ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET
The history of Northampton
County in Pennsylvania, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and
factual data in this NEW 75 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily from three hard-to-find books: the
1843 edition of Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania
by Sherman Day, An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
by William Egle, M.D., and Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State,
a WPA project published in 1940. The spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided
on 60# paper, with the print enlarged for easier reading. A clear vinyl sheet
has been added to protect the front cover.
The communities
mentioned include: Bangor, Bath, Belfast, Berlinville, Beth, Bethlehem, Butztown,
Centreville, Cherryville, Christian Spring, Easton, Glendon, Gnadenthal, Hectown,
Hellertown, Howarttown, Kernsville, Kreidersville, Mt. Bethel, Nazareth, Newberg,
Pen Argyl, Portland, Raubsville, Richmond, Schoenick, Siegfried’s Bridge,
South Bethlehem, South Easton, Stockertown, Weaversville, Williamsburg, Wilson,
and Wind Gap.
The Day and Egle histories cover the early development of
this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from
a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as
they relate to sightseeing possibilities. There is occasionally some duplication
of material, but often with a different slant or with additional details.
Among the many and diverse subjects
in the booklet are: Physical features and minerals; the price of land, the
Indian Walk, and boundary disputes; Early settlers; Moravian settlements in
Bethlehem and Nazareth; Lafayette College, Lehigh University and other institutions;
the Lehigh Navigation Co. and canals; Sectarian prejudices; Indian Councils
at Easton; Indian charges of “fraud”; Moravian communal life style and funeral
practices; Count Zinzendorf and the History of the Moravian Church; Early
history of Allen Township; Murders and ravages of the Indians in 1763; Missionary
David Brainard and a brief excerpt from “Edwards’ Life of Brainerd; Reaction
to the Declaration of Independence; the Bethlehem Steel Corporation Plant;
Alpha Portland Cement Works”; Revolutionary War; Rev. George Whitefield;
Mount Bethel Presbyterian Church; Witche’s Head; an 8-page plus map section
from the WPA book on Betheham; and other interesting bits of history and
trivia. Also includes a 6-page section devoted to Easton.
ILLUSTRATIONS
include Southern View of Easton (full page); Church
and Female Seminary (Bethlehem); First House Built in Bethlehem; Church, Seminary
and Sisters’ House (Nazareth); Pardee Hall, Lafayette College, at Easton
(full page); The Old Indian Chapel, Bethlehem; Old Crown Inn, Bethlehem; Lehigh
University, at Bethlehem; The Old Mill at Bethlehem; Nazareth Hall; The “Schnitz
House” at Bethlehem; and The Married Brethern and Sisters’ House, Bethlehem.
