How Lehighton celebrated its centennial

What an event Lehighton has planned for this summer.

The borough is planning an eight-day 150th anniversary celebration. Looking at the brochure the anniversary committee has put together, the celebration could rival the incredible festivities the borough put together for the 100th birthday 1966.

That birthday party 50 years ago lasted 15 days.

This year's birthday extravaganza, scheduled for June 25 to July 2, looks exciting, too.

The planning began over two years ago when resident Autumn Abelovsky approached Lehighton Borough Council and asked if she could start the ball rolling on the celebration. The council gave her its blessing.

She hasn't rested since, keeping momentum for the big anniversary going.

Like this year's event, planning for the 1966 celebration began two years in advance. In May 1964, Lehighton Borough Council asked then Mayor Albert U. "Brady" Koch to form a committee and prepare an appropriate program for the 100th anniversary.

Carl Merluzzi was named chairman of the Men's Participation Division, and 174 chapters of the Brothers of the Brush were formed. Mildred Nothstein was appointed chairwoman of the Women's Participation Division and 123 Centennial Belle Chapters were organized. Both groups provided much of the pre-centennial and celebration activities, formed caravans to visit neighboring communities to help advertise the celebration and held Kangaroo Kourts and other humorous activities.

Those Kangaroo Kourts were hilarious.

Adam Begal, a justice of the peace in Lehighton, conducted them. On trial were members of participating Brothers of the Brush and Sisters of the Switch organizations. Of course, once arrested, you had a better chance of acquittal in Iran that you did in front of Begal's Kourt sessions.

Keystone Kops were appointed to make arrests.Chapter members who might have broken a regulation - shaving, not wearing an article of centennial garb, using cosmetics or jewelry - were given a "trial," and because they were always found guilty, were then given some hilarious sentence,including mixing a cake on a "victim's" head to a cream pie in the face. The sessions drew hundreds of spectators.

The centennial committee opened an office and sold participation items and souvenirs, including felt top hats, vests, arm bands, peddlers' permits, writing paper, water glasses and centennial participation bonds.

A hardcover book was printed and sold on the history of Lehighton, with photos from the celebration.

Of course, the history of Lehighton goes back further than Jan. 2, 1866, when the town was incorporated.

The first white settlement in what became Carbon County was a Moravian mission to the Lenni Lenape Indians in 1745 beside the Lehigh River. In 1794, that site became known as Lehighton.

The 150th anniversary of the borough is something to look forward to over the coming months.

The eight-day celebration includes Kangaroo Kourt with a hoosegow. It also has a lumberjack contest, historical story night, old-time kids games, music, hat decorating contest, music and a parade.

A soap box race is set for June 27. Although Akron, Ohio, professes to be the birthplace of the soap box derby, newspaper articles support the claim by local historians that there were soap box derby races in Lehighton years before they were held in Akron.

In the months ahead, you'll be hearing a lot more about this fun and historical celebration. Stay tuned.