Welcome!

Greetings:

As spring approaches, please mark your calendars to remember several upcoming SBHS events.

We are pleased to announce that Starters Riverport continues its partnership with the Society by offering ethnic fare every Wednesday in February through March of 2012. An expanded “Come and Taste the Memories” ethnic dinner menu includes a number of Polish entrees based on family-tested recipes reminiscent of past generations. The Society extends its appreciation to Starters’ proprietor, Dave Rank for his commitment to this delightfully popular event.

On March 7, SBHS and Northampton Community College will present a Hungarian Cooking Demo at the College’s Fowler Family Southside Center on E. Third St. For further details, see article.

Please join us on April 28 at 7 p.m. when author Mario Fumarola will present a lecture in conjunction with the Southside Initiative’s lecture series in Town Hall at 10 East Church Street. See article for more about Mario and his books.

Plans are being made for the 2012 South Bethlehem Photography Contest and Show; details on this annual May event will follow.

Finally, we extend a kindly reminder to renew your SBHS membership for 2012. Your continued support makes possible events that fulfill the Society’s goals.

—Dana Grubb, President

Lehigh University Campus, South Bethlehem

This wintry scene at the corner of Brodhead and E.Packer Aves. is from the photo album of Howard Ginder, Lehigh Class of 1919. The open lot to the left of the house (above) became the home of Brith Sholom Community Center, dedicated on Chanukah, 1926. The building is now Lehigh University’s Harold S. Mohler Laboratory.|

Vintage Santa Pin

“Santa in a Roadster” Christmas memento, was offered to its patrons by the South Bethlehem Supply Co., Ltd., the Bethlehem Steel Company store which had a large grocery department and meat market, with entrances on W. Fourth St. and also Broadway, shown at below.

News & events

Friday, March 23, 2012

Debut and screening of Reflections of Steel, a 30 minute photographic essay about Bethlehem Steel that is set to music. It features the historic photography of long-time Bethlehem Steel company photographer Barney Banauch, and more recent photography done by Lori Stack, John Weber and SBHS President Dana Grub.

This event is being held at the Moravian Book Shop and features a 6 to 7 PM reception with the debut screening beginning at 6:45 PM. At 7:15 PM Lori, John and Dana will be available for a meet and greet/DVD signing.

This a DVD with a cause. One dollar from the proceeds of each CD purchased will be donated to the Steelworkers Archives. All royalties that Dana earns will be donated to the South Bethlehem Historical Society.

Credit Union Membership

An important message for SBHS members

As a member of South Bethlehem Historical Society, you qualify for membership in the Bethlehem Teachers Federal Credit Union. That’s great news—here’s why: As a member of BTFCU, a full line of financial products and services are available—these include Checking and Savings Accounts, Holiday Vacation Clubs, Loans, Credit and Debit Card Services, Individual Retirement Accounts, Direct Deposit & Payroll Deductions, On- Line Banking and 24-hour Phone Access to Accounts. Other opportunities range from Competitive Rates without Excessive Fees, Easy Access to Accounts, to a full array of Products and Services.

Bethlehem Teachers Federal Credit Union is located at: 2317 Easton Ave., Bethlehem, Pa.

Office hours are: Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thurs., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information and services, please contact BTFCU by phone at 610-691-0041, or visit us on-line at www.btcu.org 

Christmas in South Bethlehem

An Ethnic Experience

South Bethlehem Historical Society
proudly presents
this 24-karat brush gold-finish keepsake ornament
~ the first in a series ~
featuring the American Christmas Tree in commemoration of the annual Ethnic Christmas Tree Display during its Twentieth Anniversary 1991 ~ 2011 ‘An Ethnic Experience ’ Christmas in South Bethlehem

A different Keepsake Ornament limited to 200 will be issued by the Society each year.

Available for $15 on our website.

Centennial Celebrations

St. John’s Windish

September 18, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church at 617 E. Fourth St.

The church was founded in 1910 by Central and Eastern European immigrants who came to South Bethlehem to work in cigar factories, silk mills and Bethlehem Steel.

Emigrating from the Austro- Hungarian Empire of which Slovenia was a part, most were familiar with the German language spoken in South Bethlehem—names like “Windish” and “Wends” are German for “Slovenski,” the Slovenian language. Rev. Dr. Gary J. Langensiepen led St. John’s official 100th anniversary celebration on Sept. 18 at 10:45 a.m. with a brief service followed by the burial of a time capsule. The milestone celebration was open to the community.

Concordia Lutheran

On August 6, 1911, a group of Slovak immigrants planned a ground-level church at 1240 E. Fourth St. First named St. John the Baptist Evangelical Slovak Lutheran Church, it is now Concordia Lutheran Church.

Since 1983, Rev. Raymond A. Malec has provided the necessary leadership and growth which has allowed the congregation at Concordia Lutheran to become vibrant and active in Southside Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley.

On Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, Concordia celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special service at the E. Fourth St. church, followed by a celebration at the Silver Creek Country Club in Hellertown. Special guests included Rev. Donald Hayas and other dignitaries. Community members participated in the event.