History
The Borough of Northampton as we know it today was originally part of Allen Township. Thanks to new evolving transportation systems of the 19th century and the newly erected cement industry, three separate villages sprang up in close proximity along the Lehigh River. By 1902, the villages had gained enough population to come together as a separate borough.
The first of these Allen Township villages was Siegfried's Ferry, so named because it was the home of the only method of crossing the Lehigh River north of present-day Allentown, after 1750. Siegfried's Ferry arose out of the interesting transportation systems of roadway and river. Eventually the ferry was replaced with a covered bridge and the name changed to Siegfried's Bridge, then later just Siegfried. It was located between what is now 19th and 24th streets in current Northampton.
Siegfried was named for Colonel John Siegfried, the second owner of the ferry, who became a great example of a self-made man in the true American tradition. He was revered in Northampton County for his economic prowess and community spirit, which included leading the county militia during the American Revolution and donating land, along with a few neighbors, to build the first subscription school in what is Northampton in 1794. Col. John Siegfried was a friend of General George Washington and participated in numerous Revolutionary War battles. He is remembered in the old Mennonite cemetery on West 21st Street in Northampton.
Siegfried was named for Colonel John Siegfried, the second owner of the ferry, who became a great example of a self-made man in the true American tradition. He was revered in Northampton County for his economic prowess and community spirit, which included leading the county militia during the American Revolution and donating land, along with a few neighbors, to build the first subscription school in what is Northampton in 1794. Col. John Siegfried was a friend of General George Washington and participated in numerous Revolutionary War battles. He is remembered in the old Mennonite cemetery on West 21st Street in Northampton.
The second village was named Newport. In the 1820s, canals became a great way to move goods and people quickly and cheaply. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Canal was constructed alongside the only privately held river in the United States, the Lehigh River. Ownership of the river was granted to the LCN Co. by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1829 order to get the canal built so coal could be moved to Philadelphia.
To unload the coal or the northbound goods, a new port was created along the banks of the canal and the Lehigh River. The name of the village became Newport. It was a small village of less than 25 families for most of the 19th century until five cement plants would be built here. After 1895, thousands of immigrants from all over Eastern Europe came to work in the new plants.
The third village to be created by a new transportation system was Stemton. It was created after the completion of the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad in 1867. It also ran alongside the Lehigh River on the east side of the canal. George and William Stem of Coplay moved across the river to construct the Lehigh Car Manufacturing Company, which made wooden cars for the new railroad line. This village was created along Main Street between was in now 5th and 10th Streets in the current Northampton.
The brothers laid out a village for the workers and became prominent citizens of Allen Township. When the Central Railroad of New Jersey leased the Lehigh & Susquehanna, the Stem brothers were denied access to the tracks for their railroad cars by the term of the lease. Forced into making farm implements and wagons, the village survived but never achieved its full measure of development until the arrival of the Atlas Portland Cement Company in 1895. The Atlas was soon joined by the Lawrence Portland Cement Company and gave the township a population explosion by the census of 1900.
To unload the coal or the northbound goods, a new port was created along the banks of the canal and the Lehigh River. The name of the village became Newport. It was a small village of less than 25 families for most of the 19th century until five cement plants would be built here. After 1895, thousands of immigrants from all over Eastern Europe came to work in the new plants.
The third village to be created by a new transportation system was Stemton. It was created after the completion of the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad in 1867. It also ran alongside the Lehigh River on the east side of the canal. George and William Stem of Coplay moved across the river to construct the Lehigh Car Manufacturing Company, which made wooden cars for the new railroad line. This village was created along Main Street between was in now 5th and 10th Streets in the current Northampton.
The brothers laid out a village for the workers and became prominent citizens of Allen Township. When the Central Railroad of New Jersey leased the Lehigh & Susquehanna, the Stem brothers were denied access to the tracks for their railroad cars by the term of the lease. Forced into making farm implements and wagons, the village survived but never achieved its full measure of development until the arrival of the Atlas Portland Cement Company in 1895. The Atlas was soon joined by the Lawrence Portland Cement Company and gave the township a population explosion by the census of 1900.
If these three villages agreed to merge into one, under Pennsylvania law they could become a borough. That is exactly what they did in 1902. Together they became the Borough of Alliance, a fitting name, as the town was an alliance made up of a joining together of the three villages. This is why so many places and businesses have the name of Alliance attached to them. The name of the Borough would be changed in 1909 to Northampton.
- As told by Larry Oberly
- As told by Larry Oberly