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Lower Saucon Township Historical Society

PO Box 176, Hellertown, PA 18055 ~ 610-625-8771

Contact us by email.

The Lutz Franklin School is located at 4216 Countryside Lane, Hellertown
Click here for directions to the Lutz Franklin School.
Click here for meeting information and directions.

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Welcome to the Home Page for LSTHS

Time did not stand still in Lower Saucon Township and as farms and buildings passed from owner to owner there were significant changes that took place. Many early century buildings were lost or destroyed while others went through alterations or additions.

Many of these buildings lost key parts of their architecture and to rebuild those missing elements has been a real challenge. In most cases, reconstructions are only accomplished with early photos or sketches and after hours of architectural research and archaeological work.

Our older buildings are psychologically important reference points in a changing urban environment. These diverse remnants tell us where we came from as a township and as people. They help give Lower Saucon Township its sense of place and identity. And once they are gone, they are gone forever.

lutz franklin bell tower "You can't stop progress," we are told, but we can redefine what "progress" is. It need not mean plundering our past for things bigger and better. As we approach the 21st century, we must make room for the preservation of human values which includes a more intelligent stewardship of the history that is written in the building blocks of our township.

Learn more about Lower Saucon on our history page.

Here's some of the things we're doing currently:

All Members are invited to a Wednesday July 9th, 2008 ~ 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Lutz Franklin Schoolhouse Please bring your lawn chair or blanket and a covered dish to share. Hots dogs and drinks will be provided. Food and Fun for Everyone! Please join us at the Lutz Franklin School grounds for this special member event. Click here for directions to the school.
	Now available: 2008 Calendars, reflective address markers and a terrific collection of Fred Bees prints available for sale. Check these items out on our gift shop page.
2008 Officers, Board of Directors Officers President - Lorraine F. Torrella Vice President - Sue Horiszny Treasurer- John Ortwein Secretary - Keri Maxfield Board of Directors Margaret Fluck (Alumni) Jody Hijazi Sue Horiszny (Education) Michael Karabin Fran Robb (Acquisitions/Exhibits) Keri Maxfield (Archives) Sally Murphy (Alumni) John Ortwein Laura Ray (Newsletter/Website) Jim Sturm Lorraine Torrella (Development) Lenny Szy (Facilities)		2008 Advisory Board, Committee Chairs Advisory Board Priscilla deLeon Deborah Hartwell, Esq. Glenn Kern Dr. Richard Kingston Thomas Maxfield Ken Raniere George Torrella Christine Ussler Thomas Maxfield Sandra Yerger Committee Chairs Phyllis Kline-Membership Dorothy P. Schneider (Grants)
Please Drop off all of your: Junk mail, Magazines, Shopping catalogs, Newspaper, Office and school papers. Please do NOT include: Plastic, Glass, Metal, Cardboard, Phone books, Trash This is a great way to support your community and environment by reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill. The different types of paper do not have to be separated and you do not even have to remove staples! You may save and dispose of your recycling materials in either paper or plastic grocery bags; however, if you use plastic bags please do not tie them shut as they tend to jam the shredding machine. New Contest ! For the Fall and Winter (October - March)we need to increase the amount of paper recycled at the Saucon Valley School District campus by 20%. If they meet that goal they will win a cash prize! Please help us meet the 20% challenge by taking your paper recycling to the SVSD campus.		Recycling Program Updates Paper retrieval bins have been placed in the Saucon Valley area as a fundraiser for the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society. The bright yellow and green bins are located at the Lower Saucon Township Municipal Complex (near the playground), behind Hellertown Borough Hall, all around the Saucon Valley School District Campus, at the Dewey Fire Company and Society Hill. New bins are now at Hellertown Borough parking lot across from the Post Office and at the loading dock of Iaccoca Hall at Lehigh University - New bins now at Hellertown Water Authority's office on Front Street in Hellertown. According to Abitibi's statistics, we help save 17 trees per recycled ton. We've now recycled over 280,000 pounds of paper. We're saving 1000s of trees!

Learn more about LSTHS and our area history by checking out past editions of our newsletter. NOTE: The newsletter files are large - we only recommend viewing them if you have a high-speed connection.
Spring 2008 Newsletter	Winter 2007 Newsletter
Fall 2007 Newsletter	Summer 2007 Newsletter
If you enjoyed looking at our newsletter, learn how to become a member and have a copy mailed to you quarterly.

With our restoration in full swing, our operating expenses have been mounting. Please consider making a donation to the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society. It's easy to do using the "Click to Pay" icon at the right. Any amount would be greatly appreciated.

The Lower Saucon Township Historical Society
is registered with www.schoolpop.com.

Do you shop online?
If so, register at schoolpop.com and sign up to donate a percentage of your shopping to the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society. Signing up is free and easy. What a neat way to shop while not spending one cent more. All profits help restore the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse. There are hundreds of online retailers. For example, Expedia.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Lands End, even QVC. Some retailers offer as much as 12% of your purchase price.

Remember us the next time you book airfare, hotels, or trips online, send flowers, or shop at any of your favorite stores online, Login to www.schoolpop first.
To sign up, go to www.schoolpop.com and choose
Lower Saucon Township Historical Society
as your designated organization.

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Attention EBay Sellers
LSTHS is now registered with Mission Fish.
Through this, you may donate all or a portion of the proceeds from any item you sell on Ebay to LSTHS. Check out this link to Ebay to find out how to sell your items through this program.

Email us at lutzfran@lutzfranklin.com

Mission Statement
The Lower Saucon Township Historical Society is a registered Pennsylvania charity dedicated to restoration and preservation of the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse, located in Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania. Upon the successful restoration of the schoolhouse, the Lower Saucon Township Historical Society will provide heritage education to school children and adults through the establishment of the Lutz-Franklin Schoolhouse Museum. The Museum will display artifacts (such as desks, maps, quill pens) used while the schoolhouse was in operation from 1880 to 1957. We will archive, maintain and display records and material documenting the early history of Lower Saucon Township. We will encourage school groups and other visitors to attend class and experience first hand a day in the Lutz Franklin School in 1880.

How to get to Lutz Franklin School:

How to get to Seidersville Hall:
Our monthly meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday each month at 7:00pm at Seidersville Hall located at the Lower Saucon Township Municipal Complex at 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, PA. To get there:

FROM THE NORTH	From Route 22 take PA 378 South towards Bethlehem. After crossing the Hill-to-Hill bridge, with its steel superstructure, continue south on Route 378 up the mile-long hill to the top. After crossing the top of the hill and starting down the hill about 1 block, bear to the right onto the two-lane road (Old Philadelphia Pike) and continue past the stop intersection for about two city blocks to Town Hall on the right.
FROM THE SOUTH	From Route 309, turn onto Route 378 North and continue northward for about three miles. After you pass under the I-78 overpass, turn left at the traffic signal on to Black River Road. At the stop sign turn right onto Old Philadelphia Pike. Continue northbound for about two city blocks to Town Hall on the left.
FROM I-78	Interstate 78 West to Hellertown/Bethlehem Exit 67. Follow Route 412 South, which becomes Main Street in Hellertown. Turn right at traffic light at Water Street, which becomes Friedensville Road after crossing Saucon Creek. Follow Friedensville Road to Hickory Hill Road. Continue straight ahead to Route 378. Continue through the traffic signal to the stop sign at Old Philadelphia Pike. Turn left and continue downhill on Old Philadelphia Pike for about two city blocks to Town Hall on the right.