History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 89

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 89

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EIGHTH STREET BRIDGE .- A company was organized in November, 1900, for the building of a bridge between the city and South Allen- town at South Eighth street, but after the abut- ments and piers had been built, the project was dropped until . the Allentown Bridge Company was formed and a charter granted June 4, 1912. A reinforced concrete structure, 2,650 feet long, was built at a cost of $500,000, and opened for business on Nov. 18, 1913. Toll rates of one cent for foot passengers and from five to fifteen cents for vehicles are charged. The bridge is 138 feet above the Little Lehigh creek and 1421/2 feet above the bottom of the foundations. Its width is 46 feet, with a roadway of 32 feet. The

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

contract was awarded July 29, 1912, to Mc- Arthur Bros., of New York, who used 45,000 barrels of cement, 36,000 tons of crushed stone, 20,000 tons of sand and 1,100,000 pounds of re- inforcing steel rods in the structure, which con- tains 29,500 cubic yards of concrete.

FLOODS .- In 1869, a flood occurred which caused considerable damage at Allentown and . along the valley.

On Aug. 25, 1901, a flood in the Lehigh and neighboring streams caused considerable damage. Between two and three P. M. the stream rose rapidly, until the dam was completely submerged. The spray shot up to the bridge, the current reaching within six feet of the floor. The water reached the highest point at 10:15 P. M.

The cause of the flood was a heavy downpour of rain in the coal regions and the breaking of the Hudsondale reservoir at Hazleton. The flood was described in a daily newspaper as fol- lows :

"In Allentown a great deal of damage resulted. The water early in the evening flowed steadily into the plant of the Allentown Electric Light & Power Company, and the Traction company power-house. By 8 P. M. the electric light serv- ice was crippled and many houses were without lights. The water filled the pits of the fly wheels and the Allen steamer was secured to keep them dry, but the rushing waters came too fast and the Good Will reserve engine was also got- ten out.

"The trolley service began to suffer by 8 o'clock, just as the people were coming into town from the outlying districts. Hundreds wished they had never left, for they got home early next morning as best they could. Five out of the seven pits at the power house were inundated. But two engines, whose pits were higher than the others, escaped any damage and with these going, the trolley service was kept moving. For several hours on Saturday night there was no semblance of running cars. Many walked home on the Bethlehem pike. One woman was seen strolling along in the darkness with four children, the oldest scarcely able to walk. The conductors and motormen also walked. By 2 A. M. a num- ber of cars were run, but none ventured to run from town. At Sixth and Hamilton streets, there were six cars standing from 2 to 5 A. M. loaded with sleeping passengers. The American Hotel porch and the entrance to Gross' restaurant were crowded with persons during the wait.

"Because of the trolley washout, the L. V. R. R. ran special trains between Cementon and Beth- lehem at midnight. The electric light service was improved during the day and last evening there was a general service.

"Butcher E. A. Krause's shop was flooded and a 40-foot embankment was washed away. Arbo- gast & Bastian's abattoir was filled and much damage resulted.

"In the stone house on the north side of Hamil- ton street at the bridge, the families of Joseph Pieber and Frank Smith reside, who kept board- ers. Every now and then a piece of household goods would be carried away and one of the women would run after it. They carried their goods to the second floor. The water stood al- most two feet on the first floor. A large number of cellars in the First ward were flooded.

"Below the bridge nothing could be seen ex- cepting the roof of the home of Mrs. Charles Kline, on Kline's Island. The loss of Charles H. Kline, the truck farmer, was $500. One of the garbage teams was caught in a hole and the horse was saved by cutting the harness. Mrs. Kline's house bears the marks of the freshets ot 1862 and 1869. The former mark is under the window sill of the first floor and the latter about three feet below. At Stine's Island, up the river, the water reached the door of Peter Stine's house.

"The overflow caused great back water in the Jordan and Little Lehigh. The South Allen- town car barn was threatened with a flood and the cars were all run out. The water did not rise that high, however. At the wire mill there was a relief gang to prevent damage.

"The Jordan backed up high and flooded part of the meadows at the Adelaide silk mills. A number of the employes were called out to save the silk from damage. The reserve steamer yesterday worked from 10 A. M. to 5 P. M. getting the water out.

"Navigation was suspended before noon. A boat that came here then tied up near Kimmet's lock. The horses in the stable at the Atlantic Refining Co.'s plant near the Biery limekilns, were rescued when the water was up to their bodies."

FLOOD OF 1902 .- A rain storm, accompanied by violent and most unusual thunder and light- ning, visited Allentown and vicinity on Febru- ary 28, 1902, which caused much damage to different industries, more especially in the Cedar creek and Little Lehigh valley, and the suspen- sion of the trolley service to the great inconveni- ence of the people. The meadows were so flooded by noon that the Kutztown cars could not cross the bridge at Griesemerville, and the dam at Dorney Park was drawn off because it was feared that the banks might be washed away by the raging torrent. Shortly afterward, the dam was destroyed and the volume in the narrow de- file was three feet higher than ever before

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ALLENTOWN AS A CITY-1867-1914.

THE BIG ROCKS AND VIEWS ALONG THE LEHIGH AND LITTLE LEHIGH RIVERS.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

known. Below Dorney's, all the fields were inundated on both sides of the creek to the hill- sides.

The bridge above the Duck Farm Hotel and the fences were washed away. The butcher shop and electric power-house were flooded, even the boiler room of the waterworks was filled so high that the public service had to be shut down for the first time since it was established there in 1887. The meadow at Third and Union streets and the railroad bridge at Biery's limekilns were covered, and the furniture factory of Johnson & Schwartz had to be closed.

In South Allentown the cars were removed from the trolley car barn, the wire mill, and Gabriel's woolen mill were flooded, and only from the east and north could the city be reached. The Adelaide silk mill shut down at 2:30 P. M. Business was nearly suspended.

The Little Lehigh reached almost to Lawrence street. The Jordan rose 25 feet above low water mark at Allentown.

The Lehigh river, by the marks shown on Kline's Island, was 22 inches higher than the flood of 1862 when the river had reached a point 65 inches above the first floor. The flood of 1869 was 47 inches.

The damage to property on this occasion ex- ceeded that of 1862; but the loss of life was less because the flood was in daytime, while that of 1862 took place principally in the night-time.

The bridge across the river at Allentown, and the Central Railroad bridge at Kline's Island, were swept away. Many bridges along the Little Lehigh and Jordan were swept away or damaged. The loss to bridges alone amounted to more than $400,000 ; and the total loss in the entire county was estimated at $1,000,000.

ASSOCIATIONS.

LEHIGH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Sixty-two years ago a number of leading farm- ers and enterprising citizens became interested in the project of forming an agricultural society, which was to have for its aim "the improvement and advancement of agriculture, horticulture, live stock, and domestic and mechanic arts."

Several counties in Massachusetts and other States had organized such societies, and were holding annual fairs which were doing much good in promoting the interests of agriculture in those communities.

A series of meetings were held during the years of 1850 and 1851 at the Eagle Hotel, Al- lentown, and at Ruchsville, Breinigsville, and Millerstown. The first one, however, at which definite action was taken, convened at the public

house of William Leisenring, in Egypt, White- hall township, on Jan. 24, 1852, Daniel Beisel acting as president, and Dr. D. A. Moser as secretary. There it was resolved to organize an agricultural society for Lehigh county, and to this end a committee consisting of Messrs. Jesse M. Line, of Allentown; John Yost, of Salisbury ; Charles Witman, of Saucon; Charles Foster, of Upper Milford; James F. Weiler, of Lower Macungie ; William Mink, of Upper Macungie ; Jacob Grim, of Weisenburg; Joseph Moser, of Lynn; David Knerr, of Lowhill; Andrew Peter, of Heidelberg; John Fenstermacher, of Washing- ton; Edward Kohler, of North Whitehall; Peter Mickley, of South Whitehall; Charles Ritter, of Hanover; and George Beisel, of Northampton, was appointed to prepare a constitution and re- port at an adjourned meeting to be held in the room of the commissioners, in the Court House at Allentown, Feb. 3, 1852. On that day the meeting was held at the place designated, and an address, strongly favoring the project, was delivered by Hon. Robert E. Wright, Sr. A constitution was read and adopted, after which an organization was effected and officers chosen for the new society. Edward Kohler, Esq., who had taken a prominent part in the movement, was elected the first president. This position he worthily filled until 1855. Fifteen vice-presi- dents were chosen, one from each township; Mr. Jesse M. Line was elected recording secretary ; Dr. David A. Moser, corresponding secretary, and Owen L. Schreiber, treasurer.

THE FIRST FAIR.

Preparations were immediately begun for the holding of the first Lehigh county agricultural fair. Allentown, being at that time already a flourishing town and also the county seat, was selected as the most convenient place for this pur- pose. East of Fourth street, between Walnut and Union streets, lay a desirable five acre plot of ground, owned by Messrs. Pretz and Weinshim- er, considered suitable for such an undertaking. Booths and tents were put up to shelter and pro- tect the displays, and here it was on October 6th, 7th, 8th, 1852, that the first exhibition was held. The whole plot was enclosed by a white muslin screen, seven feet high, intended to prevent out- siders from viewing the show, and if it did not entirely serve that purpose, it must have re- vealed only enough to arouse double interest, for it is recorded that the fair was successful be- yond the hopes of the most sanguine, and that the receipts amounted to twelve hundred dollars.

Among the features of the fair were the ad- dresses delivered during the successive days. The first one was at "early candle light," on the

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ALLENTOWN AS A CITY-1867-1914.

grounds by Robert E. Wright, Sr .; the second by George W. Foering, in the Court House; and the third, a German address, at the close of the fair, by Rev. Jeremiah Schindel. The prem- iums paid for the exhibits amounted in all to one hundred and sixty-three dollars and fifty cents.

SELECTION OF A PERMANENT LOCATION.

So generally had the people of Allentown and Lehigh county become interested in the new en- terprise, that a second fair was proposed. The managers at once felt warranted in taking steps to make this feature of the society a permanent institution. With this end in view they leased a tract of land in the northwestern section of the town, north of Libery, between Fifth and Sixth streets, containing about eight acres. This property was owned by William Mattern and af- terward secured by purchase, at a cost of two thousand dollars. To this were added three acres and five perches, bought for one thousand and eighty-five dollars and eighty-four cents, from Owen Saeger. The deeds for both prop- erties were recorded on Jan. 1, 1856, in Deed Book Vol. 19, pages 450 and 533, etc.

In the spring of 1853 the Mattern tract was enclosed by a board fence; a frame cottage style ticket office, and a two-story frame exhibition hall were erected, and other temporary structures put up. Here the second fair of the Association was held, on Sept. 28th, 29th and 30th of the same year, and with even more gratifying results, in every respect, than the first one. It really marked the beginning of that wonderful success which attended the later operations of the so- ciety. A representation of the original buildings and their surroundings in this location, still forms the central scene on the certificates of stock is- sued by the association. Later on, two wings were added to the main building, changing its form into that of a Roman cross, and making it more commodious and better adapted for ex- hibition purposes. The office building was also enlarged to serve as a dwelling and dining-room during the fairs. Subsequently a race track of about one-third of a mile was laid out, a grand stand erected, and other necessary improvements made.

It was at an early period, too, that the shade trees were planted, which in after years served to make the old fair grounds one of the loveliest and most attractive spots in Allentown.

RE-ORGANIZATION AND INCORPORATION.

In 1854 it was thought advisable to re-organ- ize the society and to form a stock company. Therefore, a new constitution, embodying all the wisest and most desirable provisions found in

the constitutions of other societies, was framed, and the proposition for a change laid before the members at the annual meeting held in February, 1855. The plan contemplated the issuing of shares of stock, at ten dollars each, but permit- ting no person to hold more than one share at the same time, nor allowing any member to draw dividends from the funds of the association. This movement was sanctioned and the consti- tution adopted, with the result that on the 13th day of August, 1855, the society was incor- porated under a general act. Since then the change has proven itself a most gratifying one. As dividends on stocks were prohibited by the constitution, the receipts of the society, in excess of the necessary expenses, have been expended in the purchase of real estate, improvement of the grounds, erection and repair of buildings, and in the payment of premiums, all of which has kept the society in a most flourishing condition.

Even at this early period the fame of the Le- high County Agricultural Society spread abroad throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, attracting im- mense throngs of people to its fairs, which, in- deed, were always creditable.

One of the most interesting features of those old-time fairs was the public announcement of the award of the premiums on the last day of the exhibition. This announcement was usually made by Hon. R. E. Wright, Sr., and W. J. Hox- worth, Esq., and listened to by hundreds of in- terested exhibitors.

Among the principal attractions during those annual gatherings was the flying coach, with its improvised orchestra, located on the southeastern section of the enclosure and operated by Mr. Stephen Lentz. Mr. Lentz continued to furnish this amusement from year to year until the society abandoned the old ground.

Exhibitions were held annually with highly encouraging results until 1862, when, however, no fair was held. During that year the great Civil War was overshadowing the country, hav- ing already brought sorrow and mourning to many families in the county.

In October of the same year, the grounds of the society were occupied by seven companies of the 176th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, as a rendezvous, before being mustered into the service of the United States. These were Com- pany A, Captain Levi Smoyer; Company B, Captain S. D. Lehr ; Company D, Captain David Schadt; Company E, Captain Tilghman Schleid- er; Company G, Captain L. P. Hecker ; Com- pany I, Captain Lewis Harmony; and Company K, Captain George Neitz. From this place they marched in a body to the Lehigh Valley station to proceed to the seat of war.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The old fair grounds, in fact, during the thirty-five years that it was under the control of the society, furnishes many interesting remin- iscences of events in the history of Lehigh county.

In June, 1875, a Centennial Fair and Tea Party was held here, under the auspices of the Lehigh County Ladies' Centennial Association, of which Mrs. S. B. Lewis was president ; Mrs. A. C. Pretz, secretary; and Mrs. Jacob H. Sae- ger, treasurer. The object of the enterprise was to raise funds in behalf of the Great Centennial Fair, that was to be held the following year in Philadelphia, in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Republic. One of the main features of the local fair was a sham battle, reproducing the Bunker Hill contest at the beginning of the Revolution- ary War. The participants in this engagement were the Allen Continentals, Putnam Rifles, Reading Rifles, Putnam Guards, and a company of Minute Men, representing the Americans, under the command of General McAllister, aided by Col. Ruch. The Easton Greys, Allen Rifles, Sheridan Guards and the Sixth Ward Red Coats, commanded by Col. T. H. Good, represented the British side.

A Rhode Island clam bake under the super- vision of Mr. R. A. Thayer and Judge A. B. Longaker was one of the noted features. Other interesting attractions were the exhibition of old relics and reproduction of scenes of by-gone days. Besides all these a quartette of Tyrolese singers in Swiss costume enlivened the occasion.

The fair was a success financially and other- wise, netting over three thousand dollars for the Centennial cause, and affording a season of en- joyment for the people of Allentown and Lehigh county.

During the railroad riots in 1877, the 4th Regiment of the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, under the command of Col. T. H. Good, encamped for a short time on the grounds after their return from the deplorable encounter with the rioters in the railroad cut at Reading, Pa., and awaited further developments.

The use of the grounds was also frequntly granted for Fourth of July celebrations, political gatherings, Sunday school picnics, and for other assemblages. The place was much sought after for such occasions, because of its proximity to the heart of the town, and, especially, because of the beautiful trees, which by this time had grown large and furnished delightful shade and a home for countless blackbirds, whose chattering will always be associated with the old fair grounds.

After 1862 the annual exhibitions were re- sumed and held regularly, with increased in- terest and success. The exhibits became more

numerous, and the attendance so large that the want of space became a matter of serious cor :- cern. Already in the early seventies the impera- tive necessity of acquiring additional territory was foreseen, and action was taken towards se- curing land lying east of the fair grounds, owned by Dr. George Elliger and Charles Seagraves. Also, at the time when Sixth street was opened, north of Liberty street, the purchase of the tri- angular strip of land between the old road and the newly opened Sixth street was agitated, but neither of these projects was ever carried out.

ENLARGING THE AREA OF THE OLD FAIR GROUND.

The only increase in the area of the old ground that was ever secured was accomplished through the efforts of Hon. Jeremiah Roth. He entered into an agreement with Robert J. Yeager in 1882, for the use of two acres of land, lying im- mediately north of the fair grounds, for a term of fifteen years, at an annual rental of one hund- dred and eighty dollars. This addition gave the society a territory of fourteen acres, and so af- forded some relief, but only for a time. The grounds were still inadequate and the buildings too small for the operations of the growing in- stitution.

Then much dissatisfaction was felt, besides, on account of the short racetrack and the small grandstand, which were all the society could boast of. Although there was no desire to turn the society into a trotting association, still it was felt that to keep abreast with the times, it was necessary to secure a half-mile track and a grand- stand capable of seating thousands of spectators and stabling for upwards of a hundred speed horses.

The successful fairs of 1885 and 1886 further increased the dissatisfaction with the old fair grounds. Renewed efforts were now made for expansion. Committee after committee were ap- pointed, and plans were proposed and considered for enlargement by purchasing additional land from surrounding property owners and vacating intervening streets, but all these efforts, too, proved fruitless. It was not until the ten thou- sand dollar mark of the receipts, at the fair of 1888, was reached, that action was taken, re- sulting in a change of location and in the securing of a larger site.

THE NEW FAIR GROUNDS.

The new fair, or the Great Allentown Fair, as it soon became known, dates from the year 1889. At a meeting of the executive committee, held Oct. 26, 1888, the following resolution was passed :

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ALLENTOWN AS A CITY-1867-1914.

"Whereas the present grounds of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society are inadequate to accommodate so large an attendance as we have had at the last annual fair, and

"Whereas the speed horse is becoming one of the main features in agricultural exhibitions,

"Therefore it be resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, to be styled a committee to purchase ground for the Lehigh County Agricul- tural society, to locate and purchase such grounds as they deem suitable, either in connection with the present grounds of the society, or some other land suitably located for the use of a fair ground, erec- tion of buildings, and the construction of a half- mile track, for the purpose of holding annual ex- hibitions of the said Lehigh County Agricultural Society, and report the same to a special meeting of the stockholders of said Society, to be called by the president before the first day of January, 1889, for the approval or rejection of said report.'

The committee then appointed consisted of Messrs. F. B. Heller, H. J. Schantz, T. K. Klein, Isaac S. Roeder, and Joseph Hecker. At the special meeting called on Dec. 29, 1888, this committee submitted their report embodying three distinct propositons, describing properties as suitable sites, to wit :

(1). That the society remain at the old place, and increase the area of its ground to about twenty-two and a half acres by the purchase of tracts of land from surrounding property owners ;

(2). That a new location be secured by the purchase, from Solomon Griesemer, S. D. Lehr, and Catharine Newhard, of about thirty-seven acres, situate in South Whitehall township, im- mediately west of the city limits, on Seventeenth street, between Chew and Liberty streets, or,

(3). That the society purchase from the West End Improvement Company, several tracts of land known as the Runk farm, bounded on the east by Thirteenth street; on the west by Six- teenth street and the Weaver estate; on the north by Liberty street; and on the south, partly by Chew street and partly by the public road, known as Old Turner street, containing about thirty-three acres.

Each proposition was carefully considered by the stockholders, who finally resolved unanimous- ly to purchase the Griesemer tract, including the Lehr and Newhard lots, at the price named in the report, to wit, $19,310.00. The purchase of this site was subsequently consummated, the officers having been directed to take conveyances for the several tracts, and make arrangements for the payment of the purchase money. Deeds for the same were recorded April 4, 1889, in Deed Book, Vol. 100, pages 72 to 77.

SALE OF THE OLD FAIR GROUNDS.

At the annual meeting of the society held Feb. 5, 1889, the president, recording secretary, and treasurer were authorized and directed to sell the old fair grounds at public sale to the highest bidder, as a whole, or in such plots as they might deem advisable, to realize the largest amount, at a sum not less than $28,000. They were also authorized to sell certificates of stock for a period of sixty days, at twenty-five dollars a share, the aggregate number of shares of stock of the association, however, not to exceed one thousand.

At the same meeting, the committee on site, as heretofore constituted, together with the president, Hon. Jeremiah Roth, the recording secretary, Captain L. P. Hecker, and the treasurer, Mr. Joseph Hecker, were designated a building com- mittee to prepare the new grounds for the use of the society and to plan and erect the necessary and proper buildings.

In accordance with these instructions, the offi- cers had the old grounds cut into plots, with intervening streets, and sold the entire tract, in separate plots, at a public sale held at the Eagle Hotel, at Allentown, Pa., March 1, 1889, for $35,000.62, reserving the right to remove all the buildings except the ticket office and dwelling.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 89

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158