Spring 2009
Volume 9, Issue 1

THE BEST LTHS BASKET SOCIAL EVER!

Thanks to society officers & directors, members, friends and local businesses who donated theme baskets, prize items or gift certificates, party-goers purchased tickets to win more than 170 prizes! An ‘extra value table’ with several prizes worth $50 to $100 and more also was extremely popular. Having improved upon a 4-digit winning ticket number distribution process which had been cumbersome in the past, a pre-printed triple-digit numbering system greatly improved the prize distribution process and was virtually mistake-free. The basket social was held at the Lehigh Twp. Fire Company on March 22.

COMMEMORATIVE PITCHERS NOW AVAILABLE

Ceramic pitchers to raise funds for and to celebrate the renovation of St. Paul’s School House, Indianland are now available for purchase. The 6 1/2” tall pitchers are gray with a sketch of the schoolhouse on the front and the name of the society on the back. The lettering and other markings are emblazoned in dark green. The pitchers are handmade by Westerwald Pottery, located in southwestern Pennsylvania. They make a nice companion piece to the preserve jars that were sold previously. They also make nice Christmas gifts. The cost of the pitchers is $30. They may be purchased during the December holiday hours (see events calendar) at the Lehigh Twp. Historical Centre of Indian Trail Park, Pennsville. For more information, or to order a pitcher, please contact Nancy (610 767-0676) or Beverly (610 767-3634).

2009 Season Opening of LTHS Centre - Sunday, May 24

If you haven’t done so lately, be sure to visit our township’s historical center and see the many items that have recently been added to the numerous artifacts on display there. Beginning on Sunday May 24, and continuing through mid-October, the museum and store will be open the second and fourth Sundays of each month from noon to 3:00pm. Hope to see you there!

June 13 Chicken Barbecue

Our annual ‘take-out’ chicken barbecue dinner will be held on Saturday, June 13 at St. Paul’s UCC, Indianland Church. Ken Bloss’s one-man chicken barbecue operation is known throughout the Lehigh Valley. Tickets for the meal, which includes ½ charcoal barbecued chicken, a foil-wrapped char-baked potato, roll and side of applesauce, cost only $8.00 and are available from any active member of the society. The packaged dinners may be picked up between noon and 6:00pm on Saturday, June 13 at St. Paul’s UCC Church, Indianland. Donations of baked goods would also be appreciated. They can be dropped off between 11 AM and noon. Other arrangements can be made by calling one of the numbers listed. WE WOULD REALLY APPRECITE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP DURING THE DAY’S EVENTS. To purchase tickets or to volunteer to help, please call 610-767-3634 or 610-767-0676.

WORK CONTINUES ON RESTORATION OF INDIANLAND ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE

To date, the original slate roof has been repaired, and the cornice/soffit, entry door and windows have been repaired and repainted. The early 1970s interior renovation of wood paneling, suspended ceiling and carpeted floor have been removed. In addition, the vestibule, which once served as an entryway and coat room, and raised stage area have been reconstructed. Additional work, including repair of the plaster on the walls and ceiling areas, painting the interior walls/ceiling areas, replacing the wainscoating and weather-coating the exterior brick, has recently begun. The schoolhouse might be open to the public as early as this summer.

Contributions of school desks, textbooks, slate tablets, etc. that had been used during the one- and two-room schoolhouse period (not necessarily from Lehigh Township) are being sought by the society for the interior of the schoolhouse.

“ART BY THE PARK”

This summer the society will hold two art shows (July 26 and August 23) on the porch of the Lehigh Township Historical Centre. The purpose of the shows is to attract more people to the center to enjoy the interior displays. In addition, the shows will give area artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work. The artwork displayed will include stained glass, painted gourds, folk art, photography, pencil and ink sketches and oil paintings. Both shows held last summer were very well attended. Forms for interested artists can be found on our website (www.lehightownship.org) or by calling Nancy at 610 767-0676.

“The History of Dieter’s Foundry” Available Soon

The Lehigh Township Historical Society is proud to announce that a new book on Dieter’s Foundry will be available this summer, possibly as early as the opening day of the season. The book contains
the history of the foundry from its beginning in 1877 until the day it ceased operation. The book includes a list of all the employees known to have worked at the foundry, as well as many pictures of the foundry operations.

The book was written by society president Sean D. Billings, and includes the information presented at the Hope Lutheran Church program on the topic this past winter. The book will sell for $20. For more information call 610-760-1814.

Rails-Trails Project Reports Progress

In the spring of 2008 the Lehigh Township Historical Society formed a subcommittee to look into the development of converting the old rail beds in the township to walking trails. Lehigh Township currently owns a few sections of railroad bed with the longest piece being a half mile section that runs from Quince Road to Wood Drive. The rail bed is adjacent to the municipal building property, although it is not accessible from there. During the fall of 2008 the committee was given approval from the township to begin developing this section of trail.

During the first year of the committee’s existence a “Master Plan” for the rails to trails in Lehigh Township was produced. The master plan describes the location of the proposed trails and the connections to other trails in the area. During the fall of 2008 a $15,000 DCED grant was applied for to begin work on the rail trail and to be used as matching funds for the C2P2 Grant to be applied for in the spring of 2009. On April 21, 2009 the Rails to Trails Committee applied for a $37,000 C2P2 grant to build the section of trail from Quince Road to Wood Drive.

The Rails to Trails Committee currently consists of David Altrichter, Chris Amato, Sean Billings, Jerry Bundra, Don Eckhart, Darrin Heckman, Sandra Hopkins, Lynn LaBarre, Meg Schell, Barry Shabbick, Ken and Nancy Stott and Sam Schaadt.

The committee meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm at the Lehigh Township Historical Centre. Anyone interested in the project is welcome to attend.

Newly Erected LTHS Centre Sign Welcomed

Many thanks to Eagle Scout Evan Knutson for our new sign at the Lehigh Township Historical Centre. Evan installed the sign last autumn as his Eagle Scout project. Evan raised the money to purchase the sign as well as providing the labor to install it. The sign will help the society advertise events and get information to the public traveling by the center on Route 248. Evan is a senior at Northampton Area High School and will be attending the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.