They Shoot Horses

In the vernacular, the 1969 movie, They Shoot Horses, Don't They, about Depression era marathons, refers to ending the misery of suffering people. That's how I feel about elections, one day before Election Day. The voters have some interesting choices, in both the city and county races, but at this point in time, that's all this blogger wishes to say.

The Train Of Dorney Park

 By Wally Ely
 In 1934, times were tough — in the Lehigh Valley and throughout the United States. The Great Depression was rampant. Unemployment kept willing and able workers out of jobs, with some in food lines or soup kitchens. Dorney Park was just hanging on, waiting for better days. There was no way the park could afford anything new to keep interest in the amusements alive. Nobody could afford to come to the park in 1934, especially not to spend any money. Bob Plarr, park president, was not accustomed to sitting back, waiting and hoping for things to improve. Plarr had an acquaintance, Miles Erbor, from the nearby village of Wescosville. Erbor, known as Mike, ran a machine shop in his garage. Erbor floated his bright idea for a new ride at Dorney past Plarr, and he loved it! Erbor's thought was to build a miniature version of the national train sensation of the day, the Burlington Zephyr. He could do it economically, with many used parts he had on hand.... The new Zephyr traveled the route an old steam engine-powered open-air train had traveled around the west end of the park. The Zephyr Jr. started near the main crossing of Dorney Park road, which divided the park; it continued along Cedar Creek parallel to the Water Skooter boat ride and then passed the swimming pool and rumbled through a short storage building, which served as a tunnel. At the far end, the route approached the boating lake and began to circle back. On the return trip it passed the picnic groves, more Water Skooters, and finally the rocket ship ride and the old mill. A final turn across the bridge near the French fry stand brought the ride back to the beginning. The announcement of the new ride at Dorney Park was welcomed by the community; there weren't many positive announcements in those days. The public responded. Crowds appeared at the park to buy the nickel tickets for a Zephyr Jr. train ride. The nickels added up, and a new, steady cash flow helped pay the bills and enabled Dorney Park to ride out the Depression.....

The above is excerpted from a column written by Wally Ely which appeared in The Morning Call on May 5, 2013. The photo has been added.  Ely is a history,  train buff and author, who has written a book on Dorney Park.

The Mad Men of Allentown

Back in the day, the titans of Allentown would fill the five barberchairs of the Colonial Barbershop, 538 Hamilton Street. That was when the town had three department stores. That was when Wetherhold and Metzger had two shoe stores on Hamilton Street. That was when Harvey Farr would meet Donald Miller and John Leh at the Livingston Club for lunch, and discuss acquiring more lots for Park & Shop. By 1995 all that was gone, but Frank Gallucci, 82, would still give some old timers a trim. The Colonial Barbershop property, closed for many years, has been purchased by J.B. Reilly. It is my pleasure to present this previously unseen portrait of Gallucci, toward the end of his career.

 photocredit:molovinsky

The Dinosaurs of Sumner Avenue

Up to the early 1950's, Allentown was heated by coal, and much of it came from Sumner Avenue. Sumner was a unique street, because it was served by the West End Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The spur route ran along Sumner, until it crossed Tilghman at 17th Street, and then looped back East along Liberty Street, ending at 12th. Coal trucks would elevate up, and the coal would be pushed down chutes into the basement coal bins, usually under the front porches of the row houses. Several times a day coal would need to be shoveled into the boiler or furnace. By the early 1970's, although most of the coal yards were closed for over a decade, the machines of that industry still stood on Sumner Avenue. Eventually, they took a short trip to one of the scrap yards which are still on the avenue, but not before I photographed them.

photocredit: molovinsky

reprinted from December of 2011

The Coal Yards of Sumner Avenue

The West End Branch train line ran along Sumner Avenue, crossed Tilghman diagonally at 17th Street, then looped back east, at the northeastern end of the Fairgrounds, terminating at 12th and Liberty Streets. The branch allowed this area to become the coal district of Allentown, when city homes were mostly heated by that fuel. In the early 1970's,  I photographed Sumner Avenue. Although the coal era was mostly over, some relics still remained. Shown above is a coal sorter at the Morris Wisser Coal Company, at Fulton and Green Streets.

photocredit:molovinsky

Police Chief Hoopla

Despite a press conference about transparency and public input, sources have told molovinsky on allentown that  three contenders for Police Chief have already been picked, and provided me with the names. All these gentlemen have current or former ties to the Lehigh Valley. I will not reveal their names at this time, so as not to jeopardize their chances. Is it possible that the public is not really part of the decision? Would that be new for Allentown?
UPDATE:Please note that I have changed the word finalists to contenders. My sources state that at least one of contenders would drop out if his ultimate selection is in doubt. They expect Wasserman, the hired consultant, to bring at least three additional applicants to the table, for his fee.  Interesting how the mayor is promising public input this election year for something that is usually an executive decision.  It would have been nice if the public had a voice in the  trash to energy plant, the arena, the water lease or any of the previous decisions.  But,  you won't have a real voice this time either,  even City Council doesn't get that.