There Goes History

With Sands BethWorks getting the slot machine license for Bethlehem, many were concerned about what it would mean for the steel factory. Lance Metz, of the National Museum in Easton, is concerned that as the 19th century steel buildings come down they will be losing a large portion of their history – not to mention the irreplaceable artifacts that are inside many of the buildings.

Metz says that there are things like an 1885 press and a gun from the USS Mississippi that are inside the buildings, and he is hoping that they will save those even if he can’t save the buildings themselves. The city says that the casino and the tearing down of about ten of the factory buildings will help with a redevelopment of the city. Locals are more concerned with history than with moving forward however.

The casino’s officials say that residents have nothing to worry about. Even though about ten of the buildings will come down, they will be keeping the other couple dozen. They will even be moving all of the artifacts from the buildings to a secure location. They say that there are armor plates tested by the military, a diesel locomotive, etc. all which are pieces of Bethlehem’s rich history.

They are also creating a large bridge made out of ore that will be the entrance to the slot machine casino, and with the lights that they are using, once people come they will walk across the bridge to see the five blast furnaces as their backdrop. They say it will be a magnificent and majestic sight.



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