Summer 2015 Volume 12 • Issue 2 Published Quarterly by LSTHS T he tradition of weddings in June was inspired by the ancient Roman goddess Juno, from which the month of June got its name. In farming communities similar to Saucon Valley, a June marriage was considered good luck—a couple would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. Beneficial to the wife, her pregnancy was timed by a June wedding, when she would give birth in early spring. This allowed her time to recover and assist with planting seasonal crops. During the Middle Ages, a person usually took an annual bath in May or June, a reason June weddings were advised. Tradition suggested that the June bride should smell relatively fresh, along with her bridal bouquet, which also provided a lovely scent. Though some historians disagree on the taking of annual baths in the 1500s, average Europeans bathed frequently in tepid water with soap—a commodity readily available in those days. In 1840, Queen Victoria wore a white gown when she wed Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her white gown created a tradition that continues to this day. Before Victoria’s wedding, European and American brides wore their best dresses in a variety of colors when taking their vows. A Victorian rhyme, “Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you’ll go,” also promoted June weddings. The popularity of June weddings may have been based on warm weather, fresh flowers and the availability of food at that time of year. The first weddings in Pennsylvania occurred June Weddings Please see JUNE WEDDINGS page 3 Actress Elizabeth Taylor by Karen M. Samuels Adopt-A-Road Jody Hijazi (second from left) meets with her Adopt-A-Road volunteers on Country Side Lane earlier this year. For recognition of volunteers, see page 6. The Eighth Annual Saucon Valley History Day celebrated on a beautiful spring Saturday, May 2 at the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse, featured a Maypole dance, bird house building, quill pen writing, live music, and delicious cakes. Live “crawly creatures,” like Olivia the opposum (left), were presented by Christine Murray of the Wildlands Conservancy. For a review of the day’s activities, see pages 4 and 5. History Day 2015 - Having fun learning with friends!
Transcript
Summer 2015Volume 12 • Issue 2
Published Quarterlyby LSTHS
The tradition of weddings in June was inspired by the ancient Roman goddess Juno, from which the month of June
got its name. In farming communities similar to Saucon Valley, a June marriage was considered
good luck—a couple would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. Beneficial to the wife, her pregnancy was timed by a June wedding, when she would give birth in early spring. This allowed her time to recover and assist with planting seasonal crops.
During the Middle Ages, a person usually took an annual bath in May or June, a reason June weddings were advised. Tradition suggested that the June bride should smell relatively fresh, along with her bridal bouquet, which also provided a lovely scent. Though some historians disagree on the taking of annual baths in the 1500s, average Europeans bathed frequently in tepid water with soap—a commodity readily available in those days.
In 1840, Queen Victoria wore a white gown when she wed Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her white gown created a tradition that continues to this day. Before Victoria’s wedding, European and American brides wore their best dresses in a variety of colors when taking their vows. A Victorian rhyme, “Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you’ll go,” also promoted June weddings. The popularity of June weddings may have been based on warm weather, fresh flowers and the availability of food at that time of year.
The first weddings in Pennsylvania occurred
June Weddings
Please see JUNE WEDDINGS page 3
Actress Elizabeth Taylor
by Karen M. Samuels
Adopt-A-RoadJody Hijazi (second from left) meets with her Adopt-A-Road volunteers on Country Side Lane earlier this year. For recognition of volunteers, see page 6.
The Eighth Annual Saucon Valley History Day celebrated on a beautiful spring Saturday, May 2 at the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse, featured a Maypole dance, bird house building, quill pen writing, live music, and delicious cakes.
Live “crawly creatures,” like Olivia the opposum (left), were presented by Christine Murray of the Wildlands Conservancy. For a review of the day’s activities, see pages 4 and 5.
History Day 2015 -Having fun learning with friends!
Summer 2015Page 2
Mission Statement:The Lower Saucon Township Historical Society seeks to preserve and maintain the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse as an example of 19th-Century Pennsylvania architecture; to utilize it as a place of public education; to acquire, conserveand archive artifacts, manuscripts,photographs, recordings and ephemera relevant to the history of Lower Saucon Township, and to make them available for research, study and education.
LSTHS Executive Board 2015-2016President: Sue HorisznyVice President: Jody HijaziTreasurer: Frank FabianBoard Secretary: Rita Ernst Corresponding Secretary: Sally MurphyShelley GoldbergJudy HeydtCarol OrtweinJosh PopichakFran RobbGwen SingerMartha SterlingHonorary Member: John Ortwein
LSTHS Offices Lower Saucon Town Hall 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
For questions or research, please contact Joan Ruth, office manager at 610-625-8771 on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Look Back AgainPublished by the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society, the quarterly newsletter is distributed to the current membership.Design Editor: Kenneth F. Raniere Editorial Support: Karen M. Samuels
Visit the LSTHS websitewww.lutzfranklin.comWebmaster: Danny Ruth
traditional Cakewalk. We were fortunate to have special cakes donated by Tomblers Home Bakery, Aunt Jack’s and Rolling Pin Pastries. We appreciate their support of our historical society during this event.
On June 6th, former students who attended the one-room schoolhouse during the 1930s and the 1950s met at Lutz-Franklin. At this event, the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society dedicated a plaque, which was placed on our new schoolyard bench in memory of Margaret “Peggy” Fluck.
On July 11, we have a summer event planned at the schoolhouse—the Society will host a picnic from 5 p.m. until dark. Details are listed in the calendar of events and all members and guests are invited to join us.
Have a great Summer!
experience student life at the one-room schoolhouse. This spring, 291 third-grade students from neighboring school districts took a field trip to the schoolhouse, where they practiced penmanship writing in cursive with a quill and recited a poem titled, “The Swing.” It’s amazing to watch children having fun while actually doing schoolwork!
On May 2nd, History Day visitors who came to the schoolhouse enjoyed a special presentation by naturalist Christine Murray of the Wildlands Conservancy. She brought Olivia, the opossum who was a favorite with guests. Christine also brought three acquatic reptiles found in Pennsylvania—a snapping turtle, a slider and painted turtle.
History Day ended with our
History Day at Lutz-Franklin SchoolhouseVisitors Peggy Berger (left) and Harriet Samuels enjoy hot dogs at a picnic table. Priscilla deLeon (left) and Laura Ray are pictured in the background.
Summer 2015 Page 3
between clans of Native American Lenni Lenape tribes. The bride wore a knee-length deerskin skirt and a band of wampum beads around her forehead. Her face was painted with white, red and yellow clay. The Bethlehem Moravians conducted the first Native American Christian wedding in Bethlehem. On February 16, 1744, Rev. Boehler married Samuel and Mary of the Massachusetts Wampanoag tribe.
During the 1900s, June reigned as the favorite month to get married in the Saucon Valley—school terms were finished and the season was temperate. Old family photograph albums bear witness to elaborate wedding gowns and meticulously groomed wedding parties. In South Bethlehem, a favorite place to shop for wedding attire was Figlear’s Formal Wear at 6 W. Fourth St. Owner Rose Figlear Abbott specialized in all wedding party needs. William Subko, owner of Subkos at 34 E. Third St., rented men’s formal dress clothes.
Those who lived in the Lower Saucon area often saw their favorite movies at the Sauconia Theater in Hellertown. In June of 1950, the blockbuster movie, Father of the Bride, starred Elizabeth Taylor (Ellie Banks) and Spencer Tracy (Stanley T. Banks). The film paid homage to the traditional June wedding. In the movie, Ellie says to her father, Stanley, “I don’t know how to explain. A wedding. A church wedding. Well it’s, it’s what every girl dreams of. A bridal dress, the orange blossoms, the music. It’s something lovely to remember all the rest of her life. And something for us to remember, too.” The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards and inspired a generation of young women to have their weddings in June.
In recent years, the American National Center for Health Statistics reported that more weddings are scheduled in July and August than in June. Today, a wedding can be planned any time of the year, with endless choices of gowns, indoor air-conditioned facilities and the availability of fresh flowers—
as long as you’re in love!
In June 1927, this lovely photo was taken at the wedding of the groom, Paul Meilinger and his bride, Irene Takas—only sixteen, young for a women to marry. At the age of fourteen, Irene was a clerk, employed in Meilinger Cigar Store. Later, she owned and operated the store for 17 years until she retired in 1945.
Photo courtesy of Stephen and Frances Roseman
Continued from page 1
June Weddings
Summer 2015Page 4
Learning about our past at the Schoolhouse is fun . . .
History Day 2015
. . . discovering local wildlife
. . . building new bird houses
. . . dancing around the MaypolePhotographs courtesy of Shelley Barchanowitz-Goldberg, Daniel Ruth and Karen Samuels.
Summer 2015 Page 5
The new book, Saucon Valley, Images of America, by Daniel T. Ruth, Karen
M. Samuels and Lee A. Weidner, will be available in July 2015. It features many never-before published photographs that will delight residents of Lower Saucon Township, Hellertown and the surrounding area. Here are some highlights…
Photos never published of Shimers-ville—the entire village purchased by Beth-lehem Steel and subsequently demolished.
One chapter guaranteed to bring back fond memories, “General Store,” features Bergstressers, the last in operation today. These general stores were an essential part of the Saucon Valley community.
From 1900 to 1995, Bethlehem Steel was the primary employer of the Saucon Valley. Readers will learn of the Bethlehem Steel farm (in Lower Saucon), which sup-plied food products for meals at the Steel headquarters. The book highlights three local farms that became subdivisions that housed Steel workers.
Photos of Marlin Lake, Patterson Stables, Lake Hiawatha, and the Sauconia Theater reveal what children did for fun.
Readers will also be surprised that the first airport was located in an area they drive by frequently—the Bethlehem Mu-nicipal Airport, which was only in use for a handful of years.
All royalties from sales of the book, Sau-con Valley: Images of America, will go to the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society.
Don’t miss it! . . . writing with a quill
. . . enjoying a cakewalk
. . . listening to “live music”
Summer 2015Page 6
At a Lower Saucon Township council meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, Saucon Valley families, organizations and businesses were recognized for
their volunteer work to help keep the township’s roads clean.The township’s Adopt-A-Road program, just five years
old, was created after the Lower Saucon Sportsmen’s As-sociation approached township officials and requested the adoption of lower Ringhoffer Road in 2010.
After that, the township decided to formalize the pro-gram, township manager Jack Cahalan explained.
Today, nearly two dozen stretches of road in Lower Saucon Township have been adopted by volunteers, who clean them by going on “litter patrols” twice a year—in spring and fall.
“The township provides volunteers with trash bags, gloves and grabbers. Over the past five years, more than 700 bags filled with litter have been collected, along with discarded furniture, tires and other items dumped in Lower Saucon,” Cahalan said.
“These volunteers have devoted a total of 389 hours” to the Adopt-A-Road program, he added.
In addition to being recognized with roadside signs, repre-
sentatives for the following Adopt-A-Road participants were on hand to receive resolutions passed by township council in their honor:
Lower Saucon Township Historical Society, Saucon Creek Watershed Association, Lower Saucon Township Environ-mental Advisory Council, Saucon Valley Wrestling, Saucon Valley Youth Sports, Saucon Community Bible Fellowship Church, Hellertown Lower Saucon Little League, the Lichak Family, Lower Saucon United Church of Christ & Red Door Early Learning Center, St. Theresa’s Church, Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, Saucon Valley High School Future Busi-ness Leaders of America, the Muschlitz Family, the Riegel Family, the Macek Family, the Pagoda Family, the Birkel and Palik families and the Jesse Repash Family.
Other participants in Adopt-A-Road include IESI Beth-lehem Landfill, Lower Saucon Sportsmen’s Association and Christ Lutheran Church of Lower Saucon.
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it,” township council vice president, Tom Maxfield told the participants at the meeting.
“I love volunteers. You keep the community together,” added councilwoman Priscilla deLeon. “We can’t thank you enough.”
Praise given to Lower Saucon “Adopt-A-Road” Volunteersby Josh Popichak
“Litter patrols” (above) are volunteers who kept over twenty-four Lower Saucon Township roads clean. Photo courtesy of Josh Popichak
____ Individual $15 ____ Family $25 ____ Junior (student) $5
____ Lifetime $250 ____ Corporate $350 ____ Other donation
____ Artifacts Special Events ____
____ Schoolhouse Docent Baking ____
____ Membership Fundraising ____
____ Grant Writing Public Relations ____
____ Programs/Presentations
____ Other, specify ____________________
____ I attended a One-Room School
Lower Saucon Township Historical SocietyP.O. Box 176 Hellertown, PA 18055
Please indicate if you’d be interested in helping us in any of the following areas:
Support the Society and become a member.Make checks payable to “L.S.T.H.S.” Return this form with your payment to:
Please print your name as it should appear on your membership card - Circle: Mr. & Mrs. Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Dr.
LSTHS is a 501(c)3 Non-profit Organization
Meetings take place on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Seidersville Hall
(next to the Lower Saucon Town Hall) on Old Philadelphia Pike, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Stop by and join us!
Members of the LSTHS and our local community should take pride in what we have accomplished as we grow in recognition and reputation for both the restoration of the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse and educational programs.
Summer 2015 Page 7
LSTHS Memberships 2015
Wherever you are this season . . . You can receive your newsletter electronically! Just send us an e-mail at [email protected] and we will send the newsletter to your e-mail address.
Please send us your current e-mail addresses if you would like to receive notices of meetings, events, etc. Send your email address to: [email protected].
March – Deborah Hartwell, Eleanor Lavage, Doris Bonstein, Virginia Bloss, Alton and Eleanor Knauss, Richard and Nancy Eckert, Charles and Elizabeth Derr, Justin and Erica Simmons, Arthur Oplinger, Charles and Carol Lee, Edward Petkavich, Michael and Sharon Karabin, Claudia Wolbach, Michael and Gillian Skertic, Richard and Elaine Kantor, John and Cynthia Ringhoffer, Jane Weddigen, Leon and Priscilla deLeon, John Weiss, Josh Popichak and Anthony Chavar (also a donation in memory of Cathy Chavar).
April — Sharon Jezick, Elaine Donnelly, Howard Gard-ner, Pearl Bodor (also a donation in memory of her family), Bob Swaim (NEW).
May – Carole Gorney, Rita Ernst, Dennis Eisenhart (NEW).
We continue to get donations of interesting documents, pictures, and artifacts for our archive room. Cyan, our newest volunteer, keeps busy using our newly acquired Mac computer “tagging” pictures.
features of the human face. When a new picture is entered into our picture database, the software will highlight all of the faces in a picture and present a box (below the face) where you can type (or “tag”) the person’s name —if you know it.A lot, but not all of our pictures have the names of the people appearing in the pictures on the reverse side - so all we need to do is transfer that information into the computer. For the pictures for which we have no names, we could use the assistance of our senior members who may be able to identify the faces. As time goes by, any pictures without names will be lost to history. If this sounds like fun to you (and it is), please contact me and we will see how we can put your detective skills to work!
New to the Archives—We would like to express our appreciation to Barbara Hausman for the two boxes of artifacts she donated to us in May. Included among the items was a rare Victorian antique schoolbook holder. The rope unrolls and tightens around the book. It is a perfect addition to our collection!
Keep up to date and visit us atwww.lutzfranklin.com email— [email protected] or call— 610-625-8771
From I-78 Take exit 67 (Hellertown/Bethle-hem), turn left on Rt. 412/ Main St. Go 1 block and turn left at traffic light onto Cherry Lane. Follow 4 blocks to end and turn left on Easton Road. Go 2.1 miles & turn left on Countryside Lane. Go 1.3 miles to the schoolhouse.
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Lower Saucon Township Historical SocietyP. O. Box 176 • Hellertown, PA 18055
Lower Saucon Township Historical Society
Directions to the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse:
Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse
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Calendar of Events ~ 2015 bbA reminder—Monthly meetings start at 7 p.m. at Seidersville Hall, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike. Guests are always welcome and light refreshments are served.
Board meetings at 6 p.m. —June 10, July 11, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11. No meetings in August or December.
Wed., July 11 An old-fashioned picnic will be held at the School-house from 5 p.m. until dark, rain or shine. The picnic will be potluck with the historical society furnishing hot dogs, buns, and drinks. Bring a lawn chair and appetite.
Sat., Aug. 22 Visit us on Community Day in Hellertown.
Sun., Sept. 20 Author Adam Rothman will give a presentation on his book, Beyond Freedom’s Reach. Seidersville Hall, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike. 2 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 3 Our annual Apple Festival will take place at the Schoolhouse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine.Wed., Oct. 14 Katherine Ramsland is a well-known author and authority on murder and ghosts and will present a talk. Seiders-ville Hall, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike. 7 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 5 Holiday Open House at the Schoolhouse, 1 to 3 p.m.
Don’t forget the picnic atLutz-Franklin Schoolhouse
