L.C.2 - Library Collection - Oral Histories on South Bethlehem Churches and South Side Retail

Series — Box: 0250, Box: 22

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains many boxes. Box 22 contains 43 folders of oral interviews recorded on CDs, letter of agreement, menu of CD contents of recollections of residents of South Bethlehem of Christmas traditions in South Bethlehem, retail stores, consolidation of Allentown Diocese churches, changes made by Bethlehem Steel Corporation in community, ethnic food, holiday traditions, weddings, funerals, ethnic tensions, street games, church activities before closing of some Southside churches, Catholic school education, the Steel strikes and unionization.

Dates

Creation: 1865 - 2023

Biographical / Historical

Professor Kim Carrell-Smith from Lehigh’s History Department formulated three semesters of history classes (Introduction to Public History, History and Community Memory, History 303, History 337, History 438 (Summer 2010),Oral History and Documents) requiring her students to interview persons from the South Bethlehem community such as pastors, priests, community leaders, and long-time residents about their recollections of traditions within their churches or social organizations. A number of the ethnic Catholic churches were being closed or consolidated by the Diocese of Allentown which meant an end to particularly unique traditions within the multi-ethnic community that makes up South Bethlehem. Originally Bethlehem Steel was the attraction to many of the multi-ethnic people who populated South Bethlehem and as long as the Steel was a powerful force, these people clustered close to the steel mill. With the closing of the Steel and the churches, Prof. Carrell-Smith wisely saw that the local traditions would be lost if something was not done to record a way of life fast slipping away. Also fortunately a group of community leaders also recognized the change in the traditions of South Bethlehem and created the South Bethlehem Historical Society to help preserve many items associated with the local community. Many of those interviewed agreed that as much history as possible be preserved.

Extent

From the Collection: 50 Linear Feet (~35 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

Three semesters Lehigh students of Prof. Kim Carrell-Smith’s who conducted interviews 2006 to 2010 with a number of people recalling various traditions held in an assortment of churches of South Bethlehem as well as the social fabric of an ethnic community. Interesting personal observations of life in South Bethlehem in the days before the demise of Bethlehem Steel, ethnic foods, retail stores and the closing or consolidation of many of the ethnic churches.

General

Personal Names mentioned in the collection:

Antalics, Stephen C. Jr. (LU ’52 BA) Bakkers, Kim (LU ’08) Bednarik, “Chuck” Berretta, Elizabeth (LU ’07 BA) Berry, Concetta Bolez, Edward C. Boligitz, Irene Bosak, Helen Brennan, Sarah E. (LU ’08 BA, ’09 MA) Calvo, Rocco Carril, Peter “Pete” (LU ’59 MA) Cerenzia, Justin Colon, Domingo Contaker, Michael Crocus, Edward Crocus, Mary (Helen?) Demchenko, Elena (LU ’09 MA) dePicca, Paul Monsignor (Our Lady of Pompeii Church) Drasher, Damian A. Dwyer, Carolyn Eckert, Anna Marie Erwin, Elizabeth Fegley, Diane G. Fetsko, Jacqueline Fisk-Watts, Tiffany A. (LU ’08 MA) Follweiler, James W. (LU ’10 MA) Gallick, Joseph (Reverend, St. Joseph’s Church) Gast, Alice (Lehigh University President) Gorkos, William Gracely, Nichole Grason, Andrew Grimaldi, Brittany (LU ’00 BA, ’10 MA) Guzzon, Gina (LU ’09 BA) Halleman, Helen M. Harbold, Leon Harman, Troy Herz, Anna Pirscenok (Lehigh Professor) Horvath, Lillian D. Hutt, Nancy Iampierto, John Keyser, Helen Varady Koprivsek, Vincent J. Kratzer, Zane (LU ’07 MA) Krcelich, Edward Kugler, Helen Kwiatek, Sylvia Labuda, Joseph and Mary Mizack (SS. Cyril & Methodius Church) Lawrence, Jack Lawrence, Terry Leuther, Ann Lister, Karen (LU ’09 BSBU) Long, Tricia Lopez, Rafael Malec, Raymond Manone, Rose Meiman, Kathryn “Kate” (LU ’07 MA) Mitchell [Forster], Olivia (LU ’09) Mohr, Thomas Moritz, Rosemary Norwood, Janet Osclinsky, Dimitri (Rector V. Rev., St. Nicholas Russian Church)) Pacini, Elizabeth Petraglia, Joseph Piersa, ? Piff, Frank (St. Joseph’s Church) Podleiszek, Frank Poindexter, Allison (LU ’10 BA) Preletz, Joseph (St. Joseph’s Church) Raniere, Kenneth F. Reczek, Anna M. Reseterics, Joseph (St. John Capistrano Church) Rinaldi, Rosalind Schadle, Rosemarie Slezak, Ray (Reverend) Staffieri, Francis R. “Frank” Szczepanski, Donna Tanana, David A. (LU ’08 BA) Tarola, Marge Tomeczek, Judy Tremper, Kristin Trostel, Michael Varlaky, Alexander (Reverend, St. John Capistrano Church) Vidumsky, John Weatherall, Kelli E. Wesolowski, Alfreda Wojciechowski, Scott Yosko, Joseph J. Young, Brian

General

Corporate Names mentioned:

Bethlehem Steel Corporation Bethlehem Bulletin Bethlehem Globe-Times Bethlehem Instruments Bethlehem Sister City Murska Sobota Association Bethlehem Technical High School Brown and White (eatery) Catholic Youth Organization Coalition of Disaffected Churches Coalition of Suppressed Parishes Croatian Homes Association Hispanic Senior Center Hungarian Catholic Club Lehigh University National Magnetic Group, Inc. Polish National Club Puerto Rican Club South Bethlehem Historical Society Southside Task Force Stephen Vincent Benet House U. S. Coast Guard Army National Guard

General

Place Names mentioned:

Lehigh University Advent Moravian Church Bethlehem Steel Corporation Black River Road Broughal Middle School Camp Mohican Central Moravian Church Concordia Lutheran Church (see St. John’s Lutheran Church) Corpic’s Derrico’s Barbershop Deshner’s Farmer’s Market Fountain Hill Gasdazka’s Haberdashery Hill-to-Hill Bridge Hillside Avenue Holy Ghost Church Holy Rosary Church (see Our Lady of Pompeii Church) Hotel Bethlehem The Hub Incarnation of Our Lord Church (see SS. Cyril & Methodius Church) King’s Seafood Lehigh (“the Bug House”) Theater Market House (see also Farmer’s Market) Nanny Goat Hill New Merchant’s Inn New Street Bridge Northampton Heights, South Bethlehem Our Lady of Pompeii Church (see Incarnation of Our Lord Church) Paul Alexi Shop Pete the Greek hot dog shop Quonset Hut (Lehigh campus across from Packard Laboratory) Roosevelt Tavern SS. Cyril and Methodius Church (see Incarnation of Our Lord Church) St. John Capistrano Church (see Incarnation of Our Lord Church) St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church (see Concordia Lutheran Church) St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church St. Joseph Church (see Incarnation of Our Lord Church) St. Stanislaus Church (see Incarnation of Our Lord Church) Silverberg & Goldberg Smelcher’s Seafood Taylor Stadium Theresa’s restaurant (also Leon’s Tavern) Third Street Market (see also Farmer’s Market, Market House) Trinity Evangelical Church Windish Beneficial Society Windish Hall Yosko Park, South Bethlehem

General

Oral History Interviews by Lehigh University students in Prof. Kim Carrell-Smith’s Public History classes 2006-2010: Items on pp1-3 were given to Ken Raniere in 2011 to be archived by SBHS & Lehigh U

I.ETHNIC CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS – short interviews **these interviews may contain a lot of other information on South Bethlehem, the Steel, etc. –See time summaries for specifics

Concordia Lutheran Church (German)- [on same disk with Tomeczek, Judy and Boligitz, Irene; Lauther, Ann and Mohr, Thomas] • Malec, Ray

First Hispanic Baptist Church • Lissette Lahoz (Puerto Rican customs)

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (Russian) • Drasher, Damiean • Sturm, Margaret

St. John Capistrano (Slovak) • Tarola, Marge St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Windish) • Podleiszek, Frank • Keyser, Helen Varady and Rosemary Moretz (joint interview) • Tomeczek, Judy and Boligitz, Irene (mostly about Bethlehem at Christmas)

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church • Father Ray

No specific Church –Puerto Rican Christmas Traditions • Lopez, Rafael with Domingo Colon (joint interview)

No specific-mentions St John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran, St. John Capistrano, St. Stanislaus! • Keyser, Helen Varady and Jon C. Keyser No specific church –mostly about Bethlehem at Christmas • Mohr, Thomas (mentions Trinity Lutheran in Bethlehem; mostly childhood info) • Lauther, Ann R. (incl. wartime, lights)

General Christmas traditions • Pondelek, Pearl Bodor

Moravian Christmas traditions • Fegley, Diane • Pacini, Elizabeth South Bethlehem Retail/Commercial History

Fetsko, Jackie Harbold, Leon(on same disk with Krcelich) Krecelich, Edward (on same disk with Harbold) Hamill, Annette (C) Phillips, Mel (Sside business owner) (C) Rinaldi, Rosaline (also info on Our Lady of Pompeii)

General South Bethlehem History

Lawrence, Jack and Terry – AUDIO (plus powerpt photos that correspond to the audio interview)

Broughal Middle School Oral Histories

Three generations of women in one family: • Pauline Werkman • Jackie Bayak • Tanya Bayak Kulp