Kutztown, Pennsylvania

 We’ve managed to get 220 miles north of New Market, Virginia, even though it required just over five and a half hours! Interstate 81 is a well maintained highway that led us out of Virginia into West Virginia, then spent a little time in Maryland before getting into Pennsylvania and turned east on Interstate 78. And that was where the troubles began. Highway construction left us creeping along at 3 mph for just over eight miles. The estimated 20 mile long slowdown was controlled at the end of construction by state troopers at intersections because so many drivers wanted off the highway!

The weather was predicted to be wet and wild all day, but the sun was shining and a light breeze tickled until….

A storm blew across the area from Tennessee to New York. For about an hour and a half, straight line 60 mph winds and heavy rain pounded the rv. We had, fortunately, completed our setup, so all we had to do was watch and listen. It was exciting for awhile!

We are set up in site C14 in Pine Hill RV Park, about 20 miles west of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and 30 miles west of Bethlehem, the site of the worlds largest steel factory…..years ago…..and the home of our grandson Devan.

We’re here to spend a few days with our Devan, who is a producer for PBS WLVR 91.3 in Bethlehem, PA. We’re very proud of the young man, and are anxious to see him after quite some time, and as grandparents, we want to make sure he’s well. He is.

Grammy and Devan shared a hug as we arrived at his studio.

The media center is located on a bit of the 15 square mile campus of what was the Bethlehem Steel Works. The steel manufacturing center has been shuttered for years and is slowly deteriorating. “The Stacks”, as the area is known has been reimagined as a venue for art and music events. We’ve arrived in the middle of the annual MusikFest, where hundreds of musicians perform almost continuously for two weeks. After touring the radio station and meeting many staff, we walked outside and checked it out.

Remnants of the steel factory loom over the city. There is a walkway along and through the stacks, but it’s closed during the festival. Bummer. But the walk through the area was interesting and entertaining. The bands were loud and the people watching was grand! 

We finished our introduction to The Stacks with dinner at The Bayou, a southern themed restaurant in Bethlehem. Devan ordered a chicken sandwich that was almost as big as he is!

Devans significant other, Bren, had a gig on the Yeungling Platz, and we were able to see her perform an original song. It was wonderful, and the hard work she devotes to her music is just amazing. She oftentimes plays with a full band, but this was a solo. Nice job!

On the north side of The Stacks, another huge venue is laid out for music and overpriced fair food! We had to have a hot dog and a grilled brat with sauerkraut. It was also an opportunity for Devan to return the Big Mouth photo! Not sure if Donna likes the German potato salad though….

The area north of The Stacks was settled in the 1750’s by members of the Moravian Church. One of the worlds oldest Christian churches, the doctrine was brought from Eastern Europe and continues to thrive. Many of the original buildings remain, and are in use today by the Moravian University.

The Bethlehem Hotel sits atop a hill just above the Moravian district. In 1741 the “First House of Bethlehem” occupied the site and was used by missioning Moravians as they brought gospel teachings to the Lehigh Valley. It was replaced in 1794 by the “Golden Eagle Hotel” that entertained guests until 1919. In the roaring twenties, Charles M. Schwab, with his steel empire and lavish lifestyle led to the build of the current Bethlehem Hotel, a grand hotel atop the highest hill in the city.

As we walked the historic Moravian area, we admired the well maintained homes.

The 2023 MusikFest continues into the wee hours of the morning, so temporary lighting is set up at strategic locations.

Returning to our “home”, we passed a Pennsylvania cornfield. The storm clouds in the background highlighted the green fields. You could almost see the corn growing!

Devan had a “gig” with his band at Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, PA. They were commissioned to perform in the Biergarten, and we had to go see the group play. Their brand of jazz transported us back to the 1920’s with some of the most well known classics. Drew, the trumpeter, has a voice that is perfect for the songs of that era, and Gary, on tuba, plays that big horn with gusto! Devan, on banjo and guitar, was our hero with his unbelievable string performance. We can’t believe that these musicians can remember the words and music to all these songs! It was a perfect evening after a rainy afternoon. Thanks, guys!

Longwood Gardens is just a stones through from Delaware and New Jersey on what was originally 402 acres of land purchased from William Penn by George Peirce in 1700. A hundred years later, Georges descendants, after farming the land, began planting trees from around the world, and it eventually became one of the largest stands of timber on the east coast. As the Peirce family lost interest in the farm, two hundred years later, it was sold to a lumber company. The land was saved from lumbering by Pierre du Pont, of the famous du Pont family, who had a vision for the land as a conservatory of nature. Before Pierres death at 84, he had enlarged the enterprise to 926 acres and designed and planted French and Italian themed gardens, as well as a main Water Garden with 60 jets of water dancing with colors to music that is still in operation today. We had a chance to see the early show, before dark, without lights.

Vast expanses of land are manicured and tended, along with enclosed conservancies and event venues. It would require days to investigate the entire facility, but we were focused on the music! I would post a few videos we took, but they are too long, so here’s a few photos.

It was a bit of a hike to the Gardens, about 90 miles south, but it was worth every penny! Proud GP’s for sure!

Bren is a vital player in the operation of ThreeBirds Coffee in Easton, Pennsylvania. Located in a 150 year old house in the historic district, ThreeBirds is named for the owners three parrots who have a dedicated room near the patio. Only two were in attendance when we were there, but they were as noisy as three!

The home was built in 1862 as a simple stone building, then expanded into a tenement house. It was purchased in 1878 by John Bull, co-owner of the Bush and Bull Department Store in Easton. Bull expanded the home and furnished it with extraordinary furniture and fixtures. Victorian, Queen Anne, and Aesthetic details are revealed in the ornate wood arches, cast metal fixtures and stained glass windows, most of which remain in perfect condition or have been meticulously restored.

Bren created the most ornate toppings for our mochas! She has entered and won barista competitions, and they tasted as good as they looked!

As we worked our way back to the trailer, we had to stop at the Allentown Farmers Market.

This unassuming building is organized (or unorganized) just as central markets were in central Europe hundreds of years ago where, under one roof, a person can get anything from a water hose to ham hocks, and pretty much anything else. Fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, Amish baked goods, sandwiches and furnishings! 

We came away with armloads of perogies, fresh vegetables, and amish prepared foods, with a container full of greek salad! Smoked chops and thick sliced smoked bacon! Oh my! It’s a good thing we don’t live here!

We’re at the end of our visit to eastern Pennsylvania, and we’re shedding a tear. Reflecting on the many historical sites in towns whose names are as familiar today as they were in high school American History classes entices us to further explore. Unfortunately, we would need years to fully do so, and the calendar keeps clicking. Off we go.

It has been wonderful to spend some time with the younger generation of our family and get a fresh look at the future of our great country. They are great young adults. Perhaps a bit impulsive, but hey, bouncing off walls is how you learn to walk straight!

There’s hope, folks!