Having only lived in Bethlehem for a little over 20 years, I can't claim to have seen all the many changes that have transformed the landscape, both natural and built, of our little town. I often ask folks, especially those that have lived here all their lives, "what are some of the biggest changes you've experienced?" I've heard about when Delaware Avenue in Elsmere was two lanes with large homes and shady trees (it is now a busy four lane mix of mostly business with a few homes holding out.) I've heard about teenage romance at the roller rink at Sporthaven (now Peter Harris in Delmar). I've heard of the days when hobos from the railroad knew where to get a sandwich from a sympathetic housewife in Selkirk (do we still have hobos?). I've heard of the flood of commuters getting off at Delmar Station and walking home (now we've got a wonderful rail trail.)
Seeing the Newell's barn on Wemple Road come down is one more change in a long, long series. History, after all is the biography of change.
Tom and Val Newell have been part of my family's life for a long time, especially when our kids were younger. Family cookouts, hayrides, horses, pigs and turkeys. The smell of hay and manure. Sweat covered kids and kickball. Sunsets, hawks and coyotes. Good memories, good times. Seeing the barn come down and the houses go up makes me sad, but time marches on and change is inevitable. An end of an era.
Tom was kind enough to share a few old photos of Sandy Creek Farm. Enjoy.
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| The barn as it looked just before it came down. (Spotlight) |
PS: If you are interested, head on over to the Spotlight and search on Sandy Creek Farm for some recent articles. http://spotlightnews.com/towns/bethlehem/2016/04/19/sandy-creek-farm-under-development/
Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.
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