Karen M. Samuels Ordre des livres

Due in part to the Lehigh Canal and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Bethlehem evolved from a tranquil town to a modern industrial city. Built in 1829, the Lehigh Canal passed by the center of Bethlehem. With it brought a steady stream of outsiders who shaped and changed the community. The Lehigh Valley Railroad was established in South Bethlehem in the 1850s, turning the city into a manufacturing center with such new industries as Lehigh Zinc and Bethlehem Steel as well as silk mills. Bethlehem Revisited captures a city in transition, at a time when its streets could barely accommodate the influx of horses, trolleys, automobiles, and pedestrians. Bursting at its seams with people, businesses, and residences, Bethlehem comes alive through this collection of extraordinary postcards.

Since its founding in 1741, many extraordinary people have called Bethlehem home. Teacher Polly Blum introduced needlework to her Moravian Seminary students in 1818 and soon received a request from the wife of Pres. John Adams for one of their pieces. In 1932, Sam Born established Just Born Candy Company, maker of the famous marshmallow Peeps. Dorothy Stephenson was the first female executive for Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Reggie Cora was the first Hispanic to serve as a county detective. Musicians, artists, and athletes have also contributed to the cultivation of this city. Gelsey Kirkland joined the New York City Ballet and became the dance partner of Mikhail Baryshnikov. Frank Mikisits hosted a Hungarian music radio show for 40 years, preserving the music of his childhood. John Spagnola played in 11 NFL seasons. Legendary Locals of Bethlehem chronicles more than 200 residents who through leadership and courage have made Bethlehem a wonderful place to live.

The story begins in 1848, when the Moravian Brethren sold 274 acres of farmland to investors who resold them as building lots. By 1855, Asa Packer had laid the tracks of his Lehigh Valley Railroad along the Lehigh River, bringing coal from Carbon County to markets in New York and Philadelphia. Industries rapidly grew, with the Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company in 1853 and the Saucona Iron Company in 1857. By 1865, South Bethlehem became a borough. Charles M. Schwab headed the former Iron Company in 1906, renaming it the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and was instrumental in uniting the Bethlehems as one city in 1918. Countless immigrants shaped the tone of this region. Today the Sands Casino occupies part of the former Bethlehem Steel site. It is the future home of art and music venues that will contribute to a city already known for its historic and cultural heritage.