Today in Allentown, PA
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I found myself in Allentown, PA today. Up til now, all I knew of Allentown was the Billy Joel song. I was surprised that in all the decades of traveling around the great Commonwealth of PA, I had never made the trek to Allentown.
The purpose of my trip today was business. I had a meeting at the new PennDOT District 5 office on Hamilton Street. On old furniture store has been transformed into a nice office space, and, more importantly, has brought some much needed business to downtown. After our meeting, we walked up Hamilton Street to Delicioso Pizza, and it truly lived up to its name!
I didn't get to see much of the town, but what I did see of the downtown was impressive. I saw blocks of great store fronts and rowhouses, and more blocks of tidy townhouses. As I looked up and down Hamilton Street at lunchtime, there were quite a few people out and about enjoying the spring day. Sure, a bit of spring cleaning was in order, but there were distinct signs that there were a lot of people in Allentown who took pride in their city. I applaud their efforts!
Comments
Lehigh U
My sister graduated from Lehigh, so we've made the trek to Allentown a few times. It is an interesting place, in a state of flux, and quite a few cultures combining.
If you get a chance to check Lehigh out I recommend it--they are known for engineering (my sister is now an engineer at HersheyFoods) and they truly engineered the Univeristy---it's on the side of a mountain!
Mike
My husband lived in Allentown before we met. Had he never moved back to St. Marys he'd be singing 'Living here in Allentown' and I'd be Mrs. Somebody else
More about Allentown
My son Jason lives in Allentown, right across the street from a Wax Works candle factory! It smells yummy around there most of the time. We have been to the Allentown Art Museum for a special display of Frank Lloyd Wright windows. It is quite a nice facility. I agree that the rowhouses and townhouses benefit from a pride of ownership. For a while there was talk of the Smithsonian opening an affiliate American Industry Museum in the old Bethlehem Steel Works, but that seems not to be moving along very well.
Nearby is Mauch Chunk, a/k/a Jim Thorpe, filled with history. There is much offered on the early coal industry, railroads, and wealthy summer inhabitants. You can also find out why Mauch Chunk changed its name to honor a great American athlete. Anne H.