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MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2026
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Northampton Borough by Ed Pany Seeks to Proactively Address Atlas Memories: Data centers Jim O’Donnell Today we will be remembering spending some time in bed withWith future some old stories from the Atlas out seeing a doctor he returned to Portland Company as work wanting to keep his job to Ordinance told to thisCement writer by the former support his family.
Looking Back
one of several commemorations held throughout the Northampton area on the morning of May 25. The ceremony, typically held outdoors at Allen Union Cemetery, was moved inside because of the rain. The sound of the Tri-Community Marching Band echoed throughout the nave as members
By KERI LINDENMUTH As data centers become a growing topic of discussion at community meetings across eastern Pennsylvania, Northampton Borough Council is seeking to proactively address the increasing demand for these facilities by preparing a zoning ordinance. “There are some things that are not addressed in our current ordinance, specifically data centers,” Borough Solicitor Stephanie Steward said during the May 21 Northampton Borough Council meeting. “It is my recommendation that we move forward and pass an ordinance that specifically regulates data centers.” Steward has already drafted an ordinance for review by Borough Manager Brian Welsko and council members. The process to adopt a zoning ordinance is a multi-part one, but
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2026 Memorial Day Parade - Photo by Gregory Morgan Photography.
Northampton honors Fallen service members During Memorial Day Ceremony By KERI LINDENMUTH While rainy weather may have dampened beach days and barbecues over Memorial Day weekend, it did not stop Northampton County from honoring the true spirit of the day. In Northampton Borough, residents gathered inside Grace United Church of Christ for the annual Memorial Day service,
Jim O’Donnell of Catasauqua. Jim’s father heard the Atlas Portland Cement Company was building a new cement plant in Northampton. The year was 1895. Jim’s father walked to Northampton and was hired at $2 a day, which was good money at the time. There, he met hundreds of men who spoke languages he could not understand. These voices were from immigrants who came to America wanting to work. The employees worked 12-hour shifts. During the construction of Plant 2, Jim’s father worked on a wall 20 feet in height. He fell and was badly bruised. He asked to be taken home, so he was placed in a horse drawn wagon. A few feet before he arrived home, he told the driver to stop, he struggled out of the wagon and walked into the house. He told Jim he did not want to upset Jim’s mother. After
Jim was also hired to work at the Atlas. He said he especially remembered the horses pulling stones from the quarries and ashes from the boiler houses. Jim was assigned to the kiln building as a laborer. The heat in the building during the summer was above 100 degrees. Jim told the story, “My mother packed me a large lunch, usually five sandwiches. One day, the butcher who came to our homes in a horse driven wagon told my mother to try a new product called spiced ham. She packed Continued on page 3
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