The Home News Your Local News Since 1942
JULY 23-29, 2026
Looking by Back Ed Pany Remembering the Franklin Building
On June 4, 2026, with great sadness, I witnessed the closing of an educational landmark, the Franklin Building located in Northampton’s third ward. For the last time students boarded buses, walked home or were picked up by their parents. Future students and teachers will be transferred to other buildings for the next school year. The Franklin Building is now a chapter in local history. The Franklin Building is located on the southeast corner of 9th and Lincoln Avenue. When the building was constructed, the area was known as Stemton. The first building was named in honor of George Stem. Mr. Stem operated the Lehigh Car Manufacturing Company, which manufactured spring wagons and later railroad cars. The factory was located on Main Street between 8th and 10th streets and was erected in 1867. The Stemton two-room brick schoolhouse was demolished as more room was required for a growing community. The Franklin Building was constructed in 1907 and opened in 1908 to replace the Stemton School. The cost was amazingly $32,429. This writer’s family will especially miss our neighborhood school. My mother-in-law, wife, daughter
Stemton school. -Contributed photo by Larry Oberly
50 cents
Allen Township residents voice Concerns over data centers
By KERI LINDENMUTH
Allen Township residents packed the Allen Township Municipal Building during the July 14 Board of Supervisors meeting. While no data center was on the agenda that evening, residents took the opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns about data centers, as neighboring communities continue to grapple with developers over the construction of these new facilities in the age of AI. In March, a one-million-squarefoot data center was approved at an existing warehouse at 2500 Liberty Drive in the township. The warehouse, owned by Prologis Lehigh Valley, was approved in 2016 and constructed in 2023. Prologis requested a change of use for the building from
a traditional warehouse to one that would provide "wholesale storage of electronic information," a use permitted in the property's industrial zoning district. With data centers on the agenda in multiple neighboring municipalities, residents used the public forum to share concerns about water usage, electricity rates and noise pollution. Resident Marc Steinberg asked supervisors whether electricity rates would increase. The township does not have control over what utility providers such as PPL charge, Supervisor Paul Link explained. However, in March, Prologis told supervisors it had already begun discussions with PPL, with the utility confirming that sufficient capacity
is available to power the building. A high-voltage line already serves the property, and electricity will be routed to a private substation that Prologis will build and maintain for the life of the building. Steinberg also asked whether well water would be affected by the water needed to cool the data processing equipment. Link explained that, as discussed during the March meeting, the equipment will be cooled using a "closed loop" system in which water is continuously recycled. Resident Kevin Klepeisz asked about the low-frequency noise the building could generate and its potential health effects. Continued on page 13
Lehigh Township to hire new Sergeant, refresh signage at parks Franklin building today. -Contributed photo by Larry Oberly and grandson attended the school and received a fine education from the dedicated teaching staff. The neighborhood has changed over the years, but older residents still remember the tolling of the school bell at 8:15 a.m., summoning the students to class, and the 8:30 a.m. bell, telling the students they were late. The daily sound of the ringing bell, happy students, dedicated teachers and staff are gone forever. They have become a cherished memory of the past.
By LAURA KLOTZ The Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors spent much of their July 14 meeting on proposed updates to the signage at township parks. Prior to the meeting, they held an executive session to interview candidates for the position of sergeant on the police force. Chief John Henry was authorized to extend an offer of employment to their chosen applicant. Brad Rock of Lehigh Engineering appeared before the board to represent Kristopher and Samantha Pastier, who were requesting approval of their plan for a lot line adjustment. He explained
that Kristopher Pastier and his father own the lots in question, and the current property line crosses through the driveway, so they are seeking to move the property line north to correct this issue. Township Engineer Michael Muffley confirmed that the Planning Commission has reviewed the request and recommended approval, conditional to some housekeeping issues. Supervisors agreed to grant this conditional approval and also granted a waiver regarding a required title report. The owner of the Wasko selfstorage project requested a sixmonth extension of time for plan
recording. Due to an unexpected increase in construction costs, the project was paused, and the owner is currently looking for someone to buy the project outright or to enter into a into partnership. The security posting will cost one million dollars, which is not an expense the owner is prepared Continued on page 16
85th Year, Issue No. 30 www.homenewspa.com
USPS 248-700
45 Years