Color In The Grey Of Winter ...

“The beauty of things must be that they end.”

   ~ Jack Kerouac

      ~ 1922-1969

It’s a moment frozen in time in the soft stillness in the grey of winter, as three orange balls on the water briefly deliver a pop of color in this abstract image I captured in early March along the Ironton Rail Trail, which loops more than nine miles through Whitehall Township, the Borough of Coplay and North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania.

The Ironton Railroad was a shortline railroad in Lehigh County. Originally built in 1861 to haul iron ore and limestone to blast furnaces along the Lehigh River, traffic later shifted to carrying Portland Cement when local iron mining declined in the early 20^th century. Much of the railroad had already been abandoned when it became part of Conrail in 1976, and the last of its trackage was removed in 1984.

 

In 1996, Whitehall Township purchased 9.2 miles of the right-of-way from Conrail, transforming it into the Ironton Rail Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Cupcakes In Centre Square ...

 “Life is as sweet as a cupcake.”

         ~ author unknown

Patrons may sweeten their Christmas at Sweet Girlz Bakery’s wooden hut at the festive Winter Village in Centre Square November 28, 2020 in historic Easton, Pennsylvania, a Delaware River Town. The Easton Peace Candle, not seen in this shot, towers over Centre Square as wooden huts festooned for Christmas beckon shoppers to stop by.

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 greeted visitors November 27 through December 31.

Just across the Delaware River from historic Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Easton was founded in 1752 and is located at the confluence of the Delaware River and Lehigh River.

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.