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Summer 2022
Easton Heritage Edition
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Easton Heritage Edition
Summer 2022
Bruneo Publishing LLC
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Summer 2022
Easton Heritage Edition
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From the Publisher It’s been two years, but we’re back... Welcome to the 2022 Easton Heritage Edition! When the pandemic hit, I ceased publishing of The Irregular and our special issues. With businesses closed, publishing wasn’t feasible. Not to mention that for quite a while people were fearful of touching things, from wearing gloves to sanitizing mail, I knew not many people would pick up a print publication even if I could find places to distribute it. Print materials had pretty much disappeared from the usual places they could be found. Now that things are somewhat back to normal, I think people will be excited to pick up a print publication, regardless of their digital connections, so what better time than now to bring back the Easton Heritage Edition. I have no plans to bring back The Irregular, and the Easton Christmas Book is a maybe. But this issue has always been my favorite to work on. Every year I begin by retrieving my old postcards and books on Easton and peruse through them for ideas. When some friends told me about Bruce Fackenthal’s book that had recently been published (see pg. 25), I became even more excited about bringing this issue back. I went straight down to Book & Puppet Co. in Centre Square to purchase a copy. Everything seemed to be in place, and I was chugging along, until (it’s terrible but I will tell you anyway) my MacBook broke and while trying to fix it myself, I lost all my files. But, I’m pretty resourceful and an expert problem solver and I figured it all out; it just took a bit longer than anticipated. My initial plan was to focus on the Bruce Fackenthal book, Easton, City of Resources, and the various resources of the city, past to present. You will find the story of the 1909 City of Resources sign within these pages, but the rest of the focus is on Centre Square. With the current overhaul going on in the circle, it makes sense I guess. My love of Easton’s history stems from my childhood visits with my great-grandmother who grew up on Easton’s South Side. She had an incredible memory and she saved everything! I am incredibly appreciative of the many historians who have documented the area’s history over the years: Rev. Uzal W. Condit, William J. Heller, Ronald W. Wynkoop, Sr., Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr., Richard F. Hope, Kenneth L. Klabunde... Thank You! Thank also to our readers and advertisers! I was not able to approach nearly as many businesses as I would have liked, but the main goal was to begin publishing again. A big thank you to Colin K. Gregory for jumping on board and helping me with sales, and to Jennifer L. Hubbard for compiling and typing out the arts and entertainment info. Lydia E. Bruneo Publisher & Editor
Easton Heritage Edition 2022 Lydia E. Bruneo Publisher & Editor Contributors: Jennifer L. Hubbard Kenneth L. Klabunde Sales: Colin K. Gregory Design: Lydia E Bruneo Reach us at: 610-258-4330 bruneo1776@aol.com facebook.com/bruneopublishingllc © Bruneo Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.
On Our Cover
Featured on this year’s cover is a vintage postcard of Centre Square, titled: Centre Square Showing New First Natl. Bank Building, Easton, PA. On back is written: Published by Leo Meyer, Office 32 Bixler Bldg., Easton, PA. For years I did not know the date of the card or how to find it. With some extensive online research, I can safely say that it was printed in 1927. Most Leo Meyer postcards were printed by Curt Teich & Company in Chicago. Cards often featured a production number assigned by the company. The series of cards printed by Curt Teich from 1910-1928 were assigned numbers A19922 - A124180, though after approximately 1924, the ‘A’ may not appear. For the year 1927, production numbers run from A112868 – A118311; the card on the cover features the number 116743 on the front right of the card in the white border. So, voila, 1927 it is! Not much info can be found on Leo Meyer. His earlier postcards have 32 Pomp Bldg. printed on the back as his address; Meyer’s office had been located in a building owned by Peter Pomp at the corner of 4th and Northampton Streets across from the Northampton National Bank Bldg. Pomp sold the building to the Bixler family in 1919. This definitely dates the card after 1919. According to worldpostcardday.com, postcards featuring a white border became commonplace in the U.S. in 1913 and well into the 1930s. Typically, multiple postcards were printed in rows on a large sheet of paper, which had to be trimmed around the edges of each postcard — a job that required a great deal of precision. The white borders were introduced to give some margin of error to the process, thus making them less expensive to produce. It is interesting that the card reads the “new”First Natl. Bank Building as the building was not new in 1927. It was enlarged to the size shown on the card in 1923, and the art-deco facade was added in 1926 or 1927, so the word “new” may represent the updated exterior. Today we refer to this building as the Alpha Building. 4
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Contents
Our Advertisers American Printing ............. 9 Antonio’s Pizza ................ 29 Ashton Funeral Home ...... 10 Aura Ceramics ................... 9 Canalside Cup .................. 28 Easton Heritage Day .......... 5 Flower Essence .................. 7 Heritage Guild ................. 31 Hoza African Restaurant ... 29 Judy’s Auto Repair ............. 2 Kaplan’s ...........................11 Lehigh Valley Hospital ....... 3
Mycalyn Floral .................. 13 Phyllis ODonnell Pet Portraits ... 15 Polliwogs & Petunias ........ 13 Reagle Insurance ............. 21 State Theatre ................... 21 Swift Print Solutions ........ 25 Taqueria La Plaza ............. 29 The Trading Post ................ 2 Two Rivers Brewing .......... 27 . U-Launderit ..................... 25 WGPA Sunny 1100 ............ 32 Warren County Farmers’ Fair ... 23
From the Publisher ........................................... 4 On the Cover ..................................................... 5 Centre Square... The Great Square ..................... 6 The Artistic Side of Centre Square .................... 19 Easton In Letters of Fire ................................... 20 Arts & Entertainment ..................................... 16 Historic Bookshelf .......................................... 25 Local Reads .................................................... 27 Historic Venues & Events ................................ 28 Did You Know? ................................................ 30
“Our history is significant as it brought us to where we are and continues to shape where we are going.”
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CENTRE SQUARE... THE “GREAT SQUARE” by Lydia E. Bruneo
Easton, Pennsylvania’s Centre Square is a hub of activity all year round — fabulous eateries and shops, The Crayola Experience, summer Cruise Nights, Easton Out Loud, Easton Heritage Day, Easton Garlic Fest, PA Bacon Fest and Easton Winter Village — and as it should be as that was its intended purpose when laid out 270 years ago. The long, storied history of the “Great Square” begins in 1752 when Easton was founded, though Thomas Penn had acquired the land in 1735. The “Great Square” has experienced several significant events and changes over this long span of time. From the beginning The first survey to define the boundaries of the one thousand acre tract of land owned by Thomas Penn, son of Pennsylvania’s founder William Penn, occurred in 1736. Thomas had acquired the land via a lottery that was drawn in 1935. According to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission the lottery scheme of 1735 was designed to encourage the sale of vacant land within the then existing counties of Bucks, Chester, Philadelphia, and Lancaster before negotiating another purchase treaty with the Indians. Even with the inducement of reduced quitrents on lottery land, the required number of tickets was never sold and there is no record that the lottery was ever drawn . . . The land claimed under the 1735 lottery scheme can be identified by a statement to that effect on the original warrant or survey and these records may be located through the regular warrant registers, though the registers will not mention the lottery scheme. In 1751, Penn sent a letter, dated September 8, to James Hamilton, Thomas Penn - Chief Prop. of Pennsylvania, Son Deputy Governor of William Penn. image from worthpoint.com of the Province 6
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of Pennsylvania, regarding his intentions for the land. The letter is preserved in the Manuscript Department of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and reads as follows: “Sometime since, I wrote to Dr. Graeme and Mr. Peters to lay out some ground in the Forks of the Delaware for a town, which I suppose they have done, or begun to do so. I desire it may be called Easton, from my Lord Pomfret’s house, and whenever there is a new county, that shall be called Northampton.” Thomas had just married Juliana Fermor, the daughter of Lord Pomfret whose country estate, Easton-Neston, was located in Northamptonshire, England; hence the names “Easton” and “Northampton”. Prior to the letter, William Parsons and Nicholas Scull began surveying the site of Easton on May 9, 1750, however, this attempt did not provide a satisfactory plan so Penn requested Nicholas Scull, Surveyor General, and Dr. Graeme, Proprietary Commissioner, to visit the Forks of the Delaware to inspect the place and the neighborhood where the town, then in Bucks county, was to be built. They were to make a draft of the town and submit it to Thomas Penn for his information, consideration, and possible approval. The final plan was to lay out the town as a grid around a “great square” based on the same concept used in Philadelphia. The County of Northampton was erected under Act of Assembly approved March 11, 1752. Easton was to be the county seat. There were only 11 families in the town at this time. Thomas Penn also required a representative in the new town and county. Richard Peter, a trusted official of the Penn family and Secretary of the Land Office, in looking over the possibilities, decided that William Parsons was the one man who could satisfactorily perform these functions. Thomas Penn, in writing to Peters, said: “You will please let William Parsons know the satisfaction we have in his appointment, on whose prudence we shall very much depend in the settlement and good government of the town.”
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CENTRE SQUARE... THE “GREAT SQUARE” William Parsons had been a shoemaker, but from that humble trade he grew to teach himself mathematics, and learned the skills of a surveyor, eventually becoming Surveyor General of Pennsylvania until his resignation in 1748; the post was taken over by Nicholas Scull. His work had caught the attention of Thomas Penn, and Parsons spent the last years of his life as an agent for the Penn family, while living in Easton. He twice served as justice of the peace, and was given the rank of Major in the colonial militia by Benjamin Franklin, whom with he shared a decades long friendship. He died December 17, 1757; his grave remains in what was once the Easton Graveyard and now sits in front of the Easton Area Public Library, to the left of the steps as you enter. The gravestone is inscribed: “He rocked Easton in her cradle and watched over her infant footsteps with paternal solicitude.” William Parsons is often referred to as the “Father of Easton”. Upon the creation of Northampton Above: Portrait of William Parsons. Below: William Parsons’ grave in front of the Easton Area Public Library, which was once the orignal Easton Graveyard where Parsons asked to be buried. photos below by Lydia E. Bruneo
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County, Parsons was appointed Prothonotary and Clerk of the Court. He stood high in the esteem of the Proprietaries and was sent to Easton to look after their interests. It had been planned to start the sale of town lots on Monday, May 25, 1752, and William Parsons had everything in readiness. However, on the preceding Saturday, Richard Peters received a letter from Thomas Penn concerning the plan of Easton which upset the entire layout. The Proprietor proposed a square in the center of the town, which Nicholas Scull in his letter of transmittal to William Parsons said was too small for public use. He suggested that Parsons consider whether it might not be better to depart a little from the Proprietary scheme. Thanks to the decision of Parsons “to depart a little” the square is much larger than it would have been if Thomas Penn’s plan had been followed. Indian Conference and Treaties The outbreak of the French and Indian war in 1755 brought sudden and unexpected violence to Easton, and the frontier was not militarized. Streams of refugees began to pour through Wind Gap, seeking shelter in Easton or Bethlehem. There were no guns to speak of, and certainly no military. In a desperate letter sent to both Franklin and then Governor Hamilton in December of 1755 William Parsons writes, “If we have not help …or means to get help in a day or two, we shall every one of us be obliged to leave the town and all we have in it.” Franklin’s response was to dispatch arms and supplies to Easton, with a letter announcing his plans to come himself within ten days. That letter is signed, “Be of good courage, and God guide you. Your friends will never desert you. I am yours affectionately, B. Franklin.” Franklin arrived in Easton on December 23 with 50 militia men and his son, William Franklin. From there Franklin went on to establish a small string of forts that successfully secured the frontier border. The fort captains would send regular reports to Major Parsons in Easton. The 1758 Indian Treaty of Easton was signed in Centre Square in October 1758. The Treaty established a fragile peace. Negotiations were
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likely held outdoors within open sheds that had been constructed in the square to provide cover from rain as there were no buildings large enough to accommodate the participants. Architecture within the Circle of the Square: From Courthouse, to Fountain, to Monument Northampton County’s first courthouse stood in the center of the square. The Assembly initiated an act authorizing the commencement of its construction on February 17, 1764. It was a twostory limestone structure modeled after Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia and opened in 1766. The first court session took place March 6, 1766. On August 9, 1768, a bell that was cast by Mathias Tommerop in Bethlehem Pa, was placed in the cupola and was used as a means of notification of major events in the town. When the courthouse ran out of space the County Records Building was built on the south side of the square in 1795. During the American Revolution, the courthouse was used as a barracks by the Revolutionary troops. In 1854, County Commissioners decided they needed a new and larger courthouse and by 1859 the new courthouse was approved. A land offer was accepted on August 23, 1860 and a new brick structure was
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image courtesy of the Henry F. Marx Local History Room, Easton Area Public Library
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CENTRE SQUARE... THE “GREAT SQUARE” built several blocks west of the original on Walnut Street where it still stands today. The first term of court was held in the new facility on June 18, 1861. The original courthouse in the square was sold and then taken down; by May of 1862 the demolition was completed. After the razing of the building, the Circle at Centre Square was graded and maple trees were planted. The most grand event to ever take place in the Great Square when it served as the location for the courthouse was the public reading of The Declaration of Independence. Today’s Centre Square is the location of one of the first public readings of The Declaration of Independence when, on July 8, 1776, Robert Levers of Easton delivered one of the three public readings of the Declaration of Independence in the American colonies from the steps of the county courthouse. (The two other public readings were at Trenton, NJ, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia). Easton’s “Heritage Day,” celebrated on the Sunday nearest to July 8, commemorates this event. The Northampton County Liberty Bell was rung on the occasion; the bell is presently displayed in Northampton County Courthouse, 7th and Washington Streets. The Easton Flag, which is on display at the Easton Area Public Library, 6th and Church Streets, is locally believed to be one of the oldest flag designs of the united colonies, and tradition holds that this flag was unfurled at
A photo of the fountain that was erected after the courthouse was razed; it was relocated to Nevin Park on College Hill in 1899. image from Images of Historic Easton by Marie Summa, Frank Summer and Leonard Buscemi Sr.
the July 8 reading. With the relocation of the courthouse, ideas for beautifying Centre Square sprung forth in 1862, one being a plan to erect a fountain. It was reported on August 7, 1868 that H. Dawson of Philadelphia had made a drawing of a proposed fountain which he had copied from a fountain in one of London’s
Northwest quadrant of Centre Square, circa 1896. Note the market day scene around the inner circle. image from A Time To Remember: A Photographic Album of Old-Time Easton and Phillipsburg by Ronald W. Wynkoop, Sr. 10
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fashionable squares. The Committee report states: “[the fountain drawing] has been much admired by our citizens and has met with such general approval and is so suitable for our square that the committee unhesitatingly recommends its adoption in case a fountain is placed therein.” In the spring and early summer of 1870, The Easton Express and Centennial newspapers announced that the town council had decided in favor of having a fountain placed in the newly vacant town square. The huge iron fountain featured 3 nymphs supporting the upper tier with winged horses on the lower level. The fountain’s life in the middle of town was short lived. In the years following the end of the Civil War, public sentiment was raised to honor those who had died or participated in the conflict; Centre Square was chosen as the location so long as an appropriate spot could be found for the fountain already there. In March 1899, a motion to move the fountain to Nevin Park, a park on College Hill on land gifted to Easton by former mayor David Nevin in 1897, was made by city council to make room for the new impressive structure that was to be built in the Square.
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The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument was erected in honor of Northampton County’s “heroes”, the men who served the Union in the Civil War. Centre Square was chosen as the site of the monument primarily because it had been a gathering place for the first volunteers as they went off to fight in the Civil War. Plans for the monument had been presented to the local G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) in 1895 by J.P. Correll. Once the funds had been raised and bids submitted, the Eagle Granite Company
A vintage postcard titled: Centre Square, Easton, Pa. circa 1926 based on the production number - 62311
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CENTRE SQUARE... THE “GREAT SQUARE” in Reading, PA was chosen to construct the monument. A ceremony was held on December 6, 1899 and a copper box containing a history of the 129th PVI, militia rolls, and a copy of a history of Easton was placed into the cornerstone in the base of the monument. Soon after, the monument was placed on the base. Standing at an impressive 75 feet tall with a 26 square foot base, the monument is made of 400 tons of barre granite. Rising from the base are four statues of men representing the infantry, cavalry, artillery and navy; the names of important leaders are carved beside the statues: Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Farragut, Porter, Meade, Hancock and Lincoln, and above these are the names of Civil War battles in which men from Northampton County had fought. Crowning the monument at the top of a smooth column stands a bugler, 10 feet and 3 inches tall, facing west into the setting sun, with his instrument to his lips to sound “Taps” for his fallen comrades. The inscription on the monument reads: “In Honor of the Union, Soldier and Sailor, 1861-1865.” The dedication of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument took place on May 10, 1900. By eight o’clock in the morning the streets were full of people preparing for and celebrating the great event of the day. A parade of veterans and dignitaries who had served the United States in the Civil War walked proudly through the streets of Easton, met by the cheers and enthusiastic applause of observers. As a speaker explained during the unveiling ceremony, “This spot was the last local scene looked upon by most of Northampton’s heroes who gave their lives to their country.” The monument still stands in Easton’s Centre Square, though the fountain it stands within was not part of its original design. 12
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Farmers’ Market Now back to the late 1700s… The Great Square served as the perfect location for farmers and merchants to bring fruits, vegetables and wares to sell, though it was not until 1789 that this was dealt with legally. Easton was chartered as a borough in late 1789 and the charter called for markets in the Great Square twice a week; two years later, a public ordinance was passed establishing the public Farmers’ Market. There was once a market house and temporary tables were used as well as their own carriages. A public drinking fountain was added to the square in the summer of 1887, topped with an urn planted with flowers donated by a local gardener, though it was later removed. The market, believed to be the oldest outdoor farmers’ market in the country, continuously operated in the square until 2020 when it was decided to relocate to Larry Holmes Drive at Scott Park as a means to provide more space to spread out and accommodate the health parameters in place at the time to combat the spread of Covid-19. The Easton Farmers’ Market will remain at this new location indefinitely.
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City Status and the Centre Square legal battle Easton dropped its borough status and became a city in early 1887; Charles Francis Chidsey was the city’s first mayor. On July 14, 1888, Mayor Chidsey received communication from an attorney in Philadelphia representing Penn’s heirs laying claim to the central square of the city. Chidsey “very politely placing his hand on the attorney’s shoulder, ejected him.” And “[o]n July 25, 1888, William Stuart [a descendent of the Penn Family], as sole heir of the original grantors, by his dulyauthorized attorney, made entry upon the lot in question for a breach of an alleged condition as to its use…” This was a subject of litigation for several years. The United States Circuit Court held at Philadelphia April 4, 1895 found in favor of Easton, but the case continued through the legal process. STUART v. CITY OF EASTON et al. was finally decided by the United States Supreme Court on May 9, 1898 with judgment having been entered in favor of the defendants; Easton’s Centre Square officially belonged to Easton (the actual center circle belongs to Northampton County).
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Postcard of Centre Square in 1968 looking west from the circle. The back reads: NORTHAMPTON STREET, Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Copyright 1968 - The Scheller Co., Hackettstown, N.J.
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The Declaration of Independence is read at the Easton Bicentennial celebration of 1976. photo courtesy Easton Area Public Library
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CENTRE SQUARE... THE “GREAT SQUARE” Celebratory Events On July 4, 1976, the United States celebrated its 200 year anniversary with a Bicentennial Celebration. The City of Easton celebrated on this day as well with a Centre Square pageant to showcase Easton’s significance during the founding of the United States. The pageant was cowritten by Charles R. Gulick of Easton, who passed in April 2017. The reenactment of the reading of the Declaration of Independence was done by Robert Levers who was a direct descendant of the Old postcard of Centre Square; note the Larry Holmes billboard in the background.The back reads: CIVIL WAR MONUMENT: -The Easton Circle- Easton, Northampton County, Pa. ©Schellmark, Inc., Hackettstown, N.J. 07840-0751 Robert Levers of 1776. Though the Bicentennial Pageant was a forerunner to Easton’s Heritage Day, it is often all over the world marching in 12 color divisions referred to as the first Heritage Day. Easton led by red fire trucks and brown delivery vans; Heritage Day commemorates one of the first public continuous entertainment from two stages; the readings of the Declaration of Independence on Easton Area High School “RED Rover” Band; July 8, 1776. It was read by Robert Levers, the M&M candy characters, the Pillsbury Dough Chair of the Safety Committee, on the courthouse Boy, the Jolly Green Giant’s good friend “Sprout” steps in what is now Centre Square. The festival and “Tip,” Crayola Crayon’s own mascot; the has been an annual event in Easton’s downtown world’s largest finger painting; and the monument since 1976, with the exception of 2020 when the in Centre Square was turned into a giant colorful day was offered as a virtual experience due to crayon for the day. Easton’s legendary Larry Covid-19. The festival takes place on the Sunday Holmes marched near the rear of the parade as a closest to July 8. In 1980, the public reading of “color constable”…“This is great — something we the Declaration on Heritage Day was again done needed and finally got,” Holmes had said about the by a direct descendent of Robert Levers, John Crayola Factory’s opening. The “Factory” housed Stewart Levers, who passed away in June 2021. the National Canal Museum on the third floor until The Heritage Day Committee works tirelessly all 2012 when it was relocated to Hugh Moore Park, year long to make this celebratory festival a reality. it’s current location. Centre Square has undergone various changes Easton Heritage Day Inc. was issued its non-profit status in 1985 to support the carrying out of the over the years aesthetically. In recent years, Heritage Day festival, including all direct and stunning lighting was added to Centre Square. The indirect expenses. Management of the festival was volunteer group Friends of Easton, PA (FEPA), a taken over by the Greater Easton Development non-profit community association whose mission Partnership (GEDP) in 2020 after long-time is to help make Easton safe, clean, and walkable, committee chair, Diane Bower, decided it was time was behind the illumination of 25 trees in Centre Square in 2019. The LED lights were first lit on to retire and stepped down from the position. The Crayola Experience, built in 1996, was the night of the annual Peace Candle lighting. The originally the Crayola Factory at Two Rivers lights are lit year round and are just one example of Landing and celebrated its grand opening on July FEPA’s “Bright Lights, Vibrant Easton” campaign. 16, 1996. The celebration brought an estimated The mission of the campaign is to make Easton a 30,000 people to Easton’s Centre Square and brighter and more vibrant place for residents and boasted a parade featuring colorful names from visitors. 14
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INTERESTING CENTRE SQUARE TIDBITS • 1902: Congressman Mutchler went to Washington DC to propose that the Circle in Centre Square be the site for a “Public Building”. He suggested that the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ monument be moved to the courthouse property so that it would be adjacent to both the county and newly bought City Hall. There was a vigorous protest against its removal by veterans, G.A.R. posts, businessmen and professionals. By November 21 the county Commissioners decided the monument would remain in the Circle. • 1906: A petition was filed in February by the Merchants Association of Easton and Phillipsburg to abolish the Circle Market claiming the manner in which the market was conducted was an imposition on the merchants because “a large number of hucksters” monopolized the market “for the purpose of selling articles of merchandise which they themselves purchased for sale at this place”. The petition also noted that some of these “hucksters” were non-residents and their sales increased the taxes paid by the merchants as they were taxed upon the amount of business done. The Market continued, but with a new resolution. • 1921: In June, Albert F. Heck, Easton City Councilman, won his long battle for a Comfort Station to be put below ground in the circle. Underground comfort stations in town squares in Pennsylvania were common practice at this time. In the Lafayette College library you can find The Design of a Public Comfort Station for Center Square, Easton, Pa., the thesis paper of Lafayette student William Richardson. • 1945: On August 14, thousands of people joined in Centre Square to celebrate the end of WWII causing the police to close main streets. As per the Easton Express, August 15, 1945, “The Greatest Mass Celebration Since World War I Greets Victory News In Easton Area; Thousands and thousands of Eastonians and residents nearby poured into the downtown section jamming the district about Center Square so that police had to close main streets to traffic throughout the evening.”
Presently, Centre Square is under construction for the next few months. Both the park and the roadway are being upgraded. Prior to the start of construction, The Two-Way Ring Road Conversion Project changed Ferry, Spring Garden, and 2nd Streets to two-way roads. The circle within Centre Square is being extended ten feet. The previous two lanes of traffic will be reduced to a single lane and will be repaved and painted with new pavement markings. In addition, there will no longer be curbs; everything will be one level and ADA accessible. This is the first time in 60 years that the circle park has been renovated, according to Mayor Sal Panto. The mayor is especially excited about one particular historic addition; around the edge of the fountain will be the beginning of the words of the Declaration of Independence to recognize the significance of the pubic reading in 1776. Improvements will also be made to the quadrants, sidewalks and curb ramps, and traffic signals will also be upgraded. The city is looking for opportunities to add public bathrooms with attendants in the future. It’s hard to believe that 270 years later, the “Great Square” still serves as the “center” of the historic City of Easton. Here’s to an indefinite future of celebrations, festivals, music and community connections in Easton’s Centre Square…the Great Square!
“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important lesson of all the lessons that history has to teach.” -Aldous Huxley
• 1951: The very first Peace Candle was lit. The candle was made of wood and plaster and placed over the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. • 2002: The Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial in Centre Square was dedicated on June 1. Sixth graders had raised $3,800 to erect the monument after having been inspired by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Inscribed on the monument: With appreciation and gratitude, this memorial is dedicated to Easton’s bravest - our firefighters - who risk their lives everyday to protect the citizens of out community. This memorial will always stand as our firefighters stand - brave and with dignity.” The bottom reads: “From the children of Easton Middle School May 31, 2002”.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Charles Klabunde Gallery & Studio 73 N. 2nd Street, Easton, PA 610-252-1938 Original etchings, drawings and paintings by Charles Klabunde ongoing. Call for hours. CharlesKlabundeArtist.com
Allentown Art Museum 31 N. 5th Street, Allentown, PA 610-432-4333 Kate Gilmore’s “With Open Arms” thru July 17, Eclectic Collecting: Curiosities from the Vault thru Sept. 18, Intuition and Reflection: The Ceramics of Toshiko Takaezu thru Aug. 14, Indian Sculpture: Avatars of the Hindu Gods thru Aug. 31, and The New American Galleries opens Aug. 27. Open Thu.-Sun. 11am-4pm (3rd Thur. till 8pm); fee (free Sun. & 3rd Thur.). allentownartmuseum.org ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Bart Cooper: Purple Series thru Dec. 11. Open Mon.Wed. 3:30-9pm, Thur. 4-11pm, Fri. 4pm-12am, Sat. 11am-12am, Sun. 12-9pm. bananafactory.org/exhibitions Avision Art Studio & Gallery 22 S. 3rd Street, Easton, PA 610-258-2640 Paintings by Aaliyah Octavia Kee ongoing. Call for hours. avisionartist.com
Connexions Gallery 213 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 610-250-7627 Scenes of Easton: An Exhibit of Images of the City of Easton (Paintings, Print Making, Photography) thru Aug. 14. Open Sat.-Sun. 12-4pm & by appt. connexionsgallery.com
Banana Factory 25 W. 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Queering Care thru Aug. 14, Resident Artist Annual Exhibition July 16-Oct. 16, Miguelina Seijo Intervals: Desert Imprints Sept. 2-Oct. 23. Open Mon.-Fri. 8am-9:30pm, Sat.-Sun. 8:30am-5pm. bananafactory.org/events/exhibitions
The David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries The Baum School of Art 510 Linden Street, Allentown, PA 610-433-0032 Ron De Long: Wind Shifts, Mood Swings, and Other Anomalies July 21-Aug. 18, LAA Member Show Sept. 1-22. Open Mon.-Thur. 9am-4pm, Fri.-Sat. 9am-3pm. baumschool.org
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center The Fine Art Galleries 522 W. Maple Street, Allentown, PA 610-347-9988 Translations: Artwork by Grayson Colbert (they/them) thru Aug. 26. Open Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm & during programs/events. bradburysullivancenter.org/galleries
Easton Public Market 325 Northampton Street, Easton, PA info@eastonart.org Various Works by Members of the Arts Community of Easton (ACE) ongoing. Open Wed.-Thur. 9am-7pm, Fri.-Sat. 9am-8pm, Sun. 9am-5pm. eastonart.org
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Elli Albrecht Studio 34 Sebring Street, Easton, PA 610-810-6747 Contemporary art based on imaginative portraits of nature by Ellie Albrecht ongoing. Open Thur.-Fri. 10am-3pm, Sat. 10am-5pm & by appt. ellialbrechtstudio.com Forks Area Art Society Cottage in the Woods 700 Zucksville Road, Easton, PA 610-250-2260 Charlie Hanson: Solo Show and Sale July 16-24 (gallery will be open all 9 days, 4-7pm), and Artwork by Louise Marina, Kimberly Bartholomew, Perrie Layton Adams & Pam Pontrelli August 14-28. Open Sun. 1-3pm. forksart.org Gallery at St. John’s 330 Ferry Street, Easton, PA 610-258-6119 Art for Appreciation & Purchase: Gallery Appreciation Month July 17-Aug. 21. Open Sun. 11am-1pm. stjohnseaston.org/ministries/gallery Hunterdon Art Museum 7 Lower Center Street, Clinton, NJ 908-735-8415 Maxwell Mustardo: Dish Oriented thru Sept. 4, Rina Banerjee: Blemish, In Deep Pink Everyplace Begins thru Sept. 4, and Selections from the Collection thru Sept. 4. Open Wed.-Sun. 11am-5pm; fee. hunterdonartmuseum.org IF Museum/Academy 107 N. 4th Street, Easton, PA 610-258-0777 Fusion Art by various artists ongoing. Open Fri. 126pm, Sat. 12-5pm, Sun. 12-4pm & by appt. artfusionism.org
Lehigh University Art Galleries 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 610-758-3615 The Teaching Museum: Selections from the Permanent Collection ongoing, Thinking Through Drawing: South Bethlehem Greenway thru Aug. 1, What Matters Most Aug. 24- May 27, and Starstruck: An American Tail Sept. 6-Dec. 3. Open Tue. 11am7pm, Wed.-Fri. 11am- 5pm, Sat. 1-5pm. luag.org ME-Art Studio 22 S. 3rd Street, 2nd floor, Easton, PA 908-319-4864 Painting Through: An exhibit of seven local artists who have ‘painted through’ the last two years July 2324. Open Fri.-Sat. 11am-4pm. me-artstudio.com Nazareth Center for the Arts 30 Belvidere Street, Nazareth, PA nazaretharts@gmail.com Music is in the Air and Everywhere July 15-Aug. 28, reception July 15, 5-8pm. Open Fri.-Sun. 12-4pm. nazaretharts.org Rotunda Gallery at City Hall 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-432-1494 Bethlehem City Art Collection: New Acquisitions and Selections thru Aug. 12, and Doug Royston, Puppetry/ Mixed Media Aug. 18-Sept. 23, reception Aug. 21, 2-4pm. Open Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm. bfac-lv.org Stirner Modern Gallery 230 Ferry Street, Easton, PA 908-472-7574 Next Exhibit TBA. Open Thur.-Fri. 2-6pm & by appt. StirnerModern.com
SmARTivities Showcase 60 Centre Square, Easton, PA 484-544-3954 Brick Easton, and Various artists and working studios on display ongoing. Open Wed.- Fri. 12-6pm, Sat. 10am-6pm & Sun. 12-5pm. smARTivities.net
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bucks County Playhouse 70 S. Main Street, New Hope, PA 215-862-2121 Kinky Boots thru July 30, ALiEN8 Aug.4-6, Dames at Sea Aug. 12- Sept. 11, and Evita Sept. 23-Oct. 30. bcptheater.org Civic Theatre of Allentown 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA 610-432-8943 Indecent Aug. 17- Aug. 29 civictheatre.com Country Gate Theatre 114 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, NJ 908-475-1104 Summer Classic Film Festival Sundays throughout July. countrygate.org MunOpCo Music Theatre PO Box 1395, Allentown, PA 610-437-2441 Damn Yankees Sept. dates/location TBA. munopco.org Pennsylvania Playhouse 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem, PA 610-865-6665 Pippin July 22-Aug. 7. paplayhouse.org Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival DeSales University 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 610-282-9455 Little Red thru Aug. 6, Much Ado About Nothing July 13-Aug. 7, August Wilson’s Fences July 27Aug. 7, and Shakespeare for Kids July 27-Aug. 6. pashakespeare.org Northampton Community College Summer Theatre 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 484-484-3412 Something Rotten thru July 17, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day July 13- Aug. 6, and Rent July 27-Aug. 7. ncctix.org
Shawnee Playhouse 552 River Road, Shawnee On Delaware, PA 570-421-5093 The Full Monty July 22-Aug. 14, Junie B. Jones Jr.: The Musical July 29-Aug. 13, and S.O.P.S. Short Play Festival Aug. 26-28. theshawneeplayhouse.com Pennsylvania Youth Theatre PYT Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1400 Oliver, Jr. July 29-30 and Legally Blonde the Musical, Jr. Aug. 19-20. Performances at Charles A. Brown Historic Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem, PA. 123pyt.org Pines Dinner Theatre 448 N. 17th Street, Allentown, PA 610-433-2333 Game Show thru Aug. 21 and I Left My Heart Sept. 9-Oct. 23. pinesdinnertheatre.com Sing for America Easton, PA 610-417-2289 James and the Giant Peach: The Musical Aug. 18-22 at 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown, PA. singforamerica.com Star of the Day Lehigh Valley, PA 484-809-9228 All Ears: Celebrating the Wonderful World of Music July 2224, Legally Blond the Musical Jr. Aug. 19-21, and Side Show: The Musical Sept. 16-25. Performances at St. John’s UCC (Lower Level), 139 N. 4th St., Emmaus, PA. staroftheday.org State Theatre Center for the Arts 453 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 800-999-STATE Summer Acting Camp Recital July 23, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Sept. 9, The Piano Guys Sept. 15, The Bronx Wanderers Sept. 16, and Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood Sept. 30. statetheatre.org
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THE ARTISTIC SIDE OF CENTRE SQUARE Easton is a hub for the arts, and depictions of Centre Square have shown up time and time again over the years and surely will into the future... Photographs, postcards, paintings, sketches and so on, showcase Easton’s “Great Square”. Here are just a few examples. Top right: a postcard titled Market at Centre Square, printed in 1998 featuring an original watercolor by Joyce Hanlon done in 1997. Below: a postcard titled Centre Square Easton, PA features an original
sketch by artist Robert Doney. It was Commissioned by the Two Rivers Area Commerce Council and printed during the 1980s. Bottom left: the cover of Easton Inkscapes: Impressions of antique buildings and streetscapes within the historic district of Easton, Pennsylvania by Timothy George Hare, Architect. The book, published in 1989 and commissioned by the City of Easton, features fine pen and ink drawings of the city’s historic architecture. The image was featured on the cover of the 2014 Easton Christmas Book. Thanks to Hare’s efforts towards preserving historic buildings in Easton, the city still holds its historic charm and splendor. Tim Hare was a treasure to Easton, and the community was greatly saddened by his passing on July 4, 2020. Bottom right: a painting by Easton artist Preston K. Hindmarch, who now lives in Florida with his wife Sue; they are very much missed. The painting was done for the cover of the 2010 Easton Christmas Book. Bruneo Publishing LLC
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EASTON IN LETTERS OF FIRE by Ken Klabunde Originally published in the December/January 2009-10 edition of the Easton Irregular Communities are generally made up of three kinds of people: those who actively go out to make things happen, those who just hope that things will happen, and then there is that group that just hates everything. The Easton Board of Trade’s new renaissance and the forward thinking of the Easton Gas and Electric Company in 1908 were definitely examples of people who wanted to make things happen, and they did in a big way. Just what do you think the reaction would be from the citizens of Easton and near-by Phillipsburg, New Jersey if a local private corporation, in conjunction with a local board of trade, came up with the proposal to erect a large, conspicuous, fifty-four feet long by forty-five feet high electric sign with over 2,000 animated light bulbs on it within the city limits of Easton? This corporation
would be willing to put the sign on one of the hillsides surrounding the city or on the rooftop of an existing city building. This proposed sign would have the name “Easton” on it as well as a slogan or motto for the city. The slogan or motto would be up to the people of the city of Easton to create and agree upon. The sign would then be put up at no cost whatsoever to the City of Easton or to individuals or business firms within the city. The corporation would also absorb the total cost of designing and erecting the sign, and they would also absorb the costs of lighting the sign every day from dusk until midnight. Now, if this proposal were actually to be presented for consideration today, besides the dozen or so municipal advertising and zoning regulations it probably violates, I would imagine that you would spend at least the next couple of years or so in court fighting off that element of the citizenry that just hate everything. Thank goodness that the exact proposal that I
City of Resources postcard. Copyright 1909 by D.M. Coughlin, Easton, Pa. 20
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have outlined in the above paragraph was actually proposed in November of 1908 and not today. The Easton Gas and Electric Company, in conjunction with the Easton Board of Trade, proposed to do for the City of Easton what they felt the City of Easton should have done for themselves a long time before this... promote the City of Easton. The Easton Gas and Electric Company planned to do this...“in letters of fire”, so to speak. Over the next two months, a small committee reviewed all the possible locations for the sign and the several hundred proposed slogans submitted by the residences of the city and surrounding area. In mid-January of 1909, it was announced by the Easton Gas and Electric Company that a city slogan was selected as well as a location for sign. The sign would be erected on the roof of the Macan, Jr., Co. building at the foot of South 2nd Street [129137 Ferry Street according to the street numbering of the time] where the sign would be readily visible from any of the eight railroads entering or leaving Easton, PA and Phillipsburg, NJ. The committee of local citizens, business owners, and city officials selected the slogan created for the new electric sign. Members of this committee included Easton’s Mayor McKeen, David W. Nevin, L.J. Fader, C.N. Andrews, Dr. Charles Collmar, J.P. Correll, O.L. Fehr and John H. McGrath. The committee examined the several hundred submitted slogans and since a good number of them had the word “resources” in them it was decided to create a slogan from all those that were entered. “Easton, City of Resources” became the slogan created from all the ideas that were submitted. Major Fred Drake, then President of the Easton Board of Trade stated: “This sign is expressive of the spirit of the Easton Board of Trade. Its work is to show Easton as it is, not a community of shouters, but of actual resources backed by the ability of sound business men in every walk of life.” Easton’s resources were both real and artificial. Its real resources consisted of vast beds of limestone, iron ore, slate, cement and other raw material all surrounding Easton. While Easton was not in the Pennsylvania coal region itself, most of the coal mined from that area passed through Easton on its way to points like New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. The area’s vast network of railroads and canals made Easton a transportation hub through which people, goods and services Bruneo Publishing LLC
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EASTON IN LETTERS OF FIRE passed through to travel to all the major markets in the country. The artificial resources of the City of Easton included a very sound financial system of banks, and a strong retail and industrial base. It also had Lafayette College and a public school system that was second to none, but its main resource was its people. This next paragraph from the Easton Sentinel article concerning the new sign I found to be very incisive: “BUT of what worth will be all these valuable resources unless we take hold and use them. The natural resources are the gift of God, but they will be of meager advantage unless the labor of man is employed in their development. The acres that are allowed to go uncultivated will grow a crop of weeds, thistles and thorns. What a ‘resource’ needs is for men to give themselves to its development. The stream will run to the sea for centuries, its strength contributing nothing to human benefit until man harnesses its power for transmission to machinery. A City of Resources is not necessarily a ‘progressive’ city’.” I personally agree with the above quote but it is one that you will never see in newspapers in [today]. These ideas are everything that you don’t want to do if you buy into the “global warming concept”. The reality of it all is that if we use our resources wisely, and be good stewards to our own little portion of the world, and everyone else does the same to theirs, it’s a win/win situation for both sides of the argument. The world is in a continuous state of change at all times. It is up to all of us to see that the changes that are made advance society not impede it.
The Easton Board of Trade went even further and also backed up its artificial resources with a $600,000 guarantee fund, funded by financial institutions, merchants, and individuals. This money was then loaned to innovative new industries wanting to expand in Easton. The money was used for the purpose of securing needed land or for the construction of buildings. In its first year, using the guarantee fund as an incentive to attract new and growing businesses, the Board of Trade rejected over 100 applications. They did not want businesses to just fill storefronts; they were looking for businesses that would be successful and grow with the community. Those 100 businesses that were rejected did not meet the standards necessary to obtain the loans. They did accept the applications of seven new firms that all paid back their loans in a timely manor, and the guarantee fund never lost any of its money. Major Drake stated: “We propose to do our work on the actual advantages presented by the city. We are doing this without any free deals or bonuses; and with the idea that we have nothing to give away. We have resources for use, capital to loan, and facilities to work.” This financial plan of the Board of Trade was to bring new businesses to Easton with the least possible drain on local capital; the Board’s work in bettering the city went beyond attracting new business. It worked very diligently to make the city more attractive to outsiders by investing in city parks and beautification projects. The Board of Trade also had a committee designated to work on internal improvements. Easton’s first garbage incinerator was an idea initiated by the Easton Board of Trade. Wednesday, April 24, 1909 was the day the new “Easton, City of Resources” sign was first lit. In spite of the pouring rain that night, a large
From Electrical Review and Western Electrician Vol 58—No. 2, January 14, 1911 “Slogan Sign for Phillipsburg, N.J. - Phillipsburg, N.J., situated on the Delaware River directly opposite of the city of Easton, Pa., has, through the courtesy of the Easton Gas & Electric Company, installed a mammoth electric sign in a conspicuous location, overlooking all railroads entering the city, reading, ‘Phillipsburg, N.J.’” 22
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number of people watched the sign go into action for the first time. I again quote the Easton Sentinel: “First are seen two green arrows that shoot out from a center and they form a long straight line pointing out the breadth of the city; then the red sun looms up behind the green horizon line; then the sun rays shoot up and flash tongues of flame, red in the sun itself and shading off to a pale pink. Suddenly over the blazing sun and in the midst of its rays the word ‘EASTON’ breaks out in letters of white light ten feet high, and as the sun rays fade and die away ‘CITY OF RESOURCES’ flashes out below in a line of five foot white letters. A moment later it all fades out and the display repeats itself every minute from dusk until midnight.” The Valentine Electric Sign Company of Atlantic City, New Jersey was the company that came up with the original design for this sign. Owned by Mr. Thomas E. Valentine, his company combined the artistic skill and mechanical ingenu-
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ity to create these outdoor billboards of animated lights. Just think of the technology and equipment needed in 1908 to make an animated sign like this function without the aid of a computer. The Easton slogan sign was one of the first of its type ever to be produced. Mr. Earl E. Whitehorne, editor of Selling Electricity, an electrical trade publication published in New York City, came to Easton that rainy Wednesday evening just to see the lighting of the sign. Selling Electricity was the major trade journal for the electric light and power industry in the United States and Canada. Mr. Whitehorne was particularly interested in this sign since it was the first time an electric company and a board of trade joined forces to develop an advertising strategy to promote an entire city rather than just a product or business. Mr. Whitehorne stated to a reporter that evening that utility companies across the country would be very interested in the story of the Easton slogan sign. Now, why would a company like the Easton Gas and Electric Company commit such a large amount of capital to a public relations campaign
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EASTON IN LETTERS OF FIRE for the community? Well, if the city didn’t prosper and grow, neither would their business; so the time and money invested in this project was a gamble for future business. It’s capitalism working at its best. When the city as a whole prospers, everyone prospers. It takes individuals or companies with visions for what could be to invest in their visions. Then by nurturing their ideas and bringing them to their full potential, they will eventually prosper from it, and so will everyone else via the ripple effect it will have on all other individuals and businesses in the community. This collaborative effort between the Easton Gas and Electric Company and the Easton Board of Trade was a well thought out idea executed flawlessly with virtually no city government involvement. In April of 1910, Easton Board of Trade president, Major Fred R. Drake, announced that in addition to the slogan “Easton, City of Resources”, the board of trade would also adopt another slogan, “100 Minutes From Broadway” when pointing out the many advantages the Easton community affords people seeking sites for new businesses. “Easton, City of Resources” and “100 Minutes from Broadway” were slogans that certainly worked in promoting Easton, and the slogans were used to promote the city for the next 25 years, or so, with great success. Some say that this period, from about 1908-1933, in the history of Easton was its greatest in terms of its population, economic, industrial and retail expansion.
Many cities during this same time period had slogans that they hoped would attract businesses and people to their particular town. Here are a few examples of good, mediocre, and just plain unimaginative slogans circa 1912: Chicago – “I Will” Allentown – “Dwell Here and Prosper” Bethlehem – “Busy Bethlehem Beckons Business” Erie – “Erie First, Last and All The Time” Williamsport –“Solid As A Rock. Growing All The Time” Harrisburg – “Industry, Contentment and Beauty” St. Louis – “To The Front” Baltimore – “I Lead” Duluth – “The Zenith City of the Unsalted Sea” Des Moines – “Des Moines Does Things” Chattanooga – “The City That Pays Dividends” Omaha – “Omaha The Market Town” Atlanta – “The Gate City” Boston – “Bigger, Busier, Better, Boston” Indianapolis – “No Mean City” Detroit – “In Detroit Life Is Worth Living” Lansing – “Larger, Livelier, Lovelier Lansing” Kalamazoo – “In Kalamazoo We Do” Fargo – “The City Of Homes” Tacoma – “You Will Like Tacoma” Rutland – “The Marble City” Cleveland – “Onward Cleveland Onward” Toledo – “You Will Do Better In Toledo”
From Electrical Review and Western Electrician Vol 55—No. 6 - August 7, 1909 “The result of the enterprise of the Easton Gas and Electric Company is noteworthy. The sign is a success. A new life has been aroused in the city. The city slogan is used freely in many ways and was received with unexpected enthusiasm by the people. The board of trade was reorganized, money subscribed for city advertising, and a new industrial life for Easton is assured.” 24
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HISTORIC BOOKSHELF
Easton City of Resources: Easton, Pennsylvania at the Height of the Industrial Revolution by Bruce Fackenthal, published 2021, 120 pages Available on Amazon and at Book & Puppet Co., 22 Centre Square, Easton, PA Easton City of Resources is a stunning depiction of the history of the city of Easton, Pennsylvania featuring restored photos and illustrations and the stories behind them. Expertly designed, it is a romantic reflection of a bygone era. Easton native Bruce Fackenthal has spent his professional life as a graphic designer, illustrator, art director, art educator and historic preservationist. His preoccupation with Easton’s past began as a young bottle-digger seeking out old bottles that came from Easton breweries; he has been collecting Easton breweriana and memorabilia since the age of 12. Phillipsburg Historian Ronald Wynkoop’s book Forks of the Delaware Area was an early source of curiosity for Bruce, leading to a lifetime of uncovering Easton’s past. Bruce’s design background and passion for Easton’s history have come together as the perfect combination to create Easton: City of Resources. This book is a great gift for life long residents as well as those new to the area. Visit fackenthal.com to see more of Bruce’s work.
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HISTORIC BOOKSHELF Remembering the Orpheum Theater by Kenneth L. Klabunde, published 2020, 115 pages Available at kenklabunde.com Remembering the Orpheum Theater is the story of Easton, PA’s first real vaudeville theater. From the initial plans in 1907 to its closing in 1934, the book goes into so much detail with over 60 photographs and more than 100 Orpheum newspaper advertisements within its pages, that you will feel transported back in time. Ken Klabunde, an Easton native, is a well-known local historian through his many articles on Easton’s rich history that have appeared in The Irregular and the Easton Heritage Edition as well as other publications. He specializes in the history of Easton’s old movie and vaudeville theaters, and devoted many years to the successful restoration effort of the State Theatre. He has given numerous slide talk presentations on the history of Easton, particularly dealing with theaters that have come and gone. His more than 60-year love affair with theaters and the theater business were the result of his parents who took him and his brothers downtown to see the latest family film at the State or Boyd Theaters in Easton. Little did his parents know then the effect that these theaters would have on him. Also by Kenneth Klabunde is This House is for the Ladies, the story of the silk baron Herman Simon and his family, his silk business, and his mansion on North 3rd Street in Easton. The Little Apple: Easton, Pa During Prohibition by Richard F. Hope, published 2017, 166 pages Available at Lulu.com The Little Apple: Easton, Pa During Prohibition is Richard Hope’s most recent book documenting the interesting history of Easton during the Prohibition Era. The book investigates the alcohol, gambling, brothel businesses and colorful characters in the city. Through the pages of The Little Apple, you will experience a time when Easton was a popular but sketchy destination known in NYC and Philadelphia for its speakeasies, brothels, road houses and beer brewing; and you will discover how Easton became so well known. Richard F. Hope, currently of Nazareth, is a retired attorney who moved to Easton in 2003 where he immersed himself in the history of the city. In his post-retirement career as a local historian, Hope has often sequestered himself in the Easton Area Public Library’s Marx Local History Room to collect interesting, informative and authoritative tidbits about Easton. His popular collected volume Easton, PA: A History has been in print since 2005. His articles on the history of Easton have appeared in The Irregular and the Easton Heritage Edition in addition to other magazines and journals. Also by Richard Hope are Easton PA: Special Projects, Easton PA: Historic Tours, Easton PA: A Civil War Walk and Santa Claus: A Guidebook for Grown-Ups. 26
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LOCAL READS
New Children’s Book Celebrates the Limitless Power of Imagination
Does the phrase, “I’m bored,” sound familiar? When children grow tired of their toys, or foul weather keeps them indoors, it’s the perfect time to encourage them to expand their world of play by tapping into the boundless creativity of their daydreams. Tommy is a little boy who does exactly that in the whimsically warm and wonderful new book Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination from author CK Gregory. When young readers are introduced to Tommy, he is stuck at home on a rainy day. There is nothing to do; his mother is busy making breakfast; and Tommy has grown bored with his toys. What will he do to entertain himself? An “eggstraordinary” character named Mr. Sunnyside appears before Tommy’s eyes and takes him on one adventure after another. Tommy is the only person who can see Mr. Sunnyside, and he’s the only one who needs to, in this charming story that gives new meaning to the power of an active imagination.
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“The world can seem, at times, scrambled,” says Gregory, “I hope my egg friends will set good ‘eggsamples’ for the readers and help children stay on the Sunnyside.” With clever wordplay, colorful illustrations and subtle lessons, Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination shares the story of a delicate egg who enters Tommy’s life as a play friend and turns Tommy’s mood from blue to “eggcellent”! Written for ages 5 to 10, Mr. Sunnyside shows young audiences that there is an “eggciting” alternative to screen time: the power of their own minds. Author CK Gregory worked in many areas of theater and the media, both in front and behind the scenes. Now, he is embarking on a new career as a children’s author. Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination is his first book in a series of “eggstra” adventures to come! Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination by CK Gregory, published 2021, 34 pages illustrated by Stephanie Richoll Available at Amazon.com & barnesandnoble.com
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HISTORICAL VENUES & EVENTS Governor Wolf Historical Society The Wolf Academy Historic Site 6600 Jacksonville Road, Bath, PA 610-837-9015 - govwolf.org
Moravian Historical Society Whitfield House 214 East Center Street, Nazareth, PA 610-759-5070 - moravianhistory.org
Jacobsburg Historical Society 402-403 Henry Road, Nazareth, PA 610-759-9029 - jacobsburghistory.com
Sigal Museum - Northhampton Historical and Genealogical Society 342 Northhampton Street, Easton, PA 610-253-1222 - sigalmuseum.org
Hellertown Historical Society 150 West Walnut Street, Hellertown, PA 610-838-1770 - hellertownhistoricalsociety.org Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites Visitor Center 505 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-691–6055/800-360-TOUR historicbethlehem.org
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Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor - National Canal Museum 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road, Easton, PA 610-923-3548 - canals.org Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania Cultural Center and Trading Post 169 Northampton Street, Easton, PA info@Lenape-Nation.org - lenape-nation.org
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AUGUST 9 AT 5 PM AT THE SIGAL MUSEUM All sincerely committed individuals and organizations are invited to join in the journey down the Delaware River, and to join Northampton Historical and Genealogical Society and the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania in signing the Treaty of Renewed Friendship. Visit lenape-nation.org/1st-project for more info on THE 2022 RISING NATION RIVER JOURNEY July 30 - August 20 Bruneo Publishing LLC
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HISTORICAL EVENTS & VENUES
DID YOU KNOW?
The “Free Bridge” wasn’t always “free”! In the image below, circa 1908, Billy Hughes collects toll on the Easton side of the Northampton Street Bridge. The toll was removed in 1922.
image from It Seems Like Yesterday by Ronald W. Wynkoop, Sr. 30
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