here. - Walnutport Canal Association

The Canal Chronicle
The Official Newsletter of the Walnutport Canal Association
Fall 2015 Issue
MAJOR SPONSORS
OF THE
CANAL FESTIVAL
THE WCA THANKS
THESE MAJOR
SPONSORS OF THE
CANAL FESTIVAL
FOR THEIR SUPPORT
D&L Trail
Alliance
S u s q u eh a n n a
B an k
Blue Ridge
Communications
North Lehigh
Chapter of
Thrivent
Financial
PenTeleData
McDonald’s of
Walnutport
Burger King of
Walnutport
Web Site: http:walnutportcanalassociation.tripod.com/
Email Address: wca1@ptd.net
It’s Festival Time Once Again
Along the Beautiful Walnutport Canal!
by Greg Soltis
Just as the US Postal Service’s motto is “the mail must go
through”, so exclaims the Walnutport Canal Festival – neither rain nor sleet nor snow – nor snow? – yes, snow, which
was the case last year as we prepared for the festival, not
to mention gale force winds. But let’s put all that behind us,
think positive thoughts, and plan on enjoying this year’s festival.
This year brings us an oversized calliope, my favorite, a Civil War Regimental
bugler, a Victorian Floral display and much, much more. So, mark Sunday, October 18 on your calendars and pray for great weather – we deserve it.
FAIR CRAFTERS FOR 2015
by Trevor Koch, Crafter Coordinator
As another summer comes to an end and the start of fall is
upon us so is our great annual canal festival. Last year we
had a record breaking amount of very unique crafters with
anything from handmade goat milk soaps, custom fishing rods
and lures to boomerangs, jewelry, rustic woodwork, scenic
paintings and much more.
This year is going to be another exciting year with everything that our festival has
to offer. Our continued growth year after year has all been made possible by all
the wonderful people that appreciate the history of our canal and help to make it
what it is today. I would like to personally give great thanks to all of our sponsors, participants, vendors, demonstrators and most important our volunteers for
making this day possible. It has been a great pleasure working with an exceptional team and I look forward to more exciting years ahead.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE …..
BICYCLE PARKING AT THE FESTIVAL
Lehigh Township Rails to Trails will once again have an area
where people who ride a bicycle to the festival can park their
bikes. The location will be at the junction of Canal and Main Streets. The site will
be monitored at all times. There is no charge for the bike parking.
Page 2
The Canal Chronicle is published biannually by the Walnutport Canal Association
FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT
Canal Street Stage
Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society – 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Jay Smar – Old Time Folk & Coal Mining Music
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Little Brass Band of the Lehigh Valley – 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Children’s Creativity Corral
Jolly Holly the Clown – 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
429 S. Canal Street
Parryville Band – Noon – 6:00 PM
Strolling
Rich Pawling – Civil War Regimental Bugler reenactor
TOWPATH TROT 6K RUN
AND FUN RUNby Janet Shankweiler
Oct. 17, 2015 will be the 14th Annual Towpath Trot 6K run.
Over the past 14 years much has changed along the towpath
and the park. We are continuing
to grow and have our share Fun Run 9:00AM
of
Walkers 9:00AM
challenges that Mother Na- 6K
ture
Run 9:30AM
sends our way. But you can Contact: Janet Shankweiler always count on the annual
Festi610.737.3900
val along with the Towpath
Trot
to bring many veteran runners, new runners, walkers and
members of the community to come out to support us.
We have a new exciting partnership this year, along with the
Towpath Trot.
St. Luke’s University Health Network and Delaware and
Lehigh National Heritage Corridor will be on site doing a
Health & Wellness event during the 6K and continuing afterward. They will have local vendors on site along with educational spots to learn of the history of the trail. We are encouraging you to get out and get
active.
Don’t forget to sign up at www.tailonthetrail.org, it’s free,
and when you log the miles you walk, run and bike, you’ll
earn prizes! Whether you’re training for this event, or getting
out on the trails for some fresh air, your miles count! Join today and help us in building a healthier community….one mile
at a time. We look forward to seeing you there this year!
by Robin Blocker
Well summer is over and fall has begun so it is time for the Annual Walnutport Canal Festival. This also means
that I have started to collect donations
for the Basket Auction held in the pavilion during the festival. If you would
like to make a donation of any kind to
the auction, please call Robin Blocker
at 610-760-9418. We can coordinate
a pick up or you can also drop items
off at my home. Thank you for your
continued support to help make our Canal a beautiful place to visit!
Fall 2015 Issue
Preserving the Past, Reserving the Future
Page 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
by Douglas Boehrer
Fall is upon us and the seasons are a changing. To me it
looks like it’s time to throw a party before old man winter
rears his ugly head.
The 2015 Canal Festival is approaching and here’s to
hoping the weather gods are smiling on us once again!
I’d like to extend a thank you to all of the contributors and
volunteers that help us keep things a float. Literally!
Just an FYI, Contrary to what some people might believe,
The Walnutport Canal Association is solely funded and
dependent on your kind donations and contributions. The
work force used to maintain and improve the 5 mile long
park is manned strictly by volunteers, so if you’re willing to
donate a few hours a month, or a life time, we’d be glad
to have you come aboard.
Our most recent addition. Purchased through a Northampton County
Hotel Tax Grant awarded to us by The Department of Community
& Economic Development, Northampton County.
Newly Acquired 2015
Yanmar tractor. Financing
provided by The Neff’s
National Bank
New River Vista Park .
Park Bench donation by The
Slatington Women’s Club
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR DONATIONS
by Doneta Merkle
We’d like to once again express our sincere appreciation to the following individuals and organizations for
their donation to the Walnutport Canal Association. Unless specifically designated, these donations are used to
maintain/enhance our Lockhouse Museum, Heritage Center, canal and surrounding
areas.
· Donation from the Slatington Rotary Club to replace mulch under the exercise
equipment along the Duane Lucien Fitness Trail.
· Donation from the Slatington Woman’s Club to purchase a bench & wood/metal to
repair several picnic tables.
· Donation from the Northern Lehigh Education Association.
· Donation of elixir bottle by Michael Newhard.
· Donation of song sheet and photos by Ruth Gable.
· Donation of 1/2 the cost of a weed eater by A. F. Boyer Hardware
· Volunteers who helped at Canal Cleanup. Thanks also to Thrivent Financial for providing lunch.
· Thanks to all volunteers who helped prepare, serve meals and provide desserts for the Lehigh River Sojourn
and the Spring Breakfast.
· Donation of a basket by Jean Stever.
Be sure to visit the Locktender’s House
during the Canal Festival for a guided tour.
Page 4
The Canal Chronicle is published biannually by the Walnutport Canal Association
THEN AND NOW
Membership Report
by Marilyn Kaul
by Duane Masonheimer
Thank you for your
support in our annual
membership drive.
Individual
Family
Corporate
Church
Free
103
164
19
1
4
Total
291
Then: January 21, 1905, “Skaters Have an Inning.”Scores
of young people enjoyed the exhilarating sport of skating
Tuesday and Wednesday on the ice-coated Lehigh Canal.
Each afternoon and evening there was a merry scene and not
a few fancy skaters had an inning and then besides there was
hockey and more or less shinny.
Now: I wrote this in 85+ degree weather looking forward
to the “transition” to the headline with no hurry to the end
result...Winter. What caught my attention was the word
“shinny”. My wife searched the word (slang) on the computer and the reply was basically throwing together a
sport event with no rules of order or refereeing, in other
words a bunch of kids just having fun.
Why be a
Volunteer?
It’s not for money, it’s not for fame.
It’s not for any personal gain.
It’s just for love of fellowman.
It’s just to send a helping hand.
It’s just to give a tithe of self.
That’s something you can’t buy with wealth.
It’s not medals won with pride.
It’s for that feeling deep inside.
It’s that reward down in your heart.
It’s that feeling that you’ve been a part.
Of helping others far and near,
that makes you be a Volunteer!
Author Unknown
Volunteers are just ordinary people like you who
offer their gift of time and talent. Please consider
volunteering your time and talent to our organization. We need and are always looking for volunteers.
To All Past & Present
Volunteers
We’d like to say Thank You!!!
To all Future Volunteers
We’d love to say
Welcome Aboard!!!
In my youth it was touch/tackle football in some kids’ flat
yard or 4-5 kids playing basketball until a team scored
20 points. And of course there was kickball. That was fair
for both sexes. Today it’s rare to see these games being
played outside of a school gym class. With “trophy
leagues” tugging at one end and the internet at the other
it’s tough to find time and kids willing to get together to do
some “shinny”.
Then: September 3rd, 1915, “Walnutport Items” - The best
way to guard against schemes of grafters and keep up-todate in general is to be a regular reader of this paper. It is
always the one who does not read his home paper who gets
caught by the grafters and fakirs.
Now: In today’s world of instant news and information it
is still important to have a good, reliable source. For the
Canal Association you have our Spring & Fall newsletters
and you have our Facebook page which keeps you up to
date on pertinent information and events.
https://www.facebook.com/
official.walnutportcanalassociation
“LIKE” US TODAY and “SHARE”
US WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Fall 2015 Issue
Preserving the Past, Reserving the Future
Page 5
SPRING BREAKFAST
MAY 3, 2015
by Robert Treskot
3rd,
On Sunday May
the Walnutport Canal Association and the Walnutport Playground Association sponsored
the fourth annual Spring Breakfast. The weather was perfect which brought out
many hungry residents. We had over 200 people attend the breakfast which was
held from 8 am until 1 pm. The menu again was outstanding and consisted of:
scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs with peppers and onions, toast, sausage, ham,
home fries, creamed chip beef, plain pancakes, blueberry pancakes, fresh fruit,
coffee, orange juice and a table full of desserts. We want to thank all the volunteers who helped serve the breakfast, the volunteers who donated baked goods
and everyone who helped with the clean up!! We plan on continuing this event
and fundraiser. We were ecstatic to have both Mike Frohnheiser and Gale Husack join forces to prepare the
delicious menu!! We hope to grow this fundraiser and see everyone next May 1st, 2016!!
FLOAT YOUR BOAT AND FEAST-IVAL
by Mary Surdovel
On a beautiful, sunny, June 13th, two hundred people lined the sides of the canal to watch the First Annual
"Float your Boat." Five boats participated for four awards. Winners include: Most Artistic, Slatington Women's
Club with their Red Rose float; Most comical, the Walnutport Canal Association with George Washington Crosses the Canal; and Walnutport UCC winning both the Judges' favorite and Crowd favorite with Noah's Ark.
The festivities continued at the "Feast-ival" where 128 people enjoyed dinner with entertainer, Claude Shappelle crooning tunes from the 40's to today's contemporary songs.
The Second Annual "Float your Boat" and Feast-ival is
set for June 11, 2016. We are looking forward to another beautiful event!
Walnutport UCC Boat
SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
NOTICE by Doneta Merkle
All meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Walnutport Borough
council chambers located at 417 Lincoln Avenue in Walnutport.
The annual reorganization meeting is held the third Wednesday
in January each year if it’s not a legal holiday, and if it is a legal holiday, then on the next full business day. Regular meetings, for the purpose of conducting the business of the association, are held the third Wednesday of every month, except for
July and December.
Bechtel’s Pharmacy Boat
PAVILION RENTAL
The Canal Association pavilion is available for rental to individuals and
groups from May to October for birthday parties, wedding receptions, showers, retirement parties, class reunions,
etc. For available dates and rental
fees, please call Jeanne Boehrer at
610-767-8703.
PLEASE TAKE ONE … The Canal Chronicle,
a bi-annual newsletter published by the WCA.
PRESERVE THE PAST
RESERVE THE FUTURE
Support Your
Community
Become An
Active Member
The Walnutport Canal Association, Inc.
A non-profit organization
“Mission Statement”
To maintain and preserve the Walnutport section of the Lehigh Canal and to present an interpretive history
of the Canal Era at the Locktender’s House and Museum.
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Walnutport Canal Association
417 Lincoln Avenue
Walnutport, PA 18088
NON-PROFIT ORG
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LEHIGHTON, PA
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