Something Unique In Your Neck of the Woods

York, Pennsylvania isn’t just a beautiful town, it’s also a historical one. During the height of World War II, it was also the origin of the famous York Plan, a defense initiative that quickly spread across the country. In this article, we will talk about the history of the town, how the plan worked, and the impact it had on the American war effort.

A man named Forry Laucks, the owner of York Safe & Lock, was one of the first people to realize this, seeing the war reaching America as early as 1938. Most of the town thought he was overreacting and a lunatic for thinking that America would ever get involved in a war just after recovering from the previous one. Nonetheless, he managed to convince a very small number of manufacturers into believing his warnings. Four families, including his, were appointed by these manufacturers to come up with a plan. They were given six months to do so, or the whole operation would be called off. 

German and Swiss immigrants who found themselves in Pennsylvania worked to keep their family traditions alive and well. One such tradition has to do with a character who’s been carried on in PA Dutch Country. This PA Dutch folklore features a fellow named Belsnickel. The tale goes back hundreds of years. In fact, it started in Europe back around the 1700s. 

In unique style, Belsnickel wore furs, sometimes rags, and a mask.  At times, his face would be darkened with charcoal. He was hardly a friendly sight. His purpose was to visit children in the area and find out who’s been good and bad. Those naughty children wouldn’t want to disappoint Belsnickel. Naughty children were scolded, but punishment was stronger for those who tried to get away with lying.

According to the Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA), “The 28,000 square mile watershed is the longest commercially unnavigable river system in North America.” This is due to the unique landforms throughout. 

Waterways have always played an important part in the progress of modern society. Modern as we know it, that is. But some rivers have been around longer than you can almost fathom. For instance, did you know that the 444-mile-long Susquehanna River is dated at being over 300 million years old? The Nile River, to give you some perspective, is only 30 million years old!

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Chocolate lovers around the world are familiar with an amusement park that boasts a delicious and famous name—Hersheypark. Yes, as in that Hershey! What you might not have realized is how far back the history of this park actually goes. In fact, there’s an entire background you might not be aware of. 

Back in the day, Hersheypark went by the name Hershey Park. It doesn’t seem like a big difference, but it wasn’t simply a change in spelling. Come 1970, the shine of the park was becoming dull, there were issues with vandalism, and a lack of new entertainment. Something had to change. 

Hershey knew they’d need to invigorate the amusement park and make changes to help boost the now sagging popularity. They first big move was to change the park’s name from Hershey Park to Hersheypark—a rebranding of sort.

Everybody knows about the Statue of Liberty just off the coast of New York City. It is one of America’s most prized possessions. What you might not know is that there is another smaller replica statue that’s been here for decades. In this article, we will talk about the fascinating history of this statue.

In 1986, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Statue of Liberty,  a man named Gene Stilp decided that he would build a replica on a piece of an old railroad bridge in the middle of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.

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The Schuylkill River hugs the Philadelphia region, and has been an important part of the country’s history. While most of us think of William Penn when we think of Philadelphia, he wasn’t the first one there.

The history of Bethlehem Steel is as long as it is fascinating. While the company may no longer exist today, the effect that it’s had on the country can still be felt today.

For the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the world’s first Ferris Wheel received one of its most crucial components, the axle for the wheel itself, from Bethlehem Steel Corporation. This was possibly the first time the average citizen would have seen the company’s work. Speaking of Ferris Wheels, it also supplied the steel used to build the world famous Wonder Wheel in Coney Island. The most famous thing built using their steel, however, was none other than the World Trade Center. 

Other recognizable landmarks built using their steel include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Madison Square Garden, the Rockefeller Center, the Hoover Dam, and parts of the Empire State Building. If you’re in a major city in America, there’s a good chance that something important there was built using their steel.

While Lehigh University has grown, it’s original and oldest campus is dedicated to founder Asa Packer. This smaller university boasts approximately 7,000 students and offers more than 2,000 courses and programs. A full-size statue of Asa Packer was donated in 2003 and stands on the campus grounds today. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at Asa Packer, the man behind the Bethlehem school which was founded back in 1865.

With a humble start, Asa Packer was first known for working with his hands. He practiced carpentry and was a farmer as well. Over time, he grew his expertise in other areas. It was his ability to take risks that led him to greater wealth and accolades.

Having lived from 1805 to 1879, he packed a lot of punch into the years he served, both as a public servant and as a savvy businessman. In true philanthropist style, he gave away millions of dollars, with Mauch Chunk and Lehigh Valley being the greatest recipients. On his passing, he still had a value of over 50 million dollars.

We all know a Robert called Rob or a Michael who goes by Mike, but did you know that some cities and towns have nicknames as well? Think of how Chicago is known as “The Windy City.” When it comes to Allentown, right here in Pennsylvania, this popular city has its own share of nicknames that it’s acquired through the years. 

Here are some of nicknames you’ll find for Allentown:

• Peanut City
• Silk City
• The Queen City
• Band City USA
• Truck Capital of the World
• Cement City

The question becomes, how did it acquire all of these names? Let’s take a closer look at them to see the history behind these unique Allentown nicknames.