wagon Trail Report

The Wagon Trail cleanup in several ways remains a work in progress. Greg Weitzel and myself actually cooperated on this project. I agreed that no power or heavy tools would be used, and he arranged for the City to pick up the rubbish that would be collected. Andrew Kleiner, young liberal environmental science student, and author of the blog Remember, got to meet conservative Republican Robert Romancheck, who has a doctorate in Environmental Science. Joining Romancheck and Michael Schware doing the physical work, was the mystery woman. I only know her initials, and she insists on remaining anonymous. She has worked at previous park projects as well. What I suspected was a large rug covered in dirt, turned out to be a large pile of dirt with a few pieces of rug. All debris was removed from the trail. The large tree which blocks the last third of the trail remains. It's removal will require chain saws and City approval. The photo, taken by Andrew Kleiner, shows Bryan Kleiner on the left and Dr. Romancheck in the middle.

The Blogger, Part 2

We here in the Valley are blessed to have the THE BLOGGER EXTRAORDINAIRE to both inform and conform us. Tirelessly attending one meeting after another, five nights a week, at the midnight hour he bestows praise upon the deserving and criticism upon the weak. Bending the truth like putty, faster than a speeding Lanta Bus, all opposing comments are dismissed as non sequiturs, personal attacks and off topic.......to be continued

The above is a reprint from my post of September 22, 2009, but little has changed with Bernie O'Hare, aka here as Jimmy Olsen. Yesterday, no less than three bloggers came under attack; myself, Michael Donovan and LVCI. My attack resulted from taking one of his chosen to task. Conveniently, after bashing me, an anonymous commentator came on Bernie's site, and added insults remarkably resembling comments that Bernie himself has made about me in the past.

Bernie constantly flatters some favorites, and likewise criticizes others. Yesterday's news about Lehigh County not completely depleting it's reserve funds in 2009 far exceeds The Morning Call's report. Bernie features beloved Donny boy on his blog today; with his best picture, press release statements and charts. At the same time there is not a single word about Ron Angle's newest awkward lawsuit, against his own father's estate, when he slipped on the ice visiting his father in 2008. Rest assure Bernie will compose a spin to make us dizzy. I will be accused of attacking people's integrity and calling them liars. Of course Bernie is less concerned with my integrity or reputation. Some people will comment that they prefer not to read these blog wars; fine, stop reading, nobody is forcing you. My blog has a few missions, confronting hypocrisy is one of them.
ADDENDUM: Bernie O'Hare, on one of this recent posts, writes the following comment to me today

Your comments are no longer welcome on this thread. You are unable to stick to the subject being discussed bc you are always caught up in your personal vendettas an petty grievances. This is not the place for personal attacks against ......

This is the classic O'Hare double talk, double standard to which this post addresses. Count on Bernie to deliver a fresh example day in and out. Bernie linked to a post because it was his favorite flavor of blog candy; a blogger he likes, attacking a politican he doesn't like, for bad manners; but my questions about the blogger's manners are off topic?
click here for Bernie's double talk, comment 36

The Synagogues of Jerusalem

Except when barred by one conqueror or another, Jews had lived in Jerusalem since King David. Prior to Jordanian rule in 1948, there was a Jewish majority for 150 years. In 1864, eight thousand of the fifteen thousand population was Jewish. By 1914, two thirds of the sixty five thousand residents were Jewish. In 1948 the United Nations Partition Plan divided the British Mandate of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. Jerusalem was to be initially an international city, with access guaranteed for all. This plan was rejected by the surrounding Arab nations, which attacked Israel in concert immediately upon the UN vote. When the truce was declared, Israel had survived, but East Jerusalem(walled Old City) was in procession of TransJordan. The Jordanians subsequently destroyed over 50 synagogues in the Jewish Quarter, which dated back to the 1400's. For hundreds of years both Christians and Jews were prohibited from building higher than Muslim structures. The few synagogues which survived were the ones built mostly below street level. The oldest surviving synagogue, The Jerusalem Synagogue, was built by the Karaite Jews in around 900. Shown above is the Ben Kakai, a Sephardic Synagogue built in the 16th Century.

Perhaps the most famous synagogue destroyed by the Jordanians was the Ashkenazi Hurva Synagogue built in 1720, it's dome visible in the top center of this photograph from the 1920's. It's replacement has just been completed.

Jerusalem

In the city of awe-inspiring sites, the most imposing is The Dome of the Rock. The Dome covers the Rock from which Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven to receive a message from Allah. The Jews believe the rock is the Foundation Stone, from which the world was created. On it, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac and the Ark of the Covenant stood when the Temple occupied the Mount. The Mount and Temple was enlarged by Herod, during the lifetime of Jesus.

Jews pray at the retaining wall, The Western Wall, which survived the Temple's destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D. The bottom four rows of stones date from Herod, below current street level, there are 17 more layers.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is west of the Temple Mount. The first church was built on the site in the 4th century. Christians believe the church encompasses both the sites; where Jesus was crucified, and also buried and rose from the dead.