Men's Stuff, 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.

Men's Stuff, Freight Trolleys and Shenanigans

This was supposed to be a Men's Stuff post, about the working cars on the Lehigh Valley Transit Company. Doing research for the previous post on that company, I became fascinated that they operated a freight operation with the trolley cars. I started acquiring documentation and photographs about the working cars necessary for such an operation. They built power substations throughout the valley that generated electric, then converted the AC to DC for their use. The rolling stock required coal trolleys, wire stringing trolleys, snowplow trolleys, and etc. I will present these black and white photo treasures in future posts, because I got side tracked by a shenanigan; you know me. Lehigh Valley Transit operated out of the Fairview Carbarn, which Lanta still uses off of Lehigh Street. Despite a trolley fleet that covered the entire City, plus the remainder of the Valley (Bethlehem and Easton), all the Men's Stuff working cars, and trolley service to Philadelphia, Lanta now needs Bicentennial BallPark because they acquired five (5) new hybrid buses? Supposedly these five new buses require a special garage. Although the Fairview facility now handles 78 regular buses, the ballfield has to go because of the five new hybrids.

men only: enlarge freight trolley by clicking on image

Why Poverty Square?

Earlier this week, readers of the local blogosphere wondered why Mayor Pawlowski would want a low income, low-rise in Center Square? Although the question was never answered, curiosity now centers on who will win the Sestak-Specter race? Our short memories serve our elected officials well. Pawlowski wants the project because he is a low income housing advocate who is currently serving as Mayor. Pawlowski came to Allentown in the mid 90's and successfully turned the Alliance for Building Communities into a growth industry. In 1998, when then Mayor Heydt won a national HUD award for making low-income homeowners, much of the credit rested with Pawlowski.

The city three years ago identified the need for homeownership in center city and its collar neighborhoods, and has since worked with the various city departments, the Allentown Neighborhood Housing Services, Lehigh County, Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, the state Department of Community and Economic Development, Housing Association and Development Corp., Alliance for Building Communities....*

When Afflerbach, as a mayoral candidate, announced that he would appoint Pawlowski as Community Development Director, that decision was praised by the low income advocates.

Mr. Pawlowski intimately knows what it takes to make downtown a better place to live and work. It has been his organization's mission to help provide affordable housing in Allentown and five counties. ABC operates on a budget of $3 million and manages more than 300 apartment units. As a result of this experience, Mr. Pawlowski understands the issues, dynamics and financial aspects of housing, knowledge that will help him and the new administration improve the city's housing stock.**

As Director, Pawlowski shepherded the PennRose income restricted project to Center Square. Voters shouldn't be surprised when a Republican talking point slips out of Specter's mouth, or when Pawlowski advocates for low income housing.

*July 02, 1998/ by Joe McDermott, The Morning Call
** November 30, 2001/ The Morning Call

I'm Historical

Brian's Callaway's story on the Whitehall Historic District made me feel my age. I clearly remember when the buildings mentioned were brand new. The District lies between Allentown's border, at the bridge over Sumner Ave. on 7th Street, and Route 22.






The photo, by Monica Cabrera, which accompanied the story, showed a supermarket from the early 1950's. Disturbing, was the fact that the story didn't mention that the structure was built as a Penn Fruit Supermarket, known for the distinctive barrel roof design. Although several people were quoted in the story, apparently such historical facts predate them all. Perhaps I should buy the hair dye while I still have some hair.

A Tale of Two Cities

"We're a medium-size city

with big-city crime."
   -Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown

For those of us who grew up in Allentown, we always considered ourselves a medium-sized city with a small town feel. We were literally designated the All American City. One of the most amazing aspects of this transformation, is that our total population has essentially stayed the same since 1928, when we first achieved 100,000 people. Twenty years ago we lamented the loss of Hess Brothers and other symbols of our prosperity, now we mourn the loss of basic civility and safety.

A Lesson at Bucky Boyle Park

The Community Development Block Grant, as well as the Weed and Seed and all the other expensive programs, address quality of life issues in center city. None of the problems is more apparent, on a daily basis, than littering. On Sunday, Andrew Kleiner taught a dozen kids an appreciation of a litter free environment, at no cost to the tax payer. I know that Andrew would make an excellent teacher, but he better learn about budgets, appropriations, grants, complicating things and wasting money, if he ever wants to be a bureaucrat.

related article: The litter pickup at Bucky Boyle

School Safety Issue Discussion in Comment Section