Title–9 | 10–11 12–13 14–15 16–17 18–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 | 90–99 | 100–109 | 110–119 | 120–129 | 130–139 | 140–151
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One of the important steps in the Borough’s improvement was the building of storm water Sewers which was done in 1903, when the citizens voted to issue $100,000.00 in bonds to build storm water sewers. These sewers are in Broadway from Jischke Street to Brodhead Avenue to the Lehigh River. This sewer ranges from eight (8) to nine (9) feet in diameter; cost $60,419.00. On Linden Street from Fifth Street to the Lehigh River, ranging five (5) to six (6) feet in diameter; cost $24,000.00. On Elm Street from Packer Avenue to Lehigh River, ranging from four (4) to five and one-half (5 1/2) feet in diameter; at a cost of $18,500.00. These sewers have supplanted creeks and caused a great relief from floods which filled the streets after heavy rain storms. This was one of the conditions on Broadway where the waters flowed down the street its full width. With Terra Cotta pipe sewers have been laid also on many streets to carry off storm waters. These empty into the large trunk sewers named above.
In 1906 the people again voted for a loan of $75,000.00 for paving streets, and Third, Fourth, and Wyandotte Streets were paved in 1907 at a cost of $88,300.00. In 1912, Town Council issued $42,000.00 of bonds to pave streets, and in 1913 the sum of $20,000.00 was expended, making a total of $150,000.00 thus far expended on permanent street paving.
House sewers were built on all of the paved streets prior to the paving being done, and on many other streets house sewers have been put down.
In 1912, the citizens voted to increase the debt of the Borough $130,000.00 for the purpose of building a sewerage disposal plant, a pumping station, and a force main, also a trunk sewer, but no further action has been taken in that matter.
CITY GOVERNMENT
In August, 1913, under an Act of the Legislature, a special election was held to vote on the question of the Borough becoming a City of the Third Class, and the people voted in favor of a City form of Government, and at the following November election Dr. Mitchell Walter was elected Mayor, and Adam Brinker, Capt. A.W. Leh, Chas. E. Drumbor and Samuel Strauss were elected Councilmen. The newly-elected City Officials entered upon the duties of their office on December 1, 1913. The City form of Government continued until March 22, 1915, when, under the decision of the Supreme Court, the Act providing for a special election to vote on the question of a City Charter was declared unconstitutional, and the old form of Borough Government was resumed, the Burgess and Councilmen of the former Borough at the time the change was made going back to their respective offices. During the City form of Government there were no radical departures in the administration of affairs.
PRESENT GOVERNMENT
The following is the present government of South Bethlehem:
Burgess, JOSEPH W. ADAMS; Treasurer, WARREN A. WILBUR; Secretary, THOMAS GANEY; Solicitor, JAMES T. WOODRING; Engineer; ROBERT E. NEUMEYER; High Constable, JAMES J. MCFADDEN; Tax Collector, Q.E.D. SNYDER.
Councilmen: ABNER H. GROSS (Second Ward), President; First Ward — Chas. H. GROMAN, WILLIAM H. SEIPLE, ROBT. A. HINKLE; Second Ward — E.H. MEGLATHERY, Charles H. SORGE; Third Ward — ADAM BRINKER, Thomas W. SCOTT, JOHN J. DEMPSEY; Fourth Ward — F.J. DONAHOE, JAMES J. McCREADY, B.J. MCFADDEN; Fifth Ward — JERE McCARTY, DANIEL GARTLAND, JOHN J. LOUGHERY.
Board of Health: DR. W.P. WALKER, President; DR. R.J. YOST, DR. T.J. BUTLER, DR. J.B. McAVOY, DR. W.H. GLICK.
FIRST MARKET HOUSE
THE MARKET
South Bethlehem’s Municipal Market, located at Third and Birch Streets, is one of the best vegetable and produce markets in the eastern part of the State. It is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and the attendance of farmers, butchers and hucksters varies according to the season of the year, running from 50 in midwinter to 250 in summer and fall. The display of produce is always large and varied, and the prices are generally low as compared with market-prices in other towns. The buyers come from all the adjacent towns as well as from our own Borough. The market was established originally by a number of citizens in 1873, the then market-house being a one-story building which stood on the site now occupied by the Municipal Building. The building was called "The Wigwam", and was built during the Greeley Presidential campaign, in 1872, for campaign meetings. The cost of the structure was about $500.00, and the only living contributor is W.A. Lynn, 12 East Fourth Street. In 1874 the Wigwam was sold at public auction for $150.00, and the purchasers formed the South Bethlehem Market Company of which Andrew Rogers was president; Herman Horn, treasurer; Henry Krauskopf, secretary; and they began a public vegetable and produce market in it until 1878 when the Borough leased the building from the company at an annual rental of $100.00, the company paying the taxes, ground and water rents. The success of the market caused the organization of the Fountain Hill Market Company, by Dr. M.L. Yost, Cornelius W. Beyscher and others, and they erected a market building at the Five Points, on the site now occupied by Thos. Young’s grocery store. After a few years the project was abandoned and the building torn down. In 1881 the lease expired, the Borough buying the market-house for $1,000.00. The Borough continued the market in the old building, and on June 12, 1885, purchased from William Chapman of Bethlehem, the lot on which the building stood and the lot adjoining, 80 feet front on Third Street and 140 feet deep to Mechanic Street, for $5,000.00. The adjoining lot 40 by 140 feet, on the east, was purchased from William Canam of Bethlehem in 1893 for $5,000.00 and the present Municipal Building was erected in that year. The first floor is used as the market room, and contains 136 stalls, the present rentals of which range from $1.75 to $2.50 per month. The stalls are rented semi-annually and the rentals received amount to nearly $5,000.00 annually. The basement contains the lockup and boiler-room; the second floor contains the Borough offices, and the third floor is given up to a hall for public assemblages. The building is a substantial three-story structure erected at a cost of $40,000.00, Josiah R. Wilt of Bethlehem was the contractor and Capt. A.W. Leh, the architect.
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FIRST FIRE CARRIAGE
FIRST FIRE HOUSE
FIRE DEPARTMENT
South Bethlehem has an excellent volunteer fire department. It is made up of four companies: the Lehigh Hook and Ladder Company, the Protection Hose Company, the Liberty Fire Company, and the Good Will Hose Company. These companies have given excellent service ever since their organization, and though at times a discussion of the question of a paid fire department has come up there has thus far been no definite step taken toward that end. Each company is well equipped with trucks, hose and fire-fighting apparatus, and each has its own separate house owned by the Borough.
The home of the Lehigh Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, is on Broadway near Fourth Street and is a spacious and well-arranged structure, containing an apparatus room, stable and quarters for the firemen.
The home of the Protection Hose Company No. 1, is situated on East Fourth Street near Pine Street, and that of the Liberty Fire Company No. 2, is on Vine Street above Fourth Street. These two houses are of similar construction, uses and arrangement as that of the Lehigh Company. At the Lehigh House is stationed a team of horses belonging to the driver of the Company, and at each of the other two is a team of horses the property of the Borough. There are salaried drivers for the Protection and Liberty Companies, and an annual sum is paid to the driver of the Lehigh Company for the use of his horses. This arrangement has worked satisfactorily, and prompt responses are made to all alarms of fire.
The Protection Hose Company was organized on August 5, 1875. About a week previously a meeting of young men was held at McGovern’s Eagle Hotel, Third and Locust Streets, to discuss the organization of a fire company, and there were found to be many willing to volunteer to fight the “fire fiend”. John C. Lynch presided at the meeting, and George C. Boyer was secretary. A committee, consisting of Charles Quinn, William H. Jackson, Thomas Dinan, Michael Boyle and Benjamin Baker, was appointed to wait on Town Council regarding the organization of the company, and they reported favorably at the meeting August 5. The company was named “Centennial Hose, No. 1”, and the following officers were elected: President, John C. Lynch (father of John C. Lynch, East Third Street); Vice-President, Thomas Dinan; Secretary, George C. Boyer; Treasurer, Benjamin Baker; Trustees, Michael Boyle, Edward McLaughlin, Edward Murphy; Foreman, Daniel W. Heller; Assistant Foremen, Augustus Rayeur, John Carr. The name was later changed to Protection, No. 1. The first home of the Company was erected in 1877 at the southeast corner of Pine and Church Streets. In July, 1876, a hand-drawn truck was purchased with 500 feet of leather hose and was housed in the stable attached to the Marshall House, which stood where the South Bethlehem Brewery now stands. The present officers of the Company are: James Kilpatrick, President; Fred Schortz, Vice-President; M. Deissinger, Recording Secretary; J. Kilpatrick, Financial Secretary; M. Sabo, Foreman; E. Pulchar, Assistant Foreman; L. Sabo, E. Pulchar, and O. McFadden, Trustees; Peter Burns, District Chief.
Title–9 | 10–11 12–13 14–15 16–17 18–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 | 90–99 | 100–109 | 110–119 | 120–129 | 130–139 | 140–151