The Home News
Your Local News
MARCH 13-19, 2025
Looking by Back Ed Pany Bath Portland Cement Company: Part 4 of 4
In today’s column we will be visiting Franks Corner. Mrs. Barbara Wiemann, historian of the Governor Wolf Historical Society and former librarian at the Easton Area Public Library, has thoroughly researched the history of Mr. Fred Franks, a titan in the Lehigh Valley cement industry. He resided on the corner of Nor-Bath Boulevard and Airport Road. Mrs. Wiemann has graciously allowed us to publish her research.
Fred Franks, from “Lehigh Valley Cement Industry” Franks Corner Recently, a lady living in Colorado called the [Governor Wolf Historical] Society to request information about Franks Corner and her childhood home at the corner of Nor-Bath Boulevard
and Airport Road. I sent her the Franks Corner information from “James and Linda Wright’s Place Names of Northampton County,” which says that the name is from the large white house at the northeast corner of Airport Road and Route 329, built by Fred Frantz, superintendent of Bath Portland Cement Company; Frantz was corrupted to Franks and the name dates from the circa 1930s. Wright cited the East Allen Township handbook as his source. Frantz and Franks I then decided to find some biographical information about Frederick J. Frantz, since he was named as a previous occupant of her home. However, census and draft records, as well as his obituary, proved that Frantz was a store keeper, retail merchant and Bethlehem Steel carpenter, not a cement company superintendent. A search of the Morning Call archives and various cement histories revealed that the cement superintendent and resident of the large home was Frederick Benjamin Franks, usually known as Fred. Fred B. Franks Over the course of his long life, Franks organized and built five cement companies in Northampton County. He was recognized Continued on page 4
50 cents
Moore Township Supervisors Swear in fire officers; Hear towing provider concerns
Klecknersville Rangers Vol. Fire Co. fire police officers were sworn in: (from left to right) Rafael Shkembi; Brian Radcliffe; Fire Police Lieutenant Ray Reeder; and Fire Police Captain Jason Harhart. By SAVANNAH BROWN Harhart; Fire Police Lieutenant as a family man and U.S. Army The Moore Township Board of Ray Reeder; Brian Radcliffe; and veteran, having served three comSupervisors met Tuesday, March 4 Rafael Shkembi. bat tours as an infantry officer. to discuss reports, field treatment Next, candidates running for of- Although Clark grew up in cenbids, an open space conservation ficial county positions introduced tral Pennsylvania, he moved to easement, the Green Light-Go themselves to the board and resi- Northampton County when he grant, issues with tax bills and lis- dents for the upcoming election. separated from the Army and has ten to concerns regarding towing Running for Northampton lived there for almost 20 years, providers. County Court of Common Pleas Continued on page 2 First, the following Kleckners- judge, Jeremy Clark is a local atville Rangers Volunteer Fire Com- torney and City of Easton solicitor Nazareth YMCA pany fire officers took their loyalty with 15 years of legal experience oath when swearing in: Engineer including criminal defense, conTown hall, Chris Hunt; Fire Lieutenant Sean sumer bankruptcy, estate planPage 11 Luddeni; Assistant Fire Chief ning, family law, civil litigation, Adam Heckman; Assistant Fire zoning and municipal law. Clark Chief Erik Resch; Assistant Fire stated that he valued his time as 84th Year, Issue No. 11 Chief Matt DePuy; Fire Chief both a court-appointed divorce www.homenewspa.com John Hofacker; and Fire Captain master for the county as well as Cody Henninger. court-appointed counsel for crimThe Klecknersville Rangers fire inal defendants that couldn’t afpolice officers that also took their ford to hire an attorney. loyalty oath when swearing in inClark’s website describes him USPS 248-700 cluded: Fire Police Captain Jason
200+ Sellers Under One Roof ALLENTOWN FAIRGROUNDS SUPERGIGANTICGARAGESALE.COM
AGRI-PLEX HALL
The Super Gigantic Garage Sale is a Ballantine Management Event. Questions? Call 407-854-2111