The Sad Secrets Of Union Terrace

The pond at Union Terrace was created for a particular activity. Only the steel sculptor cutouts of ice skaters remain as a testimony to that purpose and era. The Cedar Creek divides into two branches on the north side of the pond. The western branch flows in front of the amphitheater stage, separating it from the terraces. The eastern branch flows on the other side of the pond, near the elementary school. That smaller branch also flows under Union Street. Shown above is the opening under Union Street, next to the school;  It's not much of a lesson or example for the school children. I would like to tell you that the litter and garbage is recent, but it's been there for a long time. Although the city is generous with tickets and fines to homeowners, they're pretty lenient with their own negligence. Things will only get worse when the water department separates from the city next month.

Duck Farm and Hotel

At the turn of the last century Allentonians could take a day trip out to Griesemerville, and spend the day at the Duck Farm and Hotel. The trolley, operated by Reading Traction Company, actually went through the Duck Farm building. That same trolley would continue west and go through or under the Dorney Park roller coaster. Today, Griesemerville is known as Union Terrace, or more precisely, Joseph S.  Daddona Lake and Terrace. The Hotel portion still exists as an apartment house. Heading west,  cross the Reading Road stone arch bridge, built in 1824, and the former hotel is the first building on your right. Note the bridge in the lower left of the above news clipping. This blog is proud to have played a part in preserving the bridge, and my hope is that the County of Lehigh will formally recognize the bridge's historic value, and secure it's future. Collectors of Lehigh Valley historic memorabilia can still find  Duck Farm postcards.

news clipping courtesy of Danny Ruth

No Sewage Leak At Union Terrace

There is no sewage leaking from the Union Street Bridge construction site. A set of circumstances steered me to an erroneous concern, and another postponed this clarification, until now. Allentown water drinkers must be content with their fecal input from the overflowing manhole covers along the Little Lehigh. Continuing today's theme of broken eggs, I suppose I may have some on my face. Although I apologize for any offense this blog caused anybody connected with the bridge project, my scrutiny will continue; The construction site is transversed by aging water and sewer mains. Residents of Allentown don't have many independent eyes looking after them. We are a one party town, with less than an energized press. I will endure an occasional unfounded concern as part of the mission.

Breaking Some Eggs

I'm afraid that once again some eggs got dropped in the 2011 recipe for molovinsky on allentown. Don't blame this chef if the politicians and newspaper don't always deal from the top of the deck, and I take notice. This blog realized early on that Zahorchak's Pathway to Success was anything but, and apparently responded appropriately, considering his departure before school ended. Along the way, The Morning Call helped itself to one of my reports, and defended the snatch. Those dropped eggs are a mess. Speaking of eggs, one of my favorite posts of the year was titled Boxing Eggs. In that post, I recall working in my father's market, and the ride there. Such posts allow me to introduce Allentown history, and share photographs of that by-gone era. I also promote 95 year old boxers, who fought in the 1930's. Occasionally. I get to combine history and current political mistakes, such as in Saving the Queen City. I also stretch the recipe to advocate, be it for the abused former merchants of Hamilton Street, or the neglected WPA park structures. The comment section of molovinsky on allentown is moderated. I reject repetitive and off topic submissions. Your readership, as always, is greatly appreciated.
UPDATE: I have reprinted the post above from January 2012 because once again I have broken some eggs, this time with my Sewer Leak, Maybe post at Union Terrace. Although I hoped to post a conclusive update by now, myself and others continue to be confused by some unusual devices being deployed on site.

Allentown, Flush With Cash

We in the peanut gallery, the citizens and taxpayers, were shocked by the subtitle in a recent Morning Call article. Pawlowski wants to buy a portion of Queen City Airport, and the reporter wrote about Allentown, Now flush with water lease money. Although the article dealt with buying a garage and eight acres currently leased by the city street department, silly us thought that money was in a lock box, to be used to pay down the police pension obligation. Let's talk more of our ignorance and silliness. Although I followed the water lease pretty closely, I never realized that we would have to form a new department to handle the storm sewer system, which was maintained by the former water department. What other issues and costs were omitted to prevent proper due diligence on the water lease question? Queen City is in real jeopardy as an airport. Mayor For Life Pawlowski covets it, and was appointed to the Airport Authority by Smiling Donny Cunningham. Airport Authority Chairman, Tony Iannelli, said that they need money and that the offer makes sense. I think it's time for some new blood on that airport authority.

Sewer Leak Problem, Maybe

I was a smoker for over 40 years, so I don't smell much, but I can smell the odor from the water on the other side of the cofferdam, shown above. This is a difficult post to write, because both the construction company and the city say there's no leak, no problem. I can tell you that the water on the northern end of the trench, shown above, is greenish and putrid. Water on the southern end of the trench, being dug for a new storm sewer line, is much cleaner and doesn't smell. I can tell you that the green putrid water is being pumped out by a long hose, across the creek, where it is being treated by a large filter device, just south of the amphitheater stage. It is my fear that perhaps a sanitary sewer line was either nicked in the excavation, or a previously leaking line was unearthed. As an advocate for the parks, I feel compelled to shine a light on this situation, awkward as it may be. If my fear is unfounded, which I hope it is, my apology to any offended parties. The Allentown drinking water is taken from that creek, about a mile downstream.
UPDATE: Both the title and text of this post have been revised.
UPDATE Wednesday July 17, 2013: Further inquires indicate that there is NOT a sewage leak. I hope to be able to write a separate, conclusive correction to this post in the near future.

Sabotaging Our History

Glenn Solt, Director of Public Works for Lehigh County, is used to getting his way. During the Cunningham era he had quite the run at replacing bridges. First he started with the bridges that needed replacing, then he continued on to other bridges, after establishing a relationship with certain engineering firms and contractors. Shown above is the Reading Road Stone Arch Bridge, built in 1824. It was completely refurbished in 1980, with a pedestrian bridge added at that time. Although state inspectors deemed the bridge satisfactory, Solt set his sights on it anyway. It's historical aspect means absolutely nothing to him. He told a blogging associate that those old stone bridges are filled with crap on the inside. Although the County Commissioners saved the bridge by not authorizing the release of the funds for the engineering contract, Solt is trying to have the last say by denying normal maintenance to the historic structure. The bridge surface has not been sealed in years, the inside stones have not been pointed, nor has the rusting beam on the pedestrian span been painted. Lehigh Valley has a bad habit of neglecting maintenance on any structure that ever had any discussion concerning replacement. That is exactly why Allentown's 15th Street Bridge was allowed to rust away. Perhaps it's the Public Works Directors that need replacing.