Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
▼
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Why Was Allentown Once Called Peanutville?
While researching my post about baseball Hall of Famer King Kelly, I learned that in 1894, Allentown was sometimes called Peanutville. Does anybody know why?
16 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
i can tell you that peanut roasting was widespread in the area. a former old-time grocer on the NE corner of 7th and chew (currently apartment building) roasted up till 1975. another "southern" crop used here was tobacco, allentown was a major cigar manufacture into the 1920's. tobacco dealers still existed into the 50's.
ReplyDeleteOn Hamilton Mall there was a dear candy and peanut roasting shop. Guess it was forced out but in the 80s, it was very popular. Frank Whelan might know, if you gave him a call.
ReplyDeleteit was called the nut hut, and was on the alley corner between 7th and 8th. the shops i refer to, go back to the turn of last century. along side of the church at 6th and tilghman, was a little narrow store, since torn down, which also roasted. that church, although gothic looking, was built as a synagogue.
ReplyDelete"Why Was Allentown Once Called Peanutville?"
ReplyDeleteCause we're nutz?
PA Dutch Vendors lined Hamilton between 1880 and cica 1920 and sold roasted peanuts on the street. On Saturday nights young men would walk up and down the street looking to meet girls and would toss their peanut shells on the ground.
ReplyDeleteSunday morning the shop owners on Hamilton open their shops and have a sidewalk that was almost ankle deep in peanut shells.
This helped with the nickname I am sure.
Don't know But I do know hat Allentown's real name was Northamptontown but everyone referred to it is "Allen's town" since Allen owned it and they gave up trying to call it Northamptontown and changed it to Allentown.
ReplyDeleteEveryone, Thanks for the answers. I think Anon 8:36 may be onto something. I remember the nut shop in Allentown.
ReplyDeleteas a child visiting on new st. in south bethlehem, i remember hot chestnut vendors. allentown still has street vendors, but the merchandize has changed
ReplyDeleteThe nut hut was sold and eventually became the Hamilton Perk. It folded after the LANTA buses moved off of hamilton and that bus stop right out front went away.
ReplyDeleteSo you don't know? I thought you were going to tell us at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm stumped. I saw the references in the 1894 news clippings and will do more research to learn why. Anon 8:36 sounds right.
ReplyDeleteI have to go to the Lehigh County Heritage Center. I'll see if they know.
ReplyDeleteIf you find out before I do, please share.
ReplyDeleteTHe guy at the LEhigh County Historial Museum he has heard Allentown referred to as "Peanutville" many times but he didn't know why. He did say there is a little village outside of Catasaqua called "Dark Town" because it was the last part of the Valley to get electricity.
ReplyDeleteDrop the "pea" and that sums up Allentown today - both the people who run it and the people who aren't smart enough to leave.
ReplyDeleteYaoi dating sim games, [url=http://dating-polvadera.vvsspeed.com/]dating polvadera[/url]. Black speed dating.
ReplyDeleteSex dating in naples idaho. Dating sewaren, [url=http://adult-dating-denver.vvsspeed.com/]adult dating denver[/url].
Sex dating in biggers arkansas, [url=http://aff-dating.vvsspeed.com/]aff dating[/url]. Sikhs and muslims dating.
Model quality introduction dating service. Free dating sites for over 55, [url=http://dating-ness-city.vvsspeed.com/]dating ness city[/url].
Dating aiken, [url=http://dating-port-orange.vvsspeed.com/]dating port orange[/url]. Gintama dating game.