In this article, the history of Allentown landmarks is covered. It includes to mention a few, Adams Island, Hess' Department Store, Trout Hall, and the Neuweiler Brewery. These old structures have long been a part of the Allentown landscape.
The early 1900s saw the beginning of Hess's Department Store in the Pennsylvanian town of Allentown. When the store's founder Max Hess Sr. passed away in 1922, he handed the family company to his nephew Max Hess Jr. He was 18 years old and a student at Muhlenberg College at the time. He left college three years later and became the store's president.
Allentown saw the debut of the first Hess department store in 1897. The business grew rapidly, ultimately taking up an entire city block. It gave customers a taste of what it would be like to shop in a major city, complete with extravagant Christmas decorations, runway
presentations, and festive window displays. The flagship shop shuttered in the early 1990s when the Hess Brothers finally sold the department store business to several department store operators. The location is now a part of the PPL Center.
In Allentown, Pennsylvania, there is a historic home museum called Trout Hall that history aficionados may visit. The late 1760s home functioned as a museum and library run by the neighborhood historical society. It has items dating back to the American Revolutionary War. This makes the structure a must-see for history enthusiasts. The museum also offers further information about the history of Allentown's early years.
In Allentown, the first cinema theater debuted in 1921. The theater's 1,800 seats featured a balcony. The theater had an organ where the music for silent films was played by a full-time organist. About two years later, the cinema started playing sound movies instead of silent ones. It was Allentown's second-largest theater in the late 1920s. It contained a kids' play area in addition to having many film showings each day. Sadly, the theater shut its doors in 2005. It is empty at the moment.
The history of the Neuweiler Brewery in Allentown, Pennsylvania, dates back to the early 1900s. It was a major local beer manufacturer in the early 20th century. It was one of the country's original canneries, and in the early 1950s, it was still lucrative. However, the brewery had begun to lose market share by the late 1960s. The business declared bankruptcy at the end of 1968 due to debt. Production eventually stopped, and the business was forced to shut down.
Benedict Nuding established the business in 1878 and started producing beer in the basement of an old hotel on Seventh Street. Louis Neuwiler acquired the business in 1900 and increased its activities. He erected a new industrial plant in 1911. At the time, Neuwiler produced a variety of beers, including Hochberg, cream ale, porter, and light lager.
This famous monument in Allentown has long served as a hub of trade. Initially characterized by tanneries and sawmills, it now has a lively neighborhood of eateries, breweries, hotels, and enterprises. Recently, Travel & Leisure ranked it as one of New York's top little towns.
The mansion is Allentown's lone intact monument from the time of the American Revolution. It was constructed in 1770 and used as a school and a sanctuary during the American Revolution. As time went on, the manor's functions were altered by its successive owners.