Symbol of Progress

I've spent a lot of time at the Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL).  Summer reading programs when I was a kid, seemingly endless stacks of books, and an incredible Local History room full of old maps and records.  BAPL is a great place.

Of all of the time I spent there, I never knew anything about the sculpture in the plaza.  You know the one:


Yeah, that thing.  What is it called?  What does it symbolize?  Who made it?  When was it installed?  Why is it covered in spiders and their webs every summer?  So many questions.  Finally, here are some answers, brought to you by a long holiday weekend with no travel plans*!

The sculpture, called "Symbol of Progress", was installed in 1967 as part of Bethlehem's new City Center Plaza.  It was created by Joseph J Greenberg, Jr of Philadelphia, and is made of Bethlehem Steel.  According to Lehigh Valley Style, "His intent was to symbolize the diversity of ethnic groups living in Bethlehem. Greenberg’s vision features three tapered steel arcs that are joined in the middle, denoting the fusion of these different ethnicities. The arcs continue skyward, calling on the strength of the integration."  Pretty cool!

I can't answer my last question from above, regarding why spiders love this sculpture so much, but I'm going to guess they just really enjoy public art.


Photo by Munkeyspasm via Flickr
*No travel plans?  How did that happen?!  It worked out pretty well considering how icy the roads were!

Sources:

• "Steel Sculpture for City Center" from the Gettysburg Times, Aug 16, 1967.  
• Link: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19670816&id=52UmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bP8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=829,1354496 
• "Lehigh Valley Icon" from the Lehigh Valley Style blog.  
• Link: http://www.lehighvalleystyle.com/January-2014/Lehigh-Valley-Icon/ 
• "Symbol of Progress, (sculpture)" from The Smithsonian.
• Link: http://collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?q=record_ID:siris_ari_340711
•  "Depth of Field" photo by Munkeyspasm on Flickr
• Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/13259574@N05/3169655682 

Nearly Forgotten: Calypso Island

I was looking at Google Earth today and noticed something labeled Calypso Island in the Fountain Hill-ish area (zip code 18015). I found this interesting because Calypso Island was removed a long time ago. Anyway, the label is on Brighton St, the particular location for Pennsylvania Lines LLC, according to public records. This is the company that owns the railroad lines through there.

So, a little bit about the mostly forgotten Calypso Island! I found this on a few older maps, as well as in a book or two. LV History sums things up pretty well:

• Calypso Island was a beautiful resort located on an island in the Lehigh River near Fountain Hill. The island was named for the beautiful sea nymph in Greek Mythology by State Representative George Henry Goundie during a Fourth of July celebration in 1869. Pleasure-seekers enjoyed the thirteen acres of natural grounds and the pleasure boats of every variety which surrounded it. Illuminated water carnivals took place on summer evenings. Transportation to the island was provided by the Calypso Transportation Line. The Lehigh Valley Railroad purchased the island in 1902 and removed most of the island to use as filler for construction of its rail line.

Here is a photo of a painting from 1832, and another from 1850. These photos represent the island before the so-called 'resort' was put there.

According to the following map* from 1855, the island was referred to as Upper Island.

To aid railroad construction, the company 'removed' this island just to fill in the area between the island and its main land, thus making a more direct path for the railroad tracks. This can be seen on the following maps:

1892 Map*:

2008 2019 Map:

The island was just West of the tip of Sand Island, and is likely the reason Brighton St is so curved. In comparing the historic maps and the current map you'll also notice that almost all of the street names have been changed considerably. But the railroad track junction and Hill to Hill Bridge are the same! It is also interesting to note that the smaller islands to the East noted on the historic maps are still visible in satellite images, though apparently not notable enough to make it to most maps.

I'm sure that wasn't nearly as fun for you to read as it was for me to write. Oh well!

*These maps were found at the Bethlehem Area Public Library.