Welcome!

Where has the year gone? The last quarter of each year tends to be our busiest, and 2011 has not been an exception.

Board of Directors—

At its June meeting, the SBHS Board of Directors re-elected directors Dana Grubb, Kathryn Broczkowski Klein, Thomas E. Mohr, and Donald “Rusty” Sillivan; new directors elected to the Board are Beverly Hoover, Seth Moglen and William Scheirer. Newly elected executive board members are Dana Grubb, president, Kathryn Klein, vice-president, Tom Kwiatek, secretary and Stacy Milo, treasurer. Congratulations to everyone.

The Board has decided to expand to the maximum of twenty-one members permitted by the Society’s by-laws at our June 2012 meeting. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please forward your resume to the attention of Mary Pongracz, P.O. Box 5106, Bethlehem, PA 18015.

Annual Meeting—

I extend a big ‘thank you’ to both the Portuguese American Club for hosting our Annual Meeting on Sept. 22, 2011 and to Board member, Lance Metz for his presentation of two rare Bethlehem Steel films.

“Hungarian Nights”—

If you have not yet enjoyed the hearty fare during Wednesday ‘Hungarian Nights’ at Starters Riverport Restaurant in Southside Bethlehem, we have good news! Starters Riverport owner, Dave Rank has extended ‘Hungarian Nights’ through the end of this year, every Wed. evening from 5:00 to 11:00. The Society will continue to benefit from his generosity.

Ethnic Christmas—

The annual SBHS Ethnic Christmas Tree lighting ceremony took place on Sun., Nov. 27, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Comfort Suites lobby, 120 W. Third St. The beautifully decorated trees will remain on display in the hotel lobby until Jan. 7, 2012. Please stop by with family and friends during the holidays. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of this SBHS tradition.

A Call for Volunteers—

The Society extends an invitation to any member interested in volunteering for Society upcoming events. If you have time and talents to share, please take this opportunity to drop me a note at the address above.

Happy Holidays—

No matter what your faith, the Society Board of Directors and I convey our best wishes for peace, good health and happiness during the holiday season and in the New Year. Thank you for your continued support of the Society.

—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

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.