Circling Centre Square At Christmastime ...

“It’s better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark, better far that you light just one little candle, all you need’s a tiny spark. If we’d all say a prayer that the world would be free, the wonderful dawn on the new day we’ll see, and if everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.”

 ~“One Little Candle”

 ~ recorded by Perry Como, 1952 and the theme song of “The Christophers,” whose motto is, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

Let the Christmas season begin! A charming horse-drawn carriage circles through Centre Square during the festive Winter Village November 28, 2020 in historic Easton, Pennsylvania. The base of the Easton Peace Candle that towers over the square can be seen at left, as wooden huts festooned for Christmas beckon shoppers to stop by.

Easton was established in 1752.

The Winter Village welcomed everyone to shop at cozy wooden huts featuring city retailers and restaurants, stroll around the circle enjoying treats and take a spin around the ice skating rink. Filled with the Christmas spirit, people could shop at Easton’s more than 30 downtown retailers in search of treasurers to place under the Christmas tree. The event welcomed visitors November 27 through December 31.

As part of Easton’s coronavirus economic recovery plan, the Winter Village features a synthetic ice rink and socially distant vendor huts for Christmas shopping.

The Easton Peace Candle is a tower-like structure erected every Christmas season in Easton. The approximately 106-foot tall structure, which resembles a giant candle, is assembled every year over the Soldier’s & Sailor’s Monument, a Civil War memorial in Centre Square. It is typically assembled in mid-November and lighted over Thanksgiving weekend and disassembled in early February each year.

The Peace Candle was first erected in 1951, and has been erected almost every year since then, having been replaced a few times due to damage or disrepair. It is dedicated to the Easton area men and women who have served or are serving in the United States armed forces.

It has been said to be the largest non-wax Christmas candle in the country. Although conceived with the hopes of restoring Easton’s pre-20^th century reputation for elaborate Christmas decorations, city officials also believed a candle would serve as a symbol of peace for all religions and denominations.

The General And His Steed ...

“Si monumentum requiris, circumspice.”

 (“If you seek his monument, look around.”)

  ~ Epitaph of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England, of which he was architect. The phrase is generally used to describe a person’s legacy – and can be taken to mean that what we leave behind (including intangible things like relationships) best represents our life.

General Harry C. Trexler looks majestic and stately on horseback as the beauty of a summer afternoon brushes this beautiful bronze statue of his image at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The statue depicts General Trexler on his horse, Jack 'O Diamonds.

I presented the image in sepia to enhance the nostalgic mood.

General Trexler (1854-1933) is the father of Allentown’s park system. He was an industrialist, agriculturist, philanthropist, conservationist and soldier. The park is his namesake.

During his lifetime, General Trexler contributed a great deal to the growth and quality of life in the City of Allentown and the surrounding County of Lehigh. 

This bronze statue of General Trexler was presented to the City of Allentown by his trustees Nolan P. Benner, William B. Butz, Joseph S. Young, Carl J.W. Hessinger and Richard E. White. It was commissioned January 16, 1979 and dedicated May 8, 1982.

General Trexler was a great man, and I’m personally very thankful to him, as Trexler Memorial Park and Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania are two of my very favorite places to be and to photograph.