The D&L Blog

On the evening of September 8, the South Bethlehem Historical Society will hold its annual meeting at the Bethlehem Masonic Temple, on Brighton and Cherokee Streets. This year’s meeting promises to be especially interesting, as the two keynote presentations will offer different perspectives on the fate of Bethlehem Steel’s historic No.8 Hammer Shop/Electric Furnace.

President and CEO of the ArtsQuest SteelStacks Project, Jeff Parks, will present his vision for the site, which requires demolishing the historic structure to make room for a new performing arts center. The PA Historical Museum Commission‘s Ann Safley will discuss the Section 106 Review Process, which revealed that the Hammer Shop is structurally sound and suitable for restoration and adaptive reuse. This promises to be a constructive discussion, and the Society welcomes the public to participate in the question and answer session to follow the presentations.

The presentations are at 7:00, but, beginning at 6:00, the first floor of the Wilbur Mansion will be open for casual tours. Click here for the invitation.