V Longswamp Township Historical Society Newsletter April 2013 Message from the LTHS President Purpose of the LTHS T0 discover and preserve educational and illustrative collections of material, structures, and landmarks of the Longswamp Township area. To maintain a museum and noncirculating historical library of the Longswamp Township area. To preserve and record the history and culture of the Longswamp Township area. LTHS Directors Officers: President Christopher Stress Vice President Marie Maly Secretary Jerri Burket Treasurer Mike Radcliffe Board: Bill Anton Eloise Long Judith Murphy Kevin Shoemaker Ron Young Fred Sheeler, Berks County Recorder of Deeds (honorary) Mary Ann Lantz, Longswamp Township Supervisor (honorary) If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a member, please contact us at (484) 504-9149 Email: LongswampHistory@gmail. com Everyone, I would just like to say we have another wonderful year ahead planned for our township Historical Society and wish to thank you all for your support. We have a new Programming Committee chair for 2013 and he has hit the ground with his feet running. I want to thank Bill Anton for assuming this most important post. We have already had our first program and it was a major success! I would also like to thank outgoing chair Maryann Lantz for her leadership the past two and a half years in that same post. Our historical Society was started back in the fall of 2010 by the Township Supervisors and this effort was lead primarily by Supervisor Mary Ann Lantz. Our Township was first formed in 1761 and in 2011 we celebrated our 250th anniversary. We were able to produce many programs related to our Township's 250th anniversary and all were a major success. We have continued the aspect of this programming thru to today. Now we have professionals in all aspects of our organization related to almost every part of what a Historical Society represents including but not limited to: fundraising, marketing, programming, publications, and even genealogical research! We can always use and would love to have additional help in all of the above areas and then some. Going forward I would ask that if you are interested in history for any reason and in any aspect, please come to one of our meetings and or programs and reach out to us. We will accept your ideas and hope to receive your assistance even if it is only to attend a lecture. This organization is about all of you and keeping history alive for the coming generations to study, understand and remember. Thanks Again for being a part of our organization! Until soon, I shall remain Your Humble Servant, -Chris!
Upcoming Events Mark your calendars now Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. LTHS General Membership meeting Longswamp Township Municipal Building Thursday, April 18, 7:00 8:30 p.m. Rediscovering the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad The Macungie Institute, 510 East Main Street, Macungie When the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad connected the iron ore from the mines in Rittenhouse Gap with the Lockridge Furnace, a major industrial region was created in the townships of Lower Macungie and Longswamp. The railroad hauled iron ore from in the mines to Lockridge and other furnaces along the Lehigh River and, for a period in time, our local iron industry was a national leader. Once the iron furnaces shut down in the early 20th century, traffic on the Catasauqua and Fogelsville declined; many of its routes were abandoned. But remnants of the mines, the railroad, the furnace, and their impact on the community are still quite evident. This presentation will follow the personal connections of five men to the railroad and relate how they uncovered the story of the railroad, the iron industry, and meaning for us all today. Please join us and learn what remains of this once vital transportation link in our communities. This is a joint collaboration of the Historical Societies of Lower Macungie Township, Macungie, Alburtis-Lockridge, and Longswamp Township. Sunday, May 19, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Bingo Benefit Great Prizes! ASA Bingo Hall, 953 State Street, Mertztown This is our BIGGEST fundraiser of the year. Buy a ticket and sell one to your family and friends. We also need prizes. Contact Mike at radmarket@dejazzd.com or 610-682-7454 Proceeds benefit the Longswamp Township Historical Society According to researchers, playing Bingo is good for the mind and body. Come on out and bring along your family and friends. Room for 60 players. Save the date! More details to follow. Sunday, June 30, beginning at 1:00 p.m. A Pennsylvania German Taste Sensation to include: Chicken Pot Pie, Potato Filling w/ Gravy, Schnitz un Knepp, Dandelion w/ Hot Bacon Dressing, Corn Pie, Chow-Chow, Boova Schenkel, Pepper Cabbage, Shoofly Pie, Funny Cake, Pa. Dutch Draft Birch Beer Proceeds benefit the Longswamp Township Historical Society Janelle s Restaurant and Catering Hall, 360 Fleetwood Road, Bowers
2014 Calendar Photo Contest We invite you to submit a Longswamp Township moment for our first-ever photo contest. From among the entries, local photographers will help us pick 13 photos for our 2014 Calendar. Proceeds from calendar sales will help us continue our work to share and preserve the historical past of Longswamp Township. The contest runs through September 1 st. Contest Rules Eligibility The contest is open to all amateur photographers. You do not need to be a resident of Longswamp Township to participate. There is no entry fee to participate. Subject Matter Any image you believe captures the unique history, heritage and beauty of Longswamp Township. Images should not include people. Judging Local photographic pros will choose 13 winning photographs. Entries will be evaluated using the following criteria: appeal, content and photographic skill. The decision of the judges is final. We will publish the winning entries on our Facebook page; entry winners will also be contacted by phone or email. Use of Photos The grand prize-winning photo will be featured on the cover of the calendar; runners-up photos will appear on one of the 12 calendar pages. The photographers name will be published along with their winning entries. If your photo is selected for the calendar, you will receive a complimentary copy of the calendar. All entrants must grant Longswamp Township Historical Society non-exclusive rights to use their photos to promote Historical Society activities including, but not limited to, the 2014 calendar. Questions? Contact the Longswamp Township Historical Society by phone or email: Phone: (484) 504-9149 email: LongswampHistory@gmail.com Submission Requirements 1. Photos must be received by September 1 st, 2013. 2. Photographers may enter up to four entries; each photographer will be limited to one winning entry. 3. Photos must be color and taken in horizontal orientation. 4. Photos must be recent (after August 31, 2012) and taken in Longswamp Township. 5. Photos must be submitted by the photographer. 6. We will accept images up to 8 x 10 and printed on photographic paper, digital images taken with a camera set at the highest possible resolution, or digital images of prints that are scanned at 300 dpi. We will accept images.jpg format only. 7. An entry form must be submitted along with each photo. (See reverse side for form.) How to Submit Your Entries Digital Entries: Complete all fields (photo title is optional), save the completed form to your hard drive, and email your entry form and digital image to LongswampHistory@gmail.com. You will receive acknowledgement of receipt by email within five days. Print Entries: Mail print(s) and entry form(s) to: Longswamp Township Historical Society, P. O. Box 610, Mertztown, PA 19539 Prints that are accompanied by self-addressed stamped envelopes will be returned in October, 2013.
2014 Calendar Photo Contest Entry Form Complete this form, save it to your hard drive, and then email mail the form (with your photo entry) to LongswampHistory@gmail.com. If you do not have an email address, you can leave the field blank; all other fields must be completed. Questions? Contact the Historical Society by email or phone (484) 504-9149. Each photo you submit (up to 4 allowed) must be accompanied by its own entry form. Name Address City/Zip Code Phone Email Date photo taken (month/year) Location of photo Title of photo (optional) Tell us why you believe your image captures the essence of Longswamp Township By placing an X in the box below, you affirm you understand and agree to the following: Your photo was taken in Longswamp Township in the last 12 months, and you are the photographer. Your photo may be used by the Longswamp Township Historical Society in its print or digital publications, website, social media tools or promotions without compensation to you. If the photographer is under age 18, a parent or guardian has reviewed and approved this submission. I agree
News from the past From the Allentown Democrat, Allentown, PA, Wednesday, June 7, 1899, page 3 The pipe organ in use in the Longswamp church, at Mertztown, was made in 1796, 103 years ago, by Andrew Krauss, of Kraussdale, Lower Milford tsp., this county. The instrument proving a good one, he then received orders and successively built organs for the following named churches, many of them being still in use, to wit: Catholic church at Churchville, Pa.; "Six-Cornered Church," old Goschenhoppen church; Reformed church, Allentown, still in use in a church in Berks county; new Goschenhoppen Church; one for the Tohickon church; one for the Indian Creek church, in Upper Milford; one for the old mother church at Fifth and Appletree streets, Philadelphia, now in use in the new Lutheran church at Trenton Avenue and Cumberland streets, in the same city; one for the Boyertown church; two in Oley; one in Easton; one in Friedensville; one in North Whitehall; one in South Whitehall; one in Schoener's church, Schoenersville; one in Upper Saucon; one at Yellow Springs; one in Hanover; one in the Dryland church; two in Mertztown; one in the Jordan church; one in Beaver Dam, Union county; one in Rockland, Berks county; and one, the last one, in Sassaman's church, Pa. Mr. Krauss' was the first pipe organ factory in the country. He was a self-taught artisan, and the degree of his rare skill may be readily imagined when it is understood that he was able to successfully construct both organs and pianos. His organs were said to be possessed of exceptional merit and were in good demand. The first instrument he ever made was what in the long ago was called a "melodeon," a treadle organ for parlor use. Submitted by Jerri Butket Volunteer Opportunities Volunteers are needed for the fundraising committee and to assist at special events and society programs. If you enjoy planning and helping at events, or have any expertise in fundraising, please contact Mike Radcliffe mrad@ptd.net
A piece of Longswamp history gets a new face! This photo is of the new bridge being installed over the Little Lehigh Creek at State Street (the King s Highway. It was taken on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. The old bridge was a two-span, closed spandrel stone arch structure. The walls were constructed with undressed, rubble-coursed fieldstone with stone voussoirs* framing the arched openings. The original bridge was built in 1862. The old bridge was deemed unsafe and is being replaced by the PA Department of Transportation *A wedge-shaped brick or stone used to form Photo taken by Judith Murphy Source of information about old bridge: Bridgehunters.com the curved parts of an arch of vault Longswamp Township Historical Society P.O. Box 610 Mertztown, PA 19539 Phone: (484) 504-9149 Email: LongswampHistory@gmail.com We re on the web! http://www.co.berks.pa.us/muni/longswamp/pages/historicalsociety.aspx Like us on Facebook