The churches of Allentown : a study in statistics

Front matter

BY

JAMES HERBERT BOSSARD

A THESIS

Chapter I. Allentown: The City And Its People

In the extreme eastern portion of the state of Pennsylvania, almost midway between the northern and southern boundaries of the state, lies the city of Allentown. It is situated on the western side of the Lehigh River at the confluence of the Lehigh, Little Lehigh and Jordan Rivers, and some eighteen miles southwest from where the Lehigh flows into the Delaware, at Easton, Penna. It lies 90 miles west of New York City, and about 60 miles north of Philadelphia. It is known as the " Queen City of the Lehigh Valley, " being located in the heart of the general section of eastern Pennsylvania known by that name, and claims to be its commercial and industrial metropolis.

A Brief Historical Survey.

Judged by the standard of American municipal longevity, Allentown is an old city. It was laid out in 1762 at the direction of Chief Justice William Allen, who then owned all of the land now covered by the city. The name Northampton was given to the village, which, at the end of the first year, embraced 13 families. Its growth, like that of most colonial villages, was slow. At the outbreak of the Revolution, there were 54 families residing within its confines. The first federal census in 1790 revealed a population of 486. The United States Gazetteer, in 1795, describes Allentown in the following words: "A handsome and flourishing town pleasantly situated on the point of land which is formed by the junction of Jordan Creek and the Little Lehigh. It is regularly laid out, and contains about ninety dwellings, a German Lutheran and Calvinist church, an academy, and three merchant mills. ' ' By 1810, the population had increased to 710, and the following year, the town was incorporated as a borough. The name Northampton was retained until 1838 when it was changed to Allentown in honor of the founder of the city.

S The Churches of Allentown

The first half of the 19th century was a period of intense interest in transportation, of internal improvements and of intellectual development, all over the United States. Allentown shared, in its own small way, in these movements of the age. Between 1812 and 1837, a half dozen stage coaches served as connecting links between Allentown and such places as Philadelphia, Easton, Reading, Wilkes-Barre and other distant places. Two transportation companies did business in the little town. Warehouses were located at the river front at which the canal boats, coming down the canal which the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company had completed as far as Easton by 1838, stopped to unload their wares. By the end of the first half of the 19th century, five fire companies had been organized. In 1827, the Northampton Water Company was established and pumping works were speedily erected and a reservoir constructed. Bridges were built to span the neighboring rivers and creeks. A bank was opened in 1814 and this enjoyed a successful and prosperous career for a time, failing however in 1842. Streets and alleys were ordered surveyed in 1812 and " regulated, and laid out according to the original plan," and all articles deemed public nuisances were to be removed. Six local newspapers sprang up during this period to enlighten the borough citizenship. An English school was opened on South Seventh street in 1813. A school for girls was opened in the same year, and from 1813 to 1845, night schools were kept by various teachers. Other schools were opened and the public school movement grew in keeping with its general development throughout the state. x

Population during this fifty year period grew slowly but steadily. From 710 in 1810, it climbed to 1,757 in 1830 and the middle of the century saw it reach 3,703. Near the close of the third decade of the century, Anne Eoyall, a writer, of Washington, D. C., visited the town and spoke of it as follows: "Allentown is a handsome town on the Lehigh. It stands upon an elevated site, surrounded on all sides by a vale. This, again, is surrounded by mountains and hills, forming a romantic and picturesque appearance. It appears to be a flourishing town

i Summarized from "Anniversary History of Lehigh County," Vol. 1.

and does much business. " 2 This perhaps is the most fitting summary to make of the town's development during this first half of the 19th century. It was picturesque, it was flourishing, it did business, it grew, giving full promise that it refused to remain a straggling village.

The decade 1850 to 1860 was one of unusual growth. The population jumped from 3,703 to 8,025. Two of the main factors responsible for this growth were the opening up of the Lehigh Valley and East Pennsylvania railroads, and the establishment of the iron works of the Allentown Iron Company. The railroads especially advanced the material interests of the town. By the end of the decade, there were 57 manufactories in Allentown: 2 foundry and machine shops, 7 agricultural implement manufacturers, 6 establishments connected in some way with iron and steel industry, 5 grist mills, 6 breweries or distilleries, 8 brick yards, 5 carriage manufacturers and 18 other manufacturing projects scattered over an extended field. 3 The Allentown Democrat, describing the various aspects of this growth, said in 1859 :

"There have been so many changes, physically and socially in Allentown, as a town, within a few years past, that a former resident, who returns to it after a short absence, can scarcely recognize the place or its people. Quite recently one of this class remarked to us: 'I came here to spend some time amid the scenery and acquaintances of former days, but I am hardly able to discover a vestige of that scenery, or to find an acquaintance once in an hour. Everything has changed.' And that man had been absent but about seven years. By the census of 1850, the population of Allentown was 3,703. * * Now our population is estimated at 10,000, and the original borough plat has increased in area east and west, at least a quarter of a mile. In building operations we have progressed remarkably — in 1856, 108 buildings were erected; in 1856, 138; in 1857, 169; in 1858, 62, making a total of 467 buildings in four years. Handsome three and four story brick and iron front edifices cover the site of many an old weatherboard shell of his day: stores of a hundred feet in depth have succeeded the pent-up dingy shops his eyes were accustomed to look upon; and the din of busy life prevails everywhere in lieu of the sweet calm then so grateful to him in taking his after dinner nap. If he should go to where he considered himself 'in the country,' planing mills, grist-mills, saw-mills, machine shops, foundries and furnaces, depots, with long trains of cars stretching either way, and dwellings innumerable would greet his eyes, and the noise of railway trains astir his ears. At the dawn of the year 1855, Allentown had no railway outlet, now it has two — the Lehigh Valley Railroad connecting us with the principal emporiums of the Union, while the East Pennsylvania road links us with the far West and South by the shortest route in existence. Besides these, we have the Allentown and

3 Ibid., p. 443. (Summarized.)

Auburn road In process of construction. Stage coaches are almost among the things past — a few months more will put them entirely so. Instead of consuming twelve and fifteen hours in travelling to Philadelphia, we now go there, spend about three hours, and return to our homes, all between the rising and setting of the sun."

In 1867, Allentown was incorporated as a city. It then had an area of 3.14 square miles, or 2,011.27 acres. Three years afterwards, the census of 1870 revealed a population of 13,884.

In the seventh decade of the last century, with the date of incorporation as the best arbitrary point of departure, there began in Allentown that epoch of numerical growth, of industrial development, and commercial centralization, which, sweeping all over the north and east of the United States, transformed sleepy hamlets and bustling little towns into teeming and prosperous centers of nervous strenuosity.

As far as Allentown is concerned, in this period then from 1867 to 1900, there were four main industrial lines in the background of the city's material development.

First, there is the development of the iron and steel industry. In 1867 there were five small iron and steel industries in the city. Thirty-three years later, there were six more of appreciable size, and four of the five antedating the corporation of the city had been appreciably extended. The most important of the newer industries was a plant established by the American Steel and Wire Company, a subsidiary plant of the United States Steel Corporation. The plant was devoted to the manufacture of wire products. Throughout its entire history, this establishment has been closely identified with the commercial and industrial history of the city, both because of the large number of men employed, and by virtue of its remarkable record of continuous operation. Twelve foundries and machine shops sprang into being during this period, manufacturing steam and gasoline engines, brass and iron castings, hardware iron and brass tubes and fittings, knitting machinery and refrigerator trimmings. Virtually all of these industries have prospered, giving steady employment and relatively substantial remuneration to a large number of employees.

Second, the wood working industries enjoyed an appreciable growth. Carriage making was one of the earliest industries in the city. Three carriage making estab-

A Study in Statistics ll

lishments were in existence by 1867, and three more were added by the close of the century. All of them enjoyed a good, steady trade, the prosperous farming section lying on all sides of the city furnishing a good market.

In 1870, the making of furniture was begun by Henry Berkemeyer. Within twenty-five years, seven furniture factories sprang up. Of these, the Yeager Furniture Company has come to enjoy a rather wide reputation for artistic productions.

Five planing mills were located in Allentown between 1865 and 1890. These extended the demand for skilled workers. These mills fill the demands of the local market, and sell, to some extent, to the local markets of eastern Pennsylvania.

Third, there is the manufacture of boots and shoes. In 1860, l ' the manner of dress was different from that of today. Men all wore boots. Children, four or five years old, who were the pride of the family, were not in full dress without a pair of boots. Women wore shoes made of lasting, mostly in colors, like brown and grey. For every day wear ladies wore shoes made out of extra heavy kip and calf, that had nearly all hand-pegged bottoms.

' The fine Sunday boots were made out of domestic calf and French calf, and were handsewed and pegged. ' ' 4 In 1865, when H. Leh and Company, the pioneer shoe manufacturers of the city, began manufacturing by machine, " there was no factory in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia, and none from here to Cincinnati." The project of shoe manufacturing developed rapidly in the city after the initial advent of Mr. Leh, and by 1900, there were seven boot and shoe factories in the city, supplying rather more than a local market, and furnishing employment for a large number of people, including a number of women and girls.

Fourth, of the bases of the city's industrial development during the period under consideration, is that entire group of industries known as the textiles. Later statements may be forecast here with the remark that Allentown is today the leading textile manufacturing city in the state, outside of Philadelphia. Between 1880 and 1900, some ten textile industries were located here.

4 Quoted from a paper read by H. Leh at Pennsylvania State Shoe Manufacturers Ass'n meeting in 1900.

Among them was the Adelaide Silk Mill, * l which was the pioneer silk mill in Pennsylvania. " Its formal opening in 1881 was made a great social occasion. Special trains ran into the town, Mayors, State Senators, metropolitan bankers, Congressmen, and heads of large business enterprises from a widely extended territory, were present to share in the formal exercises connected with its opening.

Hon. E. G. Martin, Mayor of the city, closed his dedicatory address with these words : ' ' We now dedicate this building to the industry of silk manufacture, with the hope that it may prove to be the nucleus of a great and extensive enterprise in the Lehigh Valley. ' ' 6 This hope was rapidly realized, for not only the Adelaide, but the entire group of silk and textile industries grew rapidly.

One result of this development was the extensive employment of women and children. It will, of course, be remembered that there was virtually no labor legislation in Pennsylvania, limiting or restricting the employment of these groups, before the close of the first decade of the twentieth century. Older residents are unanimous in the declaration that entrance into the mills involved, in the closing decades of the 19th century, no social degradation, and that daughters of some of the best families, so called, entered this field of employment. The situation in fact seems to have rivalled that which existed around the middle of the century in the New England states, when the girls of the family worked in the mills while the boys went to Yale and Harvard, and school teachers supplemented their faulty salaries by taking a summer turn in the factory. The writer recalls how, as a boy at the close of the last century, he wrestled with the invitation of the " Small Boys Wanted Here" sign which adorned the doorways and outside walls of these mills, weighing their call, with the promise of ready cash, against the parental mandate to continue a school career. Such signs, together with such as ' ' Girls Wanted, " l ' Women Wanted," and " Young Children Wanted," were for almost three decades familiar sights, staring passersby in the face day after day.

This situation reacted directly upon the growth of population. The thrifty German farmers from the surrounding country, influenced by the city-ward tendency of the

6 "Anniversary History," Vol. 1, p. 1058.

time, were considerably attracted by the opportunities which the mills afforded. While the head of the family worked in the various establishments in and about the city, the women and children of the household could contribute their share to the family income. Many an older family today owns its own home as a result of this earlier prosperity, when every member of the family practically was in receipt of a pay envelope. It will be pointed out later on in this chapter how extensive this influx from the surrounding country really has been.

In addition to these four lines of industrial development, there was growth along many other lines. This survey is not meant to be exhaustive, but simply to suggest the main channels of the economic growth during the period.

There remain to be noted two other industries, not in the city, but sufficiently nearby to react profoundly upon the life and growth of the city.

One of these is the cement industry. "Natural cement was used in the United States as early as 1818. In the construction of the Lehigh Canal it was manufactured at Lehigh Gap, from 1826 to 1830, and at Siegfried, from 1830 to 1841." 6 Both of these places are less than a score of miles from Allentown to the north. Nothing much was done in regard to developing the industry at this early period, and it was not until excavations made by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company along the west bank of the Lehigh River laid bare an extensive formation of cement rock near Coplay, that the real history of this industry begins in this section. In 1866, the Coplay Cement Company was formed. Coplay is perhaps ten miles north of Allentown. This company started in a small way, but found its business profitable, and soon enlarged its plant. In 1873, the company began manufacturing "Portland cement" made by a newly discovered process. This new product became popular and was soon in great demand, being recognized as the equal of the best foreign brands. By 1890, this one plant was producing at the rate of 350,000 barrels a year, being now used extensively in the construction of government works.

Meanwhile, the American Portland Cement Company was organized. Four hundred acres were purchased, and

$ "Anniversary History." Vol. 1, p. 1065T a plant erected which was sold in 1898 at a cost of three million dollars. The four large mills which comprised it had a combined capacity of 1,800,000 barrels a year. The plant is located at Egypt, a few miles to the north of Allentown.

In 1897, the Lehigh Portland Cement Company was organized, and a plant erected one mile west of Egypt. This plant has an inexhaustible deposit of cement rock, and today owns eleven mills, which have an annual capacity of 12,000,000 barrels.

According to the figures furnished by the United States Geological Survey, the last decade of the 19th century saw from one-half to three-fourths of the cement production of the United States furnished by the Lehigh District, which includes eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The development of this industry meant much to Allentown. A large part of the capital invested in these cement plants is Allentown capital. Around these mills, new towns sprang up, and old ones boomed. These towns have been, and are, dependent upon Allentown for many articles of consumption. Moreover, the trolley system of the town, financed in many cases by the same capitalists that financed the cement mills, speedily extended their system to include these cement towns. The railroads began running special trains morning and evening directly to the plants. As a result of these means of quick and cheap transportation, many of the employees began to prefer living in Allentown, away from the cement dust, and where greater home conveniences were possible. The writer recalls how as a boy in the late nineties, living in a small village some fifteen miles from Allentown, a current topic for discussion among many wage earners was the combination of advantages which resulted from moving to the city, i. e. Allentown. One could become a city dweller, be sure of work in the rapidly growing cement mills nearby, transportation to them was easy and cheap, and the mills in the city itself gave the opportunity of employment to the women and children of the household.

The other industry near to the city, which became a causative factor in its growth, was the Bethlehem Steel plant. At the beginning of the year 1857 the project of building iron works at Bethlehem, Pa., was inaugurated by residents of that vicinity. That same year, the Saueona Iron Company was chartered. This name was speedily changed to another, and then another, and finally in 1899, the "Bethlehem Steel Company " was incorporated. More recently, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation has been formed, but the plant at Bethlehem, which concerns us here, does business under the name of the subsidiary company of the Bethlehem Steel Company.

This plant grew rapidly from the very beginning. Its presiding genius, the world-famous John Fritz, was a large factor in its rapid growth. Early in the 70*8, the then recent invention of the Bessemer process of making steel was taken up, and the first steel was rolled in 1873. In 1886, it was decided to build an armor plate works, and during the following years, contracts were taken from the United States Government for armor plate and gun forgings.

The plant at South Bethlehem today covers more than 2,100 acres. It manufactures articles which cover the whole range of iron and steel products. In 1910, more than 10,000 men were employed there. By the beginning of the year 1916, the number exceeded 17,000. One year later, the number was considerably in excess of 20,000. The gigantic war orders growing out of the European struggle have reacted most favorably upon the prosperity of the plant. The Bethlehem Steel Company in the summer of 1917 had orders from the federal government aggregating more than $500,000,000. The high wages paid and the opportunities for employment served to attract men and women from an extensive territory. A part of this labor force has, of course, been attracted from Allentown, which is but a thirty-minute trolley ride from the plant. A large majority of the influx of laborers from other sections to this plant during the last several years has been compelled to live in Allentown because of the utter lack of housing facilities in the Bethlehems. The housing situation in Allentown, as a result, has been acute for several years.

In fact, the influence of the proximity of this busy $75,000,000 steel plant to Allentown, has been and is, great. It has contributed much to the city's prosperity, it has contributed to the city's population. It has brought many people of non-German stock into both the city itself and the surrounding region. It has brought a number of homeless men into the city, meaning men who are living away from their families. It has given Allentown a rooming problem, it has raised a moral and religious problem. In fact, it is difficult to find any aspect of the municipal life which has not been effected, particularly during the past three years.

Allentown In the Twentieth Century.

The population of Allentown in 1890 was 25,228. In 1900, it had risen to 35,416, a gain for the decade of 40.4 per cent. Ten years later, in 1910, the federal census gives a population for the city of 51,913, or a gain of 46.6 per cent over 1900. The population in the spring of 1917, the time of this study, is not known. But there are several figures for that particular time which permit a fairly accurate approximation. The estimates of the federal census department, made for the purposes of military conscription, put Allentown 's population at 80,526. The city directory, completed in the spring of the year, contains a few more than 70,000 names. Most Allentonians, well informed on the subject of the city's growth, feel that the federal estimate is too high. On the other hand, frequent use of the city directory, such as the writer has been compelled to make and has been a witness to in a newspaper office, proves conclusively that many names are omitted. It has seemed fair therefore to take a figure half-way between the two, or 75,000. An estimate of 75,684 would mean that the city's population had multiplied by three since 1890. Approximately, it is believed that this is correct. The consent of a number of well-informed citizens approves of this general statement.

The period since 1890 very naturally forms a distinct epoch in the life of the city, a period during which an inland town of about 25,000 trebled its population, and grew into an industrial and commercial beehive, rapidly approaching in size and economic importance what in this state is called a second class city.

The rate of growth in population is a barometer of what has taken place in the business and industrial life of the city. In this twenty-seven year period, existing industries have been expanded, and new ones have beeij added. Especially did the textile industries boom and grow in numbers. From 1900 to 1914, about 25 new textile establishments were located in the city.

The Federal census, in discussing the economic status of Allentown in and up to 1910, speaks as follows: "After Philadelphia, Allentown is the most important city of the state in the manufacture of textiles. The textile industries, including the dyeing and finishing of textiles, are the most important in the city, having a combined output valued at $9,838,000, or 37.5 per cent of the total for all industries of the city for 1909. The manufacture of silk and silk goods is the leading branch of the textile industry in this city and increased in value of output from $3,468,000 in 1889 to $7,456,000 in 1909. The metalworking industries reported products valued at nearly $7,000,000; the boot and shoe industry, products valued at $1,302,000; and tobacco manufactures, products valued at $1,446,000. 7

Elsewhere, the census says: "Allentown ranked as the ninth city in the state in 1909 and 1904 and tenth in 1899 in the value of its manufactured products. ' ' 8

Allentown is a prosperous city. Of this there can be no doubt. The whole appearance of the city reflects it. In 1916, there were 17,422 buildings in the city. More than 99 per cent are of brick, stone and cement. Nearly one-half of the families of the city own their own homes* The assessed valuation of the city's real estate in 1916 was over $61,000,000. The market value of real estate owned by individuals and corporations in that year was over $100,000,000. There are 1,250 mercantile establishments. These, as well as the city as a whole, profit by the fact that within a radius of six miles, there is a population of around 200,000. For this population, Allentown is the shopping, business and banking center.

Bringing this large population into intimate contact with the city is the fine trolley system of which Allentown is the center. This system extends northward to Slatington, eastward to Delaware Water Gap, westward to Beading, and southward to Philadelphia. With these arteries of trade, plus the feeding by three railroad sys-

7 Thirteenth Census of the United States, Abstract, 1910. p. 712T

8 Ibid.

terns, Allentown merchants are enabled to do business with fully 300,000 people.

The Nativity and Nationality of Allentown's Population.

Although Allentown has grown rapidly within recent decades, both as to numbers and industrial importance, she has not done so, like many other American industrial centers, by virtue of any unusual influx of the foreign born. According to the census of 1910, 74 per cent of the city's population were native born of native parents, 13.8 per cent were native born of foreign or mixed parents, and 12 per cent were foreign born. Let us analyze each of these three elements as to national origin, location within the city, etc.

a. The Foreign Born.

The foreign born population of Allentown in 1910 numbered 6,234. The number in 1900 was 2,985. The percentage of increase for the decade is 109. As the percentage of increase for the city as a whole during the decade was but 46.6, it appears that the foreign born increased more than twice as rapidly as the population as a whole. Forming 8.4 per cent of the city's population in 1900, they comprised, as has been noted, 12 per cent in 1910.

In regard to the composition by nationality of the foreign born in 1910, the census figures show Austria, Hungary and Germany to have been the three most important contributors, of relative numerical importance in the order named: 24.5 per cent, or one out of four of the foreign born, are Austrian born; 21.8 per cent are Hungarian; and 17.7 per cent are German. Italy, Eussia and Ireland follow with 10.6, 8.8 and 6.6 per cent, respectively.

Looking at the foreign born from another standpoint, and including the nationalities of lesser numerical importance, it is found that 67 per cent are of new immigrant stock, and 33 per cent are of old immigrant stock.

Turning to the distribution of the foreign born within the city, one finds a rather complete segregation. If one takes the 1st, 6th, 9th and 10th wards, comprising the eastern and northeastern part of the city, it will be found that 77.5 per cent of the foreign born are located there. Adding the second ward, covering the southern section of the city before annexation of the 14th ward in 1911, one has a section comprising 84.4 per cent of this entire element.

The area of Allentown, actually built up at the present time, resembles in shape, a rectangle, running east and west. With the exception of the recently annexed 14th ward, the Lehigh River is the eastern boundary of the city. The width of the imperfect rectangle ranges, from the river front to Twelfth street, between fifteen and twenty blocks. West of Twelfth street, the width of the city narrows until, arriving at Twentieth street, which is now the western limit of the built-up part of the city, one finds a width of five blocks.

It is the lower or eastern portion of the city,covering a strip of from four to six blocks in depth and as wide as the city, a section traversed by the railroads and lying next to the Lehigh Eiver, which is the center of the foreign element, and in which, as has been indicated, practically nine out of every ten of the foreigners, live. Almost 39 per cent are in the sixth ward, erstwhile home of the Irish and Germans, and known as "the tough sixth" for many years. But 14 per cent of the entire population In this ward in 1910 was composed of native born stock of native born parents.

b. The Native Born of Foreign or Mixed Parentage.

This element, in 1910, amounted to 7,172, forming 13.8 per cent of the total population of the city. Of these, 4,987 were native born with both parents foreign born. The nationality of the parents of this latter group is given by the census, and gives us some information concerning the national origin of the older immigrats in the city. The census data show that the parents of 32 per cent were German born, and the parents of 18 per cent were Irish born. The two combined account for the nationality of one-half of the group under consideration.