Have you ever wondered what Hellertown would look like if you had a time machine to take you back to the past? Some recently discovered photos of a 1964 parade down Main Street shared by reader James Ungiran are probably as close as you’ll get to that experience.
The photos of the unknown parade, below, show a variety of fire company vehicles, marching bands, ladies auxiliary members and even Pennsylvania State Police on horseback marching south in the 800 block of Main Street on a clear, sunny day.
Residents dressed for warm weather can be seen sitting in lawn chairs along the sidewalks and in the distance–looking north–a sign at what was then a Texaco gas station (today it’s the Citgo/Food Bag) advertises gasoline for just 27 cents a gallon.
Prominent in several of the photos is an IGA supermarket at the corner of Main Street and Hampton Avenue. That building today houses a dental practice and professional offices.
Buildings on the west side of Main Street that today house businesses such as Gary’s Barber Shop, Saucon Valley Bikes and Advanced Optics are also identifiable.
Looking south along Main Street, the four-story Park Hotel, which stood near where Dunkin’ Donuts is located today, can be seen in the distance.
If you’re old enough to remember what Main Street looked like more than 50 years ago these photos may spark fond memories. If you weren’t around back then, they’re an interesting glimpse of what Hellertown looked like 25 years before I-78 opened and traffic on Main Street dramatically increased.
Special thanks to James Ungiran for sharing these photos with Saucon Source.
