Altonah
Former Village
Etymology: all too near
Altonah is located in Pennsylvania
Altonah
Altonah
Altonah is located in the United States
Altonah
Altonah
Coordinates: 40°39′25″N 75°21′22″W / 40.65682903045693°N 75.35622773495402°W / 40.65682903045693; -75.35622773495402
CountryUnited States
State Pennsylvania
County Northampton
Absorbed into Bethlehem1904–1920

Altonah was a former village in Northampton County, Pennsylvania located one mile north of the then borders of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The village's name is a corruption of the German phrase "all zu nähe", translated as "all too near", referencing its close proximity to Bethlehem and the fact that the village was inhabited by German settlers.[1]

History

19th century

On September 5, 1832 Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied rode through Altonah during his travels from Mauch Chunk to Nazareth and noted that the village used to have a large Moravian population.[2]

In 1877, the village consisted of 16 dwellings.[3]

In 1895, a post office was opened near where the village was located. The post office was initially going to be named Altonah, in reference to the village, but was instead named Macada and become the center of a village in its own right.[4]

20th century

Altonah was annexed by Bethlehem, Pennsylvania during its consolidation effort between 1904 and 1920 along with Macada, Hottlesville, and Shimersville were similarly annexed.[5] The only remaining reference to the village is Altona Road in Bethlehem.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Rehm, Jason. "THE STREETS OF BETHLEHEM". lvpnews.com. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Philipp Maximilian, Alexander (1833). The North American Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 148–149. ISBN 0806185988. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ↑ FRITTS, PETER (1877). HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. p. 238. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Bethlehem's Best General Store to be demolished". The Morning Call. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Grygiel, Phillips Preiss. "Preservation Plan for the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania" (PDF). bethlehem-pa.gov. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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