The Lehigh Valley At War

If you lived in the Lehigh Valley during either World War, you knew that those victories required an enormous amount of equipment. Mack Truck was under control of the War Department during both conflicts, starting in 1915 and then again in 1942. The Queen City Airport on Lehigh Street is a vestige of the second war. Mack Truck and Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft joined forces to produce planes and plane parts. Mack's biggest contribution was it's trucks, establishing their reputation for durability. The naval gun shop at Bethlehem Steel was one of the largest in the world when built. With barrels up to 14 inches, it was capable of providing up to 30 guns a day.

Mack Trucks for War Department 1918

Protect Your Water

By the time this postcard was made in the early 1900's, Allentown was already insuring it's residents of clean water for decades. The water tower shown on the upper left was east of the current YMCA on South 15th Street. If the current Administration has it's way, that responsibility will no longer be a municipal obligation. This evening, Thursday January 3th at 6pm, City Council will conduct a special meeting and decide if they will respect the petition with over 4,500 signatures, and indeed put the issue to the people by ballot referendum. By attending this evening's meeting you can tell Council that you do want to retain ownership of our water, and that you will hold them accountable for their vote.  The citizen action committee, that has worked so hard to protect our water, reminds both us and Council:
  The Council shall protect and promote the rights of the citizens of the City of Allentown to participate in a positive and constructive manner in the government of the City. Any citizen of the City may participate in the government of the City by [among other things] exercising the right of initiative and referendum as provided in this Charter or as otherwise may be provided by law.

  We don't need to privatize the water to solve the city's pension woes. Privatizing Allentown water is the most costly option.

 http://www.facebook.com/SaveAllentownsWater

Petitioners' Committee Contact: Bill Hoffman 484-695-1157 email: wjhoffman10@gmail.com

UPDATE: Suburban Wake Up Call
Residents of municipalities surrounding Allentown, served by the Lehigh County Authority with water, will be affected by the Water Lease Plan soon enough. Today's Morning Call reports that the Authority started using more Allentown water, with plans to increase the amount in coming years. A sale to a private company will eventually adversely effect the cost of that commodity. Suburban leaders saw fit to protect their citizens in regard to the NIZ tax grab last year, they should certainly do no less in regard to their drinking water. The townships mistakenly believe that they're protected by long term contracts, which would be inherited by the new operator. The devil will be in the pass along capital improvement costs. Unlike the NIZ, which only affected their citizens who worked in downtown Allentown, this plan will effect every property owner. Their silence on this matter is incomprehensible.

UPDATE: (9:30 am)   I have just received notice from the City Clerk that the meeting has been rescheduled for January 8th, at 6:00pm

A Different Past For The Baby Boomers

Little Lehigh Manor was built for the returning GI's after the War. It was a self contained development of several hundred brick twin houses, nestled between Lehigh Parkway and Lehigh Street. It had it's own elementary school, and nearby grocery stores. Although this development may have been more idyllic than some older area's in Allentown, it shared it's best feature with the rest of the city; It was a neighborhood. I hear these same memories from people in my generation who grew up on the East Side, across the river in the Ward, or center city at 9th and Chew. Great mentoring occurred at the Boys and Girls Clubs, and another dozen organizations devoted to the community's youth. Although there were economic differences and poverty, they seemed to have less of an effect on quality of life and opportunity than now. Perhaps it was the massive number of children from the Baby Boom that created a communal sense of caring among the parents and organizations, but something special seems missing today.

picture dates from around 1949. An enterprising photographer brought a pony around the neighborhood as an alluring prop.

End Of A Legend

When Joe Louis retired as Heavyweight Champion in 1949, he had beat all challengers for a dozen years. Before winning the title, he had avenged the only loss in his career by knocking out Germany's Max Schmeling, in one of the most famous fights in ring history. The only man he feared was the tax man, who wouldn't let Joe rest. On October 26, 1951, he climbed back into the ring to fight a young, undefeated Rocky Marciano, who had won 31 out of 36 fights by knockout. In the eighth round, the aging legend was knocked through the ropes, down and out, in what would be his last fight.

reprinted from May 2011

One More Purse

In August of 1951, thirteen years after energizing the country's morale by knocking out Germany's Max Schmeling, an aging Joe Louis was fighting again to pay back taxes. The Brown Bomber had first retired as undefeated champion in 1949, after winning 61 fights starting in 1934. In two more months, on October 26, 1951, Rocky Marciano would knock him out and threw the robes. It would be the last time Joe Louis would fight.

Photo: fighting Cesar Brion, Louis wins in 10 round decision.

reprinted from August 2010

Securing Our Assets

During the World War we secured our assets with armed guards. The private police force at Bethlehem Steel outnumbered the City's police force. Last week, Wayne LaPierce, vice president of the NRA, outraged the liberal element when he suggested policeman for our schools. The president of the Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, responded: Schools must be safe sanctuaries, not armed fortresses. Anyone who would suggest otherwise doesn’t understand that our public schools must first and foremost be places where teachers can safely educate and nurture our students. An unintended consequence of this debate was the frenzy it created at gun stores across America. Although the figures have not yet been compiled, it may have resulted in the sale of an additional 30 million firearms, especially those of high capacity. Weingarten must consider that even if the sale of firearms were banned tomorrow, there will still be over 200 million guns in the United States. I believe that a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines does not infringe upon the Second Amendment. However, whatever changes are implemented in regard to the sale of firearms, it will take decades to affect the volume of weapons currently in private hands. In the meantime, I don't think that a friendly policeman at a school is a bad role model. We must guard our assets.