(Latest in a series of posts on Bethlehem Moments)
In the last post in this series, Gadfly published a draft guide to resources on Bethlehem history for people committed to or considering doing a Bethlehem Moment.
Here now for the same purpose is — thanks to Scott Gordon! — a short list of possible topics.
This is only a sample to get you thinking. The topics for the Moments can be big or small, well known or unknown.
Note that several of the Moments so far are about day-to-day activities from the newspaper rather than what one follower called more “hard news” in the list below. Gadfly can give you the link to Newspaper.com where you can browse the Bethlehem sections of the Morning Call. Lots of interesting “history” there!
Anyway, the idea is that it should be your choice.
The founding (1741-1762)
The War and Occupied Bethlehem (1775-1778)
The first bridge (1794)
The canal (1829)
The end of Moravian Bethlehem as an exclusive community (1845/1847)
The railroad (1850s)
Beginnings of industry on the south side (1850s)
The Lehigh River flood (1862)
The Bethlehem Steel Strike (1910)
The unification of the three boroughs (1917)
Prohibition and the rough south side (1920s)
WWII and the Steel (1940s)
Origins of Historic Preservation/Restoration (1950s)
The Lost Neighborhood (early 1960s)
New City Center (1967)
People wishing to do one or hear more about the Bethlehem Moments should contact the Gadfly — Ed Gallagher — through the “Contact” link here or at ejg1@lehigh.edu.
It’s an honor to do one of these Bethlehem Moments.