Social Context (Art)

SOCIAL CONTEXT

The Karl Stirner Arts Trail is an intersection of community, culture, heritage, and artistic expression. Therefore, this project will engage local culture with respect to Easton’s history and critical events, the Lehigh Valley’s industrial corridor and heritage, and the city’s recent advocacy of modern arts. The problem this project seeks to resolve is the bridge’s lack of design components that would evoke these values. “Knowing as much as possible about the history and socio-cultural realities of people in and around the community… is vital to project success” (Lucena et al., 126). The bridge would then be secondary to the influential community works showcased within. These art pieces would likely represent a broad sampling of Easton’s heritage and culture.

The Lenni-Lenape Tribe

The bridge crosses the Bushkill Creek downstream from the Simon Silk Mill complex. The creek then flows roughly 40 miles downstream into the Delaware River. Originally, the Delaware River Basin was controlled for over 10,000 years by the Lenni-Lenape Tribe who have historically resided in New Jersey, Delaware, southern New York, and eastern Pennsylvania, until European settlers claimed the land. Our concepts for the future bridge thus follow from the historical character of the Lenape as being peacekeepers who are known for mediating disputes between neighboring tribes. (“The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape,” 2007).

Considered the “grandfathers” or “ancient ones” by surrounding tribal nations, the peace-loving Lenni-Lenape have persevered through the trials of colonial intrusion, proving their resilience and maintaining their roles of the Delaware River peace-keepers. Every four years since 2002, the Lenape people have signed the Treaty of Renewed Friendship. The Lenape Tribe and several organizations “including environmental groups, churches, historical societies, and sincerely committed individuals, who wish to actively support the Lenape culture and to help sustain their people, language, and way of life”, come together and celebrate renewed brotherhood (“Rising Nation River Sojourn”, 2018). The Lenape Tribe ventures on a “historic and monumental three-week canoe journey” down the Delaware River prior to each signing. Their canoe journey “is a joint effort to raise awareness, awaken the spirit, and bestow the past, environmentally, culturally and historically, to the future” (“Rising Nation River Journey”, n.d.). The Lenape people desire to defend and protect their traditions and beliefs while putting the past behind them.

However, many do not know of the rich native heritage found in the river corridor. Their efforts to preserve the native heritage and have residents of the area acknowledge the history and valiance of the Lenni-Lenape tribe proves to be a great foundational context of the Lehigh Valley. Just as the bridge addition intends to expand the trail and increase foot traffic and viability of the trail, this project will also bring awareness to the often forgotten or ignored history of the Easton area. Future advancements on this project should involve the active tribal government to accurately symbolize and adorn the Lenape history depicted on the bridge. The Lenape people were the metaphorical bridge between native establishments and colonial expansion, as well as the connection between the land and humanity. Thus, it is important that their role in society be included in the design of the addition.

American Patriotism and the Founding of Lafayette College

Another relevant historical context is the abundance of American patriotism as a result of Easton’s role in early colonialism. Prior to the American Revolution, English colonists impacted existing Delaware societies by enforcing the Lenni-Lenape resettlement. In 1736, Thomas Penn and Surveyor General Benjamin Eastburn selected the land at the connection of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers as a desired settlement location (City of Easton, 2019). The once called “Thousand Acre Tract” of land became void of native people through the Walking Purchase of 1737 (Samuels, 2006). In the 1750s, William Parsons and Nicholas Scull began the task of finding a permanent town and fell upon the plot of land called “Lechanwitauk” or “the Place at the Forks” by the indigenous tribes. From then on, the city of Easton served as the set of many historical events in the early years of the revolution. The Great Square, now known as Centre Square, became notorious as a trading post for residents and travelers, and served as one of three sites where a public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place on July 8, 1776 (City of Easton, 2019). That historic event is celebrated as Heritage Day, and Centre Square continues its tradition of being a place of gathering.

Culminating with present-day Easton serving as what many call a “college town”, the establishment of Lafayette College serves as a pinnacle historical event in the timeline of the city. Named after the influential French general, Marquis de Lafayette, Easton resident James Madison Porter founded the idea of an institution aimed to create a curriculum of military science and tactics as well as “various other branches of education, including the German Language” (Lafayette College, 2019). The college charter was signed on March 9, 1826 and it was not until 1832 that the College purchased nine acres across Bushkill Creek. That May, classes of 43 students began in a rented farmhouse on the south side of the Lehigh River. Two years later, the college built its first building on the summit of the hill; the building is now incorporated into South College. The founders of the college deemed three fields of education a priority: English, mathematics, and civil engineering. “The resulting — and ongoing — union of arts, sciences, and engineering remains perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Lafayette curriculum,” (Lafayette College, 2019). This unique dynamic of the technical and artistic skills proved to be a milestone for the future infrastructure of the Lehigh Valley heritage.

The Industrial Revolution in the Lehigh Valley

The Industrial Revolution’s legacy in the Lehigh Valley were and still are extensive and prevalent today. During the peak of the Revolution, “a railroad once existed along present-day Bushkill Drive” (Blood et al., 15). The trestle bridge detailed in this report was constructed in 1924 by American Bridge Company as part of this system “and the superstructure was originally manufactured by Easton Foundry and Machine Company (Reeve et al., 2016). “The trestle bridge is the only remnant of the rail system in the [Bushkill Corridor] and is a valuable artifact to the industrial history of the area” because it “carried trains over the creek” (Blood et al., 15). Our team ensures that aspects of the Industrial Revolution are featured within the bridge addition.

The railroad system was prevalent in the Lehigh Valley supplementing the fast-paced expansion of anthracite coal mining. The railroad dominated over the canals in the Lehigh Valley and across America because of its lower costs and higher efficiency. “Originally chartered in 1846 to be a transporter of anthracite coal from the vast coal fields of Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley Railroad grew into a major carrier of both freight and passengers between Jersey City, New Jersey, and Buffalo, New York” (“History”, n.d.). Over the next few decades, the railroad expanded dramatically by 1,800 miles of track and like the canal, it caused an increase in population and brought economic growth (Halma & Oplinger, 2001).

Anthracite coal mining operations expanded to make iron, which became the leading industry in the Lehigh Valley. “In 1840, [David Thomas] built the Lehigh Crane Iron Furnace, the first commercially successful anthracite-powered iron furnace in North America” (“Thomas Iron burned bright for 88 years”, 2005). The largest iron company in the United States, Bethlehem Iron Company, was established in Northampton County, opening several furnaces along the railroad in Easton and Bethlehem.

Steel was the most notable industry in the area throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Charles M. Schwab, an American steel magnate, modified the already existing Bethlehem Iron Company and made it into Bethlehem Steel in 1904. This local company’s goods spanned the country in some of the most influential structures and monuments in our nation’s history. In the 1920s, “Bethlehem Steel’s chief engineer said “Bethlehem Steel owned New York” [as] parts of the Empire State Building, Waldorf Astoria hotel, Madison Square Garden and Rockefeller Plaza” were all created with the help of this company (Coughlin, 2015). However, once competitors started creating steel at a lower cost, the company could not keep up with business and closed its Bethlehem facility in 1995 (Halma & Oplinger, 2001). Bethlehem Steel’s legacy carries on in the Lehigh Valley. In 2011, the home plant of Bethlehem Steel became a place named SteelStacks that is dedicated to arts, culture, and community events. “Rather than demolish the historic mill or walk away and let it fall apart, the community rallied around the iconic plant, working hard to bring new life to the former industrial giant” (“What is Steelstacks?”, n.d.).

The iron and steel industries played an indirect role in the rise of the silk industry in the Lehigh Valley. “Workers coming from Southern and Central Europe who were willing to work for low wages in these basic heavy industries also brought with them knowledge of the skills in the textile arts” (Lehigh Valley Silk Mills, n.d.). The Valley’s prime location between Philadelphia and New York City also contributed to the growth of the industry and by, “the turn of the 20th century, the Lehigh Valley was the world’s second-largest producer of silk, with the industry becoming Allentown’s largest employer in the late 1920s” (Kneller, 2015). Just one of many silk mills in the area, the R&H Simon Silk Mill, now known simply as the Simon Silk Mill, was located in Easton along the Bushkill Creek overlooking the KSAT. 

This thriving factory was established in 1883 by Robert and Herman Simon and was the city’s first economic development initiative. “According to a historical sign on the Karl Stirner Arts Trail… the facility had an initial workforce of 250 before rocketing to 1,060 in 1899 following an expansion” (Kneller, 2015). The industry soon died down with the onset of the Great Depression, competition in the south where there was cheap labor, and the popularity of synthetic fibers that were less expensive and labor-intensive to make (Alderfer, 2018). Since their closing, many former mills in the Lehigh Valley have transformed into apartment buildings and the Simon Silk Mill is no exception. After being vacant for about thirty years, the Easton Redevelopment Authority purchased the property in 2006 with the intention of keeping the original character of the mill but revamping the inside to spur reuse. In 2015, the construction of this redevelopment project began and the completed complex now consists of apartments and small businesses, “making it a unique and dynamic community” (Alderfer, 2018).

The Simon Silk Mill has made a conscious effort to make connections, both literally and figuratively, to the Karl Stirner Arts Trail since its redevelopment. The idea of a pedestrian bridge connecting the trail to the complex has been pursued for several years.

Another industry in the Bushkill Corridor was the Rinek Cordage Company on Bushkill Drive. This local family business was founded in 1840 and became influential to the history of Easton (“Living History”, n.d.). Rope created “was sent to the Panama Canal, among other places,” making it a well-known and successful company (Tatu, 2017). The company’s site is now owned by Lafayette College as part of the school’s expansion efforts.

These historical and industrial contexts are critical to our proposed designs, which are explained in depth in the technical section of this report. One of our main ideas is to have a local artist paint the walkway of the bridge to feature major milestones in Easton and the Lehigh Valley’s history. Also, by incorporating characteristics of the steel and silk industries into the bridge’s railings, other of our designs will pay tribute to these significant, local manufacturing institutions.

Celebrating the Arts in Easton

The arts are also an important part of what makes Easton unique. Local bars, restaurants, and shops have made Easton somewhat of a destination spot, which, in turn, has helped to publicize the local art scene (Higgins, 2015). For instance, several of these businesses show off art pieces made by local artists. Because Easton is located relatively close to both Philadelphia and New York City, it has been a popular area for artists to live and work in.

In addition to the Karl Stirner Arts Trail, Easton has several outlets for artistic expression taking the forms of studios, shops, the Easton Mural Project, the legacy of the Crayola Company, and the Arts Community of Easton (ACE). Founded in 1999, ACE’s creation came about from “artists, business owners, art institution representatives, and art lovers, seeking an organization for arts education programs, exhibitions, workshops, information dispersal, and networking” (“About”, n.d.). The mission of the ACE is to promote the arts and foster an appreciation of the arts within the city. This organization also aims to enhance the quality of life in Easton by holding events and programs that bring the community together to get involved in art. One event that ACE promotes is the Riverside Festival of the Arts. This festival started in 1997 before ACE’s founding by artists in the area as a way of gathering the community to the scenic riverside area and convening over a shared interest in art. The event has grown considerably and become very popular since it began, with more artists, artisans, musicians, and other talents coming each year (“About RFA”, n.d.). 

One of the most visible aspects of Easton’s artistic expression is the city’s growing number of murals as a result of The Easton Mural Project’s beautification efforts. The Easton Mural Project is a “collaborative effort” between the owners of the art gallery Brick & Mortar and Easton Main Street Initiative which aims to revitalize the downtown area (“Mission Statement”, n.d.). The Project’s mission is to create murals in downtown Easton with the purpose of improving Easton’s “visual landscape” and creating “opportunities for the promising artistic community” (“Mission Statement”, n.d.). Eventually, the goal is to expand these efforts beyond just the downtown area into the other Easton neighborhoods. The existing Eastonian murals are prominent and provide colorful, aesthetic enrichment on every surface they adorn. 

Much of Easton’s tourism is attributed to The Crayola Factory. Opened in 1996, the Factory became an interactive museum with creative activities for families. “The wildly popular attraction has had more than 5 million visitors since it opened as the Crayola Factory [more than] 20 years ago on July 16, 1996” (Miller, 2016). Prior to this attraction, the downtown area had been deserted as it was not particularly safe and had nothing to offer. “One Crayola executive said the international leader in art supplies didn’t hesitate to locate in Centre Square Easton despite the bleak economic picture” (Miller, 2016). In a way, Crayola was proof that if this large company could be successful in downtown Easton, then other businesses could be as well. Crayola contributed greatly to the city’s turnaround (Miller, 2016).

Our team believes that Crayola should be included in our bridge addition design in some capacity because of its immense impact on Easton. Crayola has brought an influx of other businesses to the downtown center, and its ability to foster a love of art in people of all ages is significant. Additionally, this entity is a strong example of the industrial and artistic culture of the city and local society.

These historical entities are important to the effectiveness of our project because one of our main goals is to accurately and proudly display the history and legacy of the Bushkill Corridor. By incorporating depictions of these organizations, the bridge can directly educate trail users while showing an appreciation of who and what allowed this city to evolve into the artistic mecca it is.

To read about the political context of our project, click here.