The Architecture of Old Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1978 Through Fascinating Photos

Allentown is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania’s third-most-populous city and the 233rd-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Lehigh County and the largest city in the metropolitan area known as the Lehigh Valley.

Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown is the largest of three adjacent cities (Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton) in Northampton and Lehigh counties that make up the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania.

Allentown is approximately 55 miles (89 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia, the sixth-most populous city in the US, 75 miles (121 km) south-southeast of Scranton and the Wyoming Valley, 80 miles (130 km) east-northeast of Harrisburg, the state capital, and 85 miles (137 km) west of New York City, the nation’s largest city.

These fascinating photos were taken by Dave Reese while on a guided tour of the architecture of Old Allentown that show street scenes of Allentown in 1978.

Looking East on Hamilton Street

Allentown street scenes (probably Chew Street)

7th Street row

Ace Supply on North 7th Street

Allentown Art Museum

Allentown Brownstone

Allentown National Bank building towers over the newer First National Bank of Allentown

Along Walnut Street

Behind a Ford Fairmont

Buick Electra 225

Cool turret

Covered porches

Federal Home

Former First Presbyterian Church, the Art Museum

Former Herbst Elementary School

Former Mansion, 1978 Office

Great row of older homes

In the back of Symphony Hall, the former Motoramp parking lot is visible

Looking north at the east side of North 7th Street

Old Allentown Walking Tour

Old Lehigh County Court House

On South 5th Street

Real Estate Office (Probably Chew Street)

Restored home

Row homes

Sixth and Chew Streets, vintage lampost flower planters

Street view

TV antennas

William Allen's Trout Hall

Zion Reformed Church hid the Liberty Bell from the British during a portion of the Revolutionary War