Bethlehem in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Colonial Industrial Quarter
1741 - 1800
Photographed By Laura Klotz, September 30, 2018
1. Colonial Industrial Quarter Marker
Close up of the marker
“They have carried the mechanical Arts to greater Perfection here than in any Place which I have seen.”
John Adams to Abigail Adams
April, 1777
Early Industrial History
By 1745, only four years after they founded Bethlehem (1741), the Moravians, a modern Protestant religious group from Germany, had established 35 different crafts, trades, and industries in their community. Many of these industries were located here along the Monocacy Creek, an area now called the Colonial Industrial Quarter.
Waterpower Proves Essential
Moravian craftsmen used the power of the Monocacy Creek to turn waterwheels that moved equipment to grind grain, pump water, full cloth, press flax seeds, grind bark, and soften hemp. These industries were important because they helped make early Bethlehem a nearly self-sufficient community and enabled the Moravians to support their extensive missionary activities. Productivity here reached its peak between the 1770s and 1800.
Erected by Historic Bethlehem, HistoryWorks!, and Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Colonial Era
this page online
Location. 40° 37.165′ N, 75° 22.953′ W. Marker is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in Lehigh County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Old York Road, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. Marker is about 20 feet SW of the Smith Complex building in the Colonial Industrial Quarter. An identical marker stands about 20 feet from the NW corner of the Luckenbach Mill. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bethlehem PA 18018, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Smith Complex (a few steps from this marker); Pottery (a few steps from this marker); Old Waterworks (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterworks (within shouting distance
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 3, 2020
2. Colonial Industrial Quarter Marker
Unfortunately the marker has experienced damage.
Also see . . .
1. Historic Bethlehem's Colonial Industrial Quarter. (Submitted on January 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. History of Bethlehem. (Submitted on January 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2009
3. Colonial Industrial Quarter Marker
Looking west along Old York Road, with the Tannery in the background.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2009
4. Colonial Industrial Quarter Marker
NW corner of the Luckenbach Mill in background.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2009
5. View of Bethlehem on Marker
This view of Bethlehem in 1784 by Garrison and Oerter shows how the town had grown since its founding in 1741. The industrial quarter can be seen in the middle left of the drawing (outlined by the rectangle).
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2009
6. Colonial Industrial Quarter Building Locations
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2009
7. Colonial Industrial Quarter Building Key
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 22, 2009
8. Colonial Industrial Quarter Drawing on Marker
Nicholas Garrison, Jr. drew this view of Bethlehem in 1757. It is one of the oldest views of the town in existence today and shows that the community was very well laid out. The early industrial buildings stood on the left along the Monocacy Creek. On the right, the residential buildings were located on the bluff overlooking the Lehigh River.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,216 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 3, 2019, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on October 6, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on January 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on February 1, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on January 26, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
