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Lehigh County was formed from Northampton County in 1812, which was formed in 1752 from Bucks County, an original County.
FOUNTAIN HILL
Despite the fact that Allentown had become a city in 1867, and Easton had
consolidated into a city twenty years later, there were three small
Bethlehems: Bethlehem, West Bethlehem, and South Bethlehem (of which the
area called "Fountain Hill" was a part.) But "The Hillers" lived in a
world of their own, spending money lavishly and building ornate mansions.
In 1892, a tremendous effort was sparked by Bethlehem's civic leaders to
unite the three Bethlehems. Resisting much opposition, the residents of the
Lehigh County portion of South Bethlehem refused to be consolidated with
Bethlehem, and on November 7, 1893, voted to become a separate entity - the
Borough of Fountain Hill. Nearly two decades passed before Bethlehem, West
Bethlehem, and South Bethlehem (of which the Borough of Fountain Hill was no
longer a part) would be consolidated into one city. The newly formed Borough
of Fountain Hill (a total of 212.342 acres) held a special election on
December 12, 1893, for the purpose of electing a burgess and a borough
council. Of the 204 registered voters, only 67 voted.
When the U.S. Census was taken in 1900, there were 1,088 permanent
residents
and 228 houses in Fountain Hill., 221 of which were on streets north of
Broadway. The remaining seven houses were on Broadway within the Borough
limits which started at Bishopthorpe Street and ended at Bergen Street.
In 1919, the Borough of Fountain Hill annexed 255.185 acres of Salisbury
Township, covering the portion of Fountain Hill that is south of Broadway and
between the eastern line of the Borough and the western line of Line Street,
near the top of Gauff's Hill. It also included a portion north of Broadway
between North Bergen Street and the Salisbury/Fountain Hill line. In 1920,
the Borough's population was 2,339. By 1950 it had soared to 5,436, and in
the next forty years, the population dropped rather drastically.
Today, the Borough of Fountain Hill (all of which is in Lehigh County),
with a population of about 4,500, remains a separate entity, but lacking its
own post office, the postal address of its residents is Bethlehem, PA. The
portion of Bethlehem that is NOT in Fountain Hill is in Northampton County.
I was born and raised in Fountain Hill. My source for the above
information:
"The History of Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania," by Edward J. Redding, publ. 1996
Irene Diehl Konrad
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THE CHAMPION CUCUMBER RAISER
Mrs. Josiah DOWEY claims to be the champion cucumber raiser of Lehigh county,
having a cucumber thirteen inches long and measuring eleven and a half inches
in circumference. She has some that are very nearly as large and claims they
are about three-fourth grown. They have been raised on good Republican soil
she says.
Ref: Town and Country Newspaper
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Saturday - August 20, 1904
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205 PEOPLE ON ONE TROLLEY CAR
The biggest trolley load carried by any car during the Allentown Fair last
week contained 205 people. They were packed on the car like sardines in a tin
box.
Ref: Town and Country Newspaper
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Saturday - October 1, 1904
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FARM OF SEVENTY-TWO ACRES AT PRIVATE SALE
The property of the late Jonas YEARK, (dec'd.), situated in Lower Milford
township, Lehigh county, Pa., about 1 mile from Spinnerstown, on the road
leading from Kraussdale to Swamp Church, Bucks county, consisting of 72 acres,
including meadow and woodland. The improvements thereon are a two story stone
house with kitchen attached, a frame barn, two wagon sheds, two corn cribs,
pigsty and all necessary out buildings, running spring water at the house and
barn, a variety of choice fruit, &c. Can be bought at a bargain if purchaser
can't take our price will take his, purchasers have to see it to appreciate. For
further information apply on the premises, known as the property of the late
Jonas YEARK (dec'd.) 9-3-2m. By the Heirs.
Ref: Town and Country Newspaper
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Saturday - October 1, 1904
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