Local History

Daniel Seddiqui told LehighValleyNews.com on Thursday the region’s two biggest cities aren’t short of charm, friendly residents or traffic.

Allentown has completed a comprehensive update and digitization of over 2,000 property records across its three historic districts — Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds and West Park.

The Walking Purchase, a 1737 land grab perpetrated by William Penn's sons, shaped the Lehigh Valley as residents know it today. But, the land wasn’t actually purchased, as the name might suggest — it was swindled from the Lenni-Lenape.

At one point, Bethlehem Steel's namesake mill employed 31,000. Its last steel beam was cast 30 years, but the work lives on in the generations of steelworkers who translated a tough job and difficult conditions into a better life.

Crews will begin laying steel for the Overlook on History exhibition and educational space in early October, with some material from the nearby Grist Miller’s House’s interim shoring even being repurposed for the project.

The Heller-Wagner Grist Mill, located at 150 W. Walnut St. in Hellertown, is now officially part of the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Hellertown Historical Society.

Palmer Township has been recognized with a historic marker from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, commemorating the spot where the famous Crayola crayon was born.

The Daughters of the American Revolution, with help from a local Girl Scout troop, commemorated the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution by ringing bells in Easton's Centre Square on Wednesday.

The grant will be used to help replace all 91 windows with historically accurate, insulated glass and wood models to "enhance the building’s energy efficiency while preserving its historical integrity," a news release says.

New for this year, among the two different kinds of sheep, rabbits, miniature donkeys and ponies live at the Johnson Barn, there also will be 10 Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats on site for snuggling.