The Trains Of Allentown

As a blogger, at the moment, I need a rest from those bureaucracies which I find so exasperating, and perhaps visa versa. I suppose it would be a good time to stop and reminisce some more about trains, both model and real. Shown above was the real deal when the 0 gauge was king. Before I go too far, let me state that growing up I never had a train. For a few years I had a friend whose father, looking back, was rather obsessed with the hobby. He had the transformer shown. It was 275 watts, and could operate four trains and an assortment of accessories. For many years, Bloch's Hobby Store, in the 400 block of 7th Street, was a model train expert. Trains were also sold at Pollard's Firestone Tire Store, also on 7th Street.

I've presented a number of Barber Quarry branch line photographs in previous posts. The one below shows the siding at the former Traylor Engineering Plant on S. 10th Street, now owned by the AEDC. About 20 years ago the track was removed for the entire  length of the former rail line.
  photogragh by Mark Rabenold, 1987

reprinted from April of 2013

Thank You Jarrett Coleman

Students of this blog know that I don't make nice with much, people or institutions. I would like to express my gratitude to Jarrett Coleman for following through with his campaign pledge to make the NIZ more accountable.  He has received no support from his local elected peers, in either the state senate or lower house.

There is however one monkey wrench in Coleman's good intentions.  In the meantime, between Coleman's election and his senate NIZ resolution, Governor Shapiro appointed Pat Browne director of the Revenue Department. Pat Browne was the architect of the NIZ. The information needed to evaluate the success of the NIZ must ultimately come from Browne's department?!?

Pennsylvania has always been the place where the good old boys and girls stay safe and protected by each other. It's no accident that we have some of the highest taxes in the country and that the incumbents stay forever. 

I'm hoping that Jarrett doesn't join the club.

Ice Skating At Union Terrace

The skating pond at Union Terrace was a rite of growing up in Allentown.  Putting aside climate change, the pond was frozen every winter.  Maybe the park department intentionally slowed, or even shut off the flow of water.  A fire was kept burning in a metal barrel by the southwest corner of the ice rink.  Benches lined the south side where a kid could put his skates on.

While Albeth Ice Ring on the east side was a skating option for the serious skaters,  Union Terrace was the choice for us less graceful, but more interested in socializing.  There were no iphones or youtubes,  just kids interacting with other kids.

The center city and west end kids walked home from the pond.  There were no cell phones to call for a ride,  and nobody would want to be seen getting into their parent's car.

At that time the park department was a significant part of growing up in Allentown.  Come summer each part of the city had its own pool.  For some things, like Allentown and its park system, going backwards wouldn't be a bad thing.

molovinsky on allentown is published early morning every weekday.

reprinted from January of 2019

Code Department Fails Inspection

I was informed last week that City Line Construction was working in force on the problems at the Hamilton Business Center.  When I drove by on Friday, no less than five of their trucks were in front of the building. I told a tenant there that I was sure that with the good faith effort by the building owner, that the city would allow the tenants to remain, but I was wrong.  As it turned out the owner had to seek relief through a court injunction against the city order. 

Early last week when this situation unfolded, Vicky Kistler was offended by the rumor that the raid and subsequent tags were a political reprisal. With all that work being done rectifying the violations, the city's refusal to allow the tenants to remain appeared to be doubling down by Kistler and the city. As of late yesterday afternoon, both the city and owner announced a settlement, with no further comment.

In my view if the safety issues were being addressed, the city's stubbornness became harassment, against both the owner and the tenants.

ADDENDUM 10:30AM: WFMZ reports that the owner withdrew his injunction request, and that tenants again are ordered to move out. This latest development puzzles me.  Was the owner told that if he wins the battle, he will lose the war?

ADDENDUM 3:30PM: The Morning Call reports that the city stated this morning,  “due to the seriousness of the life safety issues, we anticipate that it could take several months to bring the property into compliance.” 

The fire suppression system reportedly passed inspection as recently as this past October. The iconic property started life as Chrysler First Financial. Over the years I have been in it often, it's way beyond just a substantial building.  Perhaps if the out of town owner was more familiar with the reputation of Allentown city hall/ code departments, he would be more defensive about protecting his interests.

The Lost Bridge Of Union Terrace

The waterway around Union Terrace is divided. Cedar Creek, in addition to running in front of the Amphitheater stage, also runs on the elementary school side of the former ice skating pond. The leg of the creek that connects the two branches runs along the north side of the pond. Two bridges used to cross that creek leg; one for former train branch line and one for park users.  The train branch line ended service to Wentz's Memorial Company years ago. The park department has also ended service to park users...The people bridge has also been removed. The park can no longer be entered from Walnut Street.  

On the north side of the park along Walnut Street, the steel plates from which the metal skaters were cut, now stand stranded from their cutouts. Between them, across the now bridge-less creek leg, the pond is full of algae. 

Union Terrace was the last major WPA project in Allentown. Ice skating at the pond was an Allentown ritual. The park was a former source of pride for all citizens, regardless of where they lived in Allentown. 

As an advocate for the traditional park system and the WPA, I get very frustrated by having to use the adjective former so often when writing about our park features.

reprinted from June of 2022

The History Of Union Terrace

The area now known as Joe Daddona Park has a rich history. The stone arch bridge dates back to 1828. If Lehigh County had it's way, it would already be gone. I'm proud to have played a part in its reprieve. Today I start a series of posts which will eventually lead to another Walk In The Park, this time in the area known for most of my life as Union Terrace. The park consists of the former city ice skating pond and the WPA amphitheater. This blog previously featured the train of Union Terrace, which was near the end of the former Barber Quarry Branch line. Talking of trains, shown above is the Joe Daddona house, which was originally the freight station of the Allentown and Reading Traction Company. 

reprinted from April of 2013

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 18, 2023:As it turned out I never gave a tour of Union Terrace.  Just last week Ann Daddona, Joe's widow, passed away. In addition to the short train tressle being removed long ago, the walking bridge over to the pond from Walnut Street was also removed about four years ago. Come this spring I hope to encourage the new administration to restore some lost features of our traditional park system.

So Much For Flirting

Allentown revisited 1972, behind Greg Weaver's studio on 10th St.

Now in memory of Greg Weaver, Debbie Ciappa, Ted Kefalinos, and Donald Brooks. Sound track by Burt Levine.

The Union Terrace Train

The Conrail engine backs across Walnut Street, as it delivers a flatbed of large granite slaps and blocks to the Wentz Memorial Company, by 20th and Hamilton Streets. Years earlier, the spur route extended across Hamilton Street and terminated at the building across from school district stadium, now occupied by the park department. On its run to Wentz, it went through the auto junkyard, continued on past the now closed Allentown Metal Works, and crossed the trestle in Lehigh Parkway. At Union Terrace the track was next to the former ice skating pond, behind the WPA Amphitheater Stage Mound. This photograph was taken by Dave Latshaw in the 1979, and is part of the Mark Rabenold collection. Rabenold is a local train historian, specializing in Allentown's former branch lines.

reprinted from September 2011