THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MANN, BRENNAN, DAY, FREEMAN, HAHN, HARHART, MACKENZIE, SAMUELSON AND SIMMONS, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and congratulating the City of Allentown on the

250th anniversary of its founding.

WHEREAS, The City of Allentown is celebrating its 250th

anniversary in 2012; and

WHEREAS, In 1762, shipping merchant William Allen founded

Northampton Towne, a 12-cabin village; and

WHEREAS, Allentown has played an important role in our

nation's history; and

WHEREAS, Founding father John Adams passed through

Northampton Towne in 1777; and

WHEREAS, During the American Revolution, 11 bells from

Philadelphia, including the Liberty Bell, were hidden in

Northampton Towne under the floorboards of Zion's United Church

of Christ on Hamilton Street; and

WHEREAS, Northampton Towne was named the county seat of

Lehigh County and renamed Allentown in 1838; and

WHEREAS, After the Industrial Revolution, Allentown became an

important industrial center, connected by major railroads and

canals, and was a hotbed for the manufacturing of iron, steel,

cement and textiles; and

WHEREAS, Allentown developed a strong tradition in the

brewing of beer in the 19th and 20th centuries; and

WHEREAS, Allentown has transformed itself into a center for

finance, health care, education, technology and science; and

WHEREAS, Allentown has had a long tradition of diversity,

from its multilingual and multinational beginnings to today; and

WHEREAS, The Legacy Project has been initiated in conjunction

with Allentown's 250th anniversary, taking inventory of every

piece of public art throughout the city and developing a program

of maintenance and restoration for all public art; and

WHEREAS, A variety of events have been planned in celebration

of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the city; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and

congratulate the City of Allentown on the occasion of the 250th

anniversary of its founding.