Historical Society

                                                             ALBURTIS, LEHIGH CO., PA

                                                                      Allen A. Oswald

            Lehigh County showed major signs of development by 1850, with communities

already established throughout the region.  The area which is now Alburtis, was still

mostly scrub oak, along with a few scattered farms.  The first known dwelling in the

vicinity was a log house built by Joseph Rothenberger.  Following that, a stone dwelling

was erected by John Blank in 1847 and became the first hotel in the area that would

eventually become Alburtis.

            Construction of the East Pennsylvania Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading

Railway was completed in 1858 and began operation in 1859.  Whereas a railroad

station was established here, the location needed a name.  Although no documentation

exists, legend has it that Edward K. Alburtis, civil engineer, responsible for construction

of the railroad, spent much time in our area, possibly staying at John Blank’s hotel.  He

was very fond of the area and in 1859, when the Railroad Board of Directors made their

tour, they named this location in his honor.  Mostly persons of German origin settled the

area and ironically, our town derived its name from an Italian.

                                                                          Alburtis Railroad Station

            About a mile to the south was the hamlet of Hensingersville, having derived its

name from Peter Hensinger, who built this area’s original hotel in 1846.  Additional

buildings and several businesses appeared and a post office was established.  The

opening of the railroad halted their growth, while building activity flourished in the

Alburtis area.  On February 27, 1868 the post office was transferred from Hensingers-

ville to Alburtis.

               The Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, a joint venture of the Crane Iron Co.,

Catasauqua and the Thomas Iron Co., Hokendauqua, was built to improve transport of

iron ore from various mines in the surrounding area.  The line was extended to Alburtis

in 1864, forming a junction with the East Pennsylvania Railroad.  In 1865, the line was

again extended, crossing the East Penn and terminating at the mines in Rittenhouse Gap,

Berks County.

            Due to railroad access and iron mine locations, the Thomas Iron Co. purchased a

tract of land, consisting of 88 acres and 101 perches located southeast of the intersection

of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville and East Penn Railroads.  The land was resold to the

Lockridge Iron Co. on March 4, 1867.  Construction of the Lockridge Furnace began in

1867, with the first furnace put into blast on March 18, 1868.  The second furnace was

blown in on July 9, 1869.  Following startup, the Lockridge Iron Co. was purchased by

the Thomas Iron Co.  Real estate holdings increased to 170 acres and 93 perches.  By the

time furnace operations commenced, construction of a substantial superintendent’s

residence, two homes for foremen and housing for thirty four families of furnace

employees was completed.  For single employees, a boarding house was also maintained

at the furnace site.  Land was set aside for a church and cemetery.  This entire area,

abutting Alburtis, became known as Lockridge.

                                                                                    Lockridge Furnace

            Small mines opened throughout the area and unsightly open pits cluttered the

landscape.  These mines were moneymakers for the property owners and aesthetics took

a back seat to wealth.  On February 5, 1877 a section of mine, believed to be the

Hensinger mine, collapsed, killing two workers.  Information is sketchy, but William

Hunsberger, age 25, with a pregnant wife and other children was one of the casualties. 

Reese Lewis, age 27, with three young children was the other fatality.  Both are buried,

side by side, in Lehigh Church cemetery.

            Both villages flourished and even though each had its own identity, the combined

area was known as Alburtis.  Obviously one industry is not enough to support a

community and efforts were made to attract other employers.  Several shirt factories

located here, creating many new jobs.  In 1897, ground was broken for a silk mill, which

was equipped with twenty five broad silk looms and employed thirty persons.  In 1902

the frame structure was completely destroyed by fire and it was replaced by a brick

structure in 1904.  A shoe factory opened around the turn of the century, but lasted for

only a short period.

            In 1870 a new school building was constructed, but increased population

necessitated a larger structure, which was built in 1874.  The latter was maintained as a

school until the mid 1950s, when it was replaced by a more modern facility.  After being

vacant for several years, the facility was sold to the Borough of Alburtis by the East Penn

School District on May 7, 1963 for $324.42, plus $64.55 for legal services.  After repairs

and renovations, the building was utilized as Alburtis Borough Hall for more than thirty-

five years.  When it was determined that major costs would have to be incurred to

maintain the structure, council decided the building should be replaced.  At 7:30 AM on

September 8, 1998, demolition of the existing structure began.  Construction of the new

Borough Hall began shortly thereafter and in May, 1999 the facility opened.              .     

                                                                    Alburtis School

The majority of freeholders residing in the town of Alburtis made an application

 for a charter of incorporation.  The Court of Quarter Sessions, on May 9, 1913

decreed “that the said town of Alburtis, be incorporated into a borough, in conformity

with the prayer of the petitioners; that the corporate style and title thereof shall be The

Borough of Alburtis, according to the boundaries set forth in the petition.”  It was

further decreed that the said borough shall be a separate election and school district and

that the American Hotel, Tilden E. Kuhns, proprietor, be designated and constituted the

polling place of the said borough.  It was further provided that the first election, for the

election of officers provided by law, should be held on Tuesday, the 10^th day of June,

1913.

            At the first meeting held June 13, 1913 at Knedler’s Hall, the Burgess and

Council took their oaths of office.  By motion:  to use high school room as meeting place

on second Monday of month at 7:30 PM.

            On January 28, 1915, a committee was established to provide police protection

for the borough.  A part time policeman hired, starting April 1, 1915 and to continue for

one year.  Compensation established at $75.00 per annum.  Council determined that

police shall be provided with all necessities pertaining to his office.  A review of bills for

payment indicates that $15.90 was spent for equipment.  The policeman was reappointed

for another year on April 1, 1916.  For conduct unbecoming an officer, he was relieved of

duties on September 5, 1916.

             At a special meeting held June 4, 1917 to determine if council will purchase a

Motor Chemical Apparatus for the Fire Co., council was in agreement, providing Fire

Co. assumes some financial responsibility and also provides suitable storage space.  At

the September 12, 1917 meeting, it was reported that the Fire Co. found it impossible to

accept proposition by council.  Representatives of Ideal Motor Car Co. present at

February 4, 1918 meeting.  They reported that a Vin Fire Apparatus is available at a cost

of $1645.00, while a model used for demonstration purposes, can be purchased for

$1250.00.  Council authorized preparation of ordinance to purchase truck for $1250.00

on May 6, 1918.  Ideal Motor Car Co. instructed to have the words “Alburtis No. 1”

painted in as large letters as possible on both sides of the body.

                                                                Alburtis Fire Co. – ca 1918

In 1914, according to Rev. Frank P. Laros (1878 – 1929): “The Borough of

Alburtis having become a fact the future conceals within her bosom its possibilities of

progress and development.  The advantages of a good railway system, its proximity to the

county seat, its excellent situation, the previous enterprise of its citizens for its industrial

development, it bids fair to become one of the most prosperous boroughs of the county,

and one of the most preferable residential centers between Allentown and Reading.

            The borough now contains two churches, a post office, a railway depot, express

and telegraph office, a school house, a feed store, a feed, lumber and coal yard, one

saddler shop, three grocery and general merchandise stores, a cigar and shoe store, a

novelty store, a drug store, a tailor shop, three hotels, a saloon and restaurant, a

carriage works, a butcher shop, barber shop, blacksmith shop, two shirt factories,

furnaces and silk mills.

            The population of the borough is approximately 700 inhabitants, occupying 160

dwellings.” 

                                                                                Rev. Frank P. Laros

Following World War I, the price of iron fell.  Problems increased when foreign

iron was imported at prices much lower than that of locally produced products.  Local

furnaces were shut down and by the end of 1921, Lockridge Furnace was no longer in

operation.  The furnace property was sold and in the course of the next few years, the

structures were demolished for scrap purposes.  On November 7, 1924, dynamite blasts

forever ended the iron industry in Alburtis.  The property lay idle until 1970 when Lehigh

County purchased the property.   The area was transformed into Lockridge Park and

Museum, which officially opened in August, 1976.  The park includes the partially

restored iron works complex and surrounding land.  An extensive path system is suited

for walking or biking.  The Furnace Museum is unique and is dedicated to the anthracite

iron industry.  The park is open daily, from dawn to dusk with ample parking areas.

            The depression also took its toll.  Shirt factories were forced to close and left

countless residents without jobs.  Industries never made the rebound and today Alburtis

has become a total residential community, with a population of approximately 2,300

persons.  Rev. Laros’ dreams of industrial development were short lived, but his vision of

being one of the most preferable residential centers became a reality.  Chronologically,

we are the “baby borough” in Lehigh County and what we lack in years, is overshadowed

by the history surrounding its growth.

            Last year, with the aid of grants, the Alburtis-Lockridge Historical Society was

able to document much of the history in the form of a professionally produced video. 

The sixty-two minute video, containing many archival photos, centers around personal

interviews of sixty-seven past and present residents, who shared memories of their lives

in Alburtis. 

(As submitted and published in March, 2002 “Pennsylvania Borough News” magazine’s

History and Tourism Special Issue.)