The Poconos are the Pennsylvanian stretch of the larger Appalachian Mountains. Beyond the mountains the broader area features additional outdoor areas and is bookended on south by Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton and in the north by Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Even though I'm from Pennsylvania this area of the state feels like another world way given the lack of frequency with which I visit. My family has never been the mountain weekend retreat sort of family so my experiences in the area have been limited to an early morning or evening ski trip.
For better and worse one of the attractions of the Lehigh Valley is visiting its former glory spots. The Lehigh Valley was a manufacturing powerhouse for over a century. While most associate the region with steel production there were a host of other industries that called the area home. Here's a useful link for abandoned properties in the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton area.
For better and worse one of the attractions of the Lehigh Valley is visiting its former glory spots. The Lehigh Valley was a manufacturing powerhouse for over a century. While most associate the region with steel production there were a host of other industries that called the area home. Here's a useful link for abandoned properties in the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton area.
ALLENTOWN
"Well we are living here in Allentown...and they are closing all the factories down." Billy Joel sang those lyrics in 1982, so if you think that the outsourcing of American jobs is a recent phenomenon, know that Allentown has been feeling the pain of cheaper international products for nearly forty years. Allentown has weathered the outsourcing better than other rust belt cities - better being a relative term to its counterparts in Ohio, like Youngstown. Unlike Youngstown, which has seen its population drop by over 50% from post WWII booms, Allentown has remained a relatively steady 110,000 - 120,000, allowing the town to retain its status as Pennsylvania's third largest city. The city combines with Bethlehem and Easton to form a metropolitan area of nearly one million. I'm always surprised when I visit and it's busier and larger than I imagine. I've never spent much time in Allentown - these photos were taken during a loop through the city on my way to Bethlehem. The city has a respectable downtown but there's also remnants of abandoned buildings - that's an old dairy in the bottom right. From a tourist's perspective, sister cities Bethlehem and Easton offer a little more.
"Well we are living here in Allentown...and they are closing all the factories down." Billy Joel sang those lyrics in 1982, so if you think that the outsourcing of American jobs is a recent phenomenon, know that Allentown has been feeling the pain of cheaper international products for nearly forty years. Allentown has weathered the outsourcing better than other rust belt cities - better being a relative term to its counterparts in Ohio, like Youngstown. Unlike Youngstown, which has seen its population drop by over 50% from post WWII booms, Allentown has remained a relatively steady 110,000 - 120,000, allowing the town to retain its status as Pennsylvania's third largest city. The city combines with Bethlehem and Easton to form a metropolitan area of nearly one million. I'm always surprised when I visit and it's busier and larger than I imagine. I've never spent much time in Allentown - these photos were taken during a loop through the city on my way to Bethlehem. The city has a respectable downtown but there's also remnants of abandoned buildings - that's an old dairy in the bottom right. From a tourist's perspective, sister cities Bethlehem and Easton offer a little more.
BETHLEHEM
For a small town (population about 100,000) Bethlehem has a packed history. The town has undergone several births, booms, and death cycles and is currently reinventing itself again. Bethlehem was founded on Christmas Eve in 1771 by Moravians - Protestants escaping religious persecution in the Holy Roman Empire. Moravians constructed several buildings that still exist today.
Starting in the 1850s Bethlehem Steel began operations and transformed the town into an industrial powerhouse. At one point Bethlehem Steel was America's second largest steel producer and largest ship builder. The Golden Gate Bridge, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, Hoover Dam, Madison Square Garden, and Rockefeller Center are just a handful of the many buildings constructed with Bethlehem Steel.
For a small town (population about 100,000) Bethlehem has a packed history. The town has undergone several births, booms, and death cycles and is currently reinventing itself again. Bethlehem was founded on Christmas Eve in 1771 by Moravians - Protestants escaping religious persecution in the Holy Roman Empire. Moravians constructed several buildings that still exist today.
Starting in the 1850s Bethlehem Steel began operations and transformed the town into an industrial powerhouse. At one point Bethlehem Steel was America's second largest steel producer and largest ship builder. The Golden Gate Bridge, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, Hoover Dam, Madison Square Garden, and Rockefeller Center are just a handful of the many buildings constructed with Bethlehem Steel.
Around the corner and up Church Street is Bethlehem's town hall, administrative building, and library. It's worth heading up this way to check out the modern designs which stand in a stark contrast to the surrounding historical areas.
BETHLEHEM STEEL - MARTIN TOWER
Bethlehem Steel was an American business juggernaut. A combination of factors - rise of mini mills, cheaper foreign competition, an aging workforce, and rising pension costs - not too mention a failure to plan long term, lead to Bethlehem Steel's demise. As far as "company towns" go, Bethlehem Steel may not technically qualify, however, it's easy to see the ornamental wealth around town and understand the Company's impact on the town. The Company's past still dominates Bethlehem's skyline - literally. The Martin Tower, Bethlehem Steel's former headquarters still stands tall on the west side of town along 8th Avenue. The tower remains vacant while the City decides on the next steps. |
Sadly the tower was imploded in May 2019.
STEEL STACKS
Bethlehem Steel's former factories occupy space on the south side of the Lehigh River and have slowly been repurposed into new projects. A portion of the factories have been converted into a casino. The crown jewel of this repurposing of former sites is Steel Stacks. A pedestrian walkway rises about fifty feet above the ground to allow visitors to pass by the steel mills up close. The experience clearly falls in "the pictures do not do this justice" category by the sheer fact that you can't capture the pure size of the steel mills. The first photo below contains five mills that stretch for about a quarter of mile.
There's no admission charge to the Steel Stacks and there are placards along the route explaining the components of making steel and the history of Bethlehem Steel. Tours are available - see Steel Stacks for additional information - click on the Events Date.
Bethlehem Steel's former factories occupy space on the south side of the Lehigh River and have slowly been repurposed into new projects. A portion of the factories have been converted into a casino. The crown jewel of this repurposing of former sites is Steel Stacks. A pedestrian walkway rises about fifty feet above the ground to allow visitors to pass by the steel mills up close. The experience clearly falls in "the pictures do not do this justice" category by the sheer fact that you can't capture the pure size of the steel mills. The first photo below contains five mills that stretch for about a quarter of mile.
There's no admission charge to the Steel Stacks and there are placards along the route explaining the components of making steel and the history of Bethlehem Steel. Tours are available - see Steel Stacks for additional information - click on the Events Date.
MORAVIAN COLLEGE
If not for a cousin who is the school's weight room coach and manages the fitness center, I probably would not have ever taken a glance at Moravian College. I'm glad I did. The school is compact which reflects the close knit community marketed to prospective students. Out of the 1,500 students, 500+ participate in varsity sports so my cousin knows just about everyone on campus. At the entrance of the school is a beautiful administrative building. On a sunny, fall afternoon it's also a great place to catch a college football game. In the age of spread offenses a game between two Division III schools is still fun to watch. |
EASTON
I like Easton best of the Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton triumvirate. The town's Centre Square is a great focal point and there's a few restaurants, bars, etc. off this central location that are fun to explore. The Easton Public Market is a nice revitalization project and shows the town has a booming hipster side. The Crayola Experience on the southwest side of the Square is a great children attraction. I also always enjoy the drive up to Easton along the River Road and passing through towns like Kintnersville and Riegelsville - it's one of the great drives through the American landscape.
I like Easton best of the Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton triumvirate. The town's Centre Square is a great focal point and there's a few restaurants, bars, etc. off this central location that are fun to explore. The Easton Public Market is a nice revitalization project and shows the town has a booming hipster side. The Crayola Experience on the southwest side of the Square is a great children attraction. I also always enjoy the drive up to Easton along the River Road and passing through towns like Kintnersville and Riegelsville - it's one of the great drives through the American landscape.
Allentown wasn't the only Pocono town to see a loss of industry. Easton is where the Dixie Cup was "invented." I took a few photos of the old, abandonned factory.
JIM THORPE
The first thing that strikes you about Jim Thorpe is the name - Jim Thorpe. Obviously Jim Thorpe was from here and the town decided to honor him by renaming the town in his honor...or not. The town renamed itself from Mauch Chunk in the 1950s with the blessing of Jim Thorpe's widow. The Thorpe's needed money, Mauch Chunk wanted to rebrand itself - it was a perfect match. Although Jim Thorpe never set foot in the town his grave and a memorial is located just north of town.
Did the town need to rename itself? Maybe. Maybe not. The town sits in a sliver of a valley. The older buildings blend in perfectly with the surrounding natural landscape. The town is a gateway to the Poconos and offers skiing during the winter and hiking and rafting the rest of the year. I passed through here in April 2017 and need to spend a night at some point in the future.
The first thing that strikes you about Jim Thorpe is the name - Jim Thorpe. Obviously Jim Thorpe was from here and the town decided to honor him by renaming the town in his honor...or not. The town renamed itself from Mauch Chunk in the 1950s with the blessing of Jim Thorpe's widow. The Thorpe's needed money, Mauch Chunk wanted to rebrand itself - it was a perfect match. Although Jim Thorpe never set foot in the town his grave and a memorial is located just north of town.
Did the town need to rename itself? Maybe. Maybe not. The town sits in a sliver of a valley. The older buildings blend in perfectly with the surrounding natural landscape. The town is a gateway to the Poconos and offers skiing during the winter and hiking and rafting the rest of the year. I passed through here in April 2017 and need to spend a night at some point in the future.
HAZLETON
Hazleton has gained a bit of notoriety over the past decade and a half as a bit of a ground zero for the illegal immigration debate. A former mayor, Lou Barletta, passed several city ordinances addressing illegals in the city. Barletta is now a US Congressman and continues to be vocal in the illegal immigration debate. You may ask yourself, why, Hazleton, of all places became a hotbed of illegal immigrant activity. The reason is because the coal mines and steel mills required labor for jobs that whites did not want to perform. Enter the Mexicans and later Dominicans. The coal mines and steel mills have closed but the Mexicans and Dominicans kept coming. The result is that the town has a distinct Hispanic feel - Latin music blasts from cars and Mexican restaurants line Alter Street.
Hazleton has gained a bit of notoriety over the past decade and a half as a bit of a ground zero for the illegal immigration debate. A former mayor, Lou Barletta, passed several city ordinances addressing illegals in the city. Barletta is now a US Congressman and continues to be vocal in the illegal immigration debate. You may ask yourself, why, Hazleton, of all places became a hotbed of illegal immigrant activity. The reason is because the coal mines and steel mills required labor for jobs that whites did not want to perform. Enter the Mexicans and later Dominicans. The coal mines and steel mills have closed but the Mexicans and Dominicans kept coming. The result is that the town has a distinct Hispanic feel - Latin music blasts from cars and Mexican restaurants line Alter Street.
FACTORYVILLE
Factoryville is the first small town on the way to Route 6. The town is the boyhood home of Christy Mathewson, one of the initial inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The local baseball field is dedicated in his honor. Keystone College is in the center of town and has turned several former homes into campus buildings and classrooms. It makes for a scenic and distinct campus drive.
Factoryville is the first small town on the way to Route 6. The town is the boyhood home of Christy Mathewson, one of the initial inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The local baseball field is dedicated in his honor. Keystone College is in the center of town and has turned several former homes into campus buildings and classrooms. It makes for a scenic and distinct campus drive.