History Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

1 history

1.1 1600s–1700s
1.2 1800s – 1900s
1.3 recent , present day

history
1600s–1700s

the province of pennsylvania created in 1681 when king charles ii granted tract of land in new world william penn. after death of william penn, sons, john, thomas , richard, became owners of pennsylvania. delaware indians deeded part of lehigh county lying between lehigh (south) mountain , blue mountains penn’s sons in 1736.

a wave of immigrants germany’s palatinate settled in whitehall township, first being jacob kohler, settled in vicinity of egypt 1728. settlers staked claim on lands applying penn s land warrant. cleared land farming , established churches around villages grew.

when first european settlers came whitehall area, lenape indians living on banks of hokendauqua river. europeans , lenape indians gathered , designed deal based on how far europeans able walk in 2 days, s how land acquire. gain more land, europeans paid professional runner. runner able far coaldale, pennsylvania, in schuylkill county. walk east got them far jim thorpe, pennsylvania.

the local tribe of native americans, lenni lenapes, lived peacefully among white settles time. tribe suffered injustices @ hands of settlers , lashed during 1763 uprising in lehigh county. fort deshler, stood near rt. 145 @ chestnut street, played key role in defense of settler-held lands during battle, in 23 settlers killed.

1800s – 1900s

the original whitehall township, established in 1753, split 3 townships of whitehall, north whitehall, , south whitehall in 1867. name whitehall said have originated lynford lardner’s hunting lodge painted whitewash. lardner named “grouse hall”, common people of region called “white hall”. whitehall township ’s villages include cementon, egypt, fullerton, hokendauqua, mickleys, stiles , west catasauqua. coplay part of whitehall until incorporated borough in 1869.

agriculture major industry until mid-1800s. today, 2,000 acres (809 ha) under cultivation. there 6 grist mills in whitehall, built process grains farmers flour , animal feed. 1 grist mill remains - helfrich springs grist mill. home of whitehall historical preservation society, has preserved building use local history museum.

completion of lehigh canal in 1829 led further development. discovery of iron ore deposits brought whitehall industrial revolution when first blast iron furnace built in hokendauqua in 1854. followed establishment of railroad system transport raw materials furnaces , ship final product. population grew rapidly these industries attracted welsh , irish immigrants.

while railroads being constructed, cuts in bedrock led discovery of whitehall ’s deposits of jacksonburg limestone or “cement rock”. david o. saylor perfected , patented process of manufacturing portland cement. first portland cement plant located between villages of cementon , coplay. others followed and, 1914, 70% of cement produced in united states came “cement belt” or lehigh district. cement industry attracted new wave of immigrants austria-hungary, creating yet population spurt.

whitehall became classified first class township population of 7,935 in 1900. gave township specified municipal rights supplying electric lights, highways , sewers @ public expense.

recent , present day

the macarthur road retail corridor in whitehall

the post-world war ii era began transition manufacturing industries retail industry whitehall became bedroom community suburb of allentown. individual villages became united 1 entity known whitehall in 1968, when u.s. post office combined separate town branches.

in 1974, voters approved adoption of home rule charter form of government, creating seven-member legislative body , elected mayor. today, annual budget in excess of $21 million, whitehall provides full range of municipal services residents.