| Description |
The Neighborhood House was an outgrowth of the New Jersey Zinc Company's concern about the welfare of their workers and their families. To that end, the NJZ established a Sociological Department in 1907 and purchased real estate at the corner of Fourth Street and Lehigh Avenue with the intent to build a facility that would not only provide a work environment for the Sociological Department but also various facilities for the community.
This first Neighborhood House brought the townspeople of all nationalities together in a social and educational atmosphere. It offered citizenship instruction, sewing lessons, a literary club, and a kindergarten. The invitations for the formal opening were printed in Slovak, Hungarian, and English.
Soon these facilities were inadequate for the size of the population and so a new building was constructed at 443 Delaware Avenue. This facility housed the kindergarten, a game and pool room for men and boys, a fully equipped gym, a bowling alley with four lanes, a library, and living quarters, for the NJZ Sociology Department staff.
The new building continued to serve the department's original intent of making a place available for activities and space for the "neighborhood" to come together. The Neighborhood or "Hood" House was especially attractive for the children of the area. Many people have fond memories of Saturday night dances in the gym.
The building still retains most of its original architectural integrity. The room, which housed the pool and game room, is now the Borough Council Chambers. Although renovated, the fireplace is still there and is used to keep members warm at Chamber Meetings when necessary. The Borough Offices are located in the former kindergarten room. The gym, still intact, is available for playing basketball and is utilized by "The Over Sixty Club" for its meetings. The basement has changed with the removal of the bowling lanes; however, bunk beds have been installed to welcome weary Appalachian Trail hikers.
On the second floor of the building, at the east end of the hall, is the new home of the Palmerton Area Historical Society and its Archives. It is open to the public on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. or by appointment. We are thrilled to have our Historical Society in a building with such a history!
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For additional information about the sites on the Photo Tour, return to the main page and click the various links, or call 610-824-6954, or Email: contactus@palmertonhistorical.org.
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