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DECEMBER 18-24, 2025
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2025 Lower Nazareth Township Santa Toy Run with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. #1
Life During the Great Depression: Part 3 of 9
Looking by Back Ed Pany
Photos by Gregory Morgan Photography Holiday magic rolled through Lower Nazareth Township on Saturday, Dec. 13, during a Santa Toy Run organized by Hecktown
Volunteer Fire Co. #1. Riding through the township in a fire truck, Santa stopped to visit boys and girls, handing out presents
and smiles while volunteers spread cheer and collected toys, making the festive event a memorable celebration for local families.
Christmas and community celebrated at Moore Township tree lighting
By KERI LINDENMUTH The Moore Township Lions & Lioness Clubs held their 35th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 6. Residents gathered together in the crisp, cool air to light the snow-covered tree and welcome Santa Claus with song, prayer and a bit of Christmas spirit. The ceremony opened with a moment of silence, led by Lion Jerry Yenser, for service men, women and first responders. Then, Reverend Aaron Gadsby from Mountain View Wesleyan Church recited the invocation. He asked the crowd, filled with families and young children wavContinued on page 2
In this third column I am reading a rare copy of the Northampton Mercury, a weekly newspaper printed in 1935 during the height of the Great Depression. I am looking back to an era when our citizens and business establishments were struggling for survival. President Franklin Roosevelt’s program to face the economic catastrophe was the “New Deal.” Here in Pennsylvania, newly elected Governor George H. Earle, a native of Chester County, faced similar problems. His administration was called the “Little” New Deal. The number of unemployed in our state was 15% of the population plus many people who only worked a few hours per week. The Main Streets of America felt the severe effects of this depression. The old ads in the Mercury illustrated how merchants attempted to attract customers. The only business remaining today from the pages of advertisers is the Roxy Theatre. Here is a list of some interesting advertisements that merchants hoped would attract you to purchase their wares. The Allentown Bethlehem Gas Company, today’s U.G.I. United Gas Improvements enticed our mothers to purchase a 1935 Roper Gas Range for $1 down, and monthly installment payments.
Gov. George Earle; Wikipedia photo A new business opened at 1796 Main St. in Northampton named Speedy Repair Service, they would apply new half soles and heels to your shoes for 69 cents. It cost 39 cents to dry clean a dress and men’s hats could be cleaned and blocked for 33 cents. The hat store and shoe repair shops have faded from the landscape. Continued on page 7
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