1964 Schnecksville, Pennsylvania | Then and Now

1964 Schnecksville was quite different from what it is today. At that time the village was surrounded by farms and farmland, and many barns still could be found within the village. Clothing hung from washlines (even in winter), and Trexler Orchards reached up to Schnecksville Elementary School. The lone business beyond the north end of town was Ray's Men's Shop. There were no stoplights in Schnecksville-in fact, you could drive from Neffs to Route 22 without encountering any stoplights at all! It was a simpler and less hurried time, which some still remember with great fondness. Many thanks to the Baer family for sharing these two wonderful aerial shots of long-ago Schnecksville. The photos were taken on a winter afternoon on a school day.
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The immigrant Adam Schneck (1718-1794), came to this area in 1757 and aquired 271 acres just north of the present-day village. The village of Schnecksville was founded in 1840, or possibly earlier, by Daniel Schneck (1794-1860), a grandson of the immigrant Adam Schneck. Daniel owned a brickmaking factory for 20 years, supplying the brick for the early houses in Schnecksville. He laid out town lots and built a nucleus of around 10 brick houses. European settlement of this area originally began in the 1740s-1750s when Lutheran and Reformed German-speaking immigrants from southwest Germany, Alsace, and Switzerland arrived to claim land. Most were farmers, and they spoke a dialect commonly called Pennsylvania Dutch. (Old Order Mennonites and Amish people are the primary speakers of the dialect today.) This northern part of Lehigh County retained its rural character and its Pennsylvania Dutch identity up through the 1970s, with the dialect still in common use at that time among many older people. Today, some family farms remain, however, a significant portion of the landscape has been transitioned from agricultural use to housing, businesses, and stores. The Trexler Nature Preserve is located in Schnecksville and consists of 1,100 acres of pristine wilderness along the Jordan Creek. The 29-acre Lehigh Valley Zoo, home to 125 species of animals, is located in the Nature Preserve. Schnecksville is also the home of Lehigh Carbon Community College and Crystal Spring Farm, a fourth-generation dairy farm with a retail store.

[@loisxander6321]

Thank you once again .I always enjoy your videos.

[@sallykershaw4837]

Great video. Brought back some memories. Recognize some of the places.

[@annettejones4902]

Enjoyed this video. My parents grew up and lived around theSchnecksville area and our house which was built by my grandfather Mark Hamm was located between Stuber's store and Parkland Beverage. We moved from the house around 1964 and My grandmother Pauline lived there many years until moving into a home on Sand Springs Rd I think. I was very little but remember the area. My older brother and sister went to Schnecksville school. My great grandmother was a Bittner and I believe i remember visiting her as a child in one of the brick homes you showed further up on main street.My Dad was Sherwood Hamm and my Mom is named Catherine who at 95 has many stories about growing up in the area. We have relatives still living in Coplay and Bethlehem and surrounding areas. So good to see my Grammy 's house still is a home. My Dad's family was Pennsylvania Dutch. My great aunt and uncle were Geigers and had a large farm on the road going towards New Tripoli. My Mom's family were Bobersky's.Weused to travel from NY and then NC to visit family. My father passed in 2016 but I wish he could have seen your video and all the many changes. Thanks again. I wonder if your Dad may have known mine.......😊.

[@darleneschneck]

Hi Annette! I talked to my dad this afternoon and yes, he remembers your grandparents. My dad went to school with your aunt Anna Mae, and remembers her very well. Our family knows her daughter, Michelle. My dad vaguely remembers your dad (older than my dad?) Thanks for watching and commenting, we enjoyed hearing from you!

[@CarolynGeorge-ui5rm]

Darlene...you have gone and out done yourself once again on making this awesome video..the music you chose is so soothing..yes, the '60 and early '70's were a much simplier time it was like "Cheers" everybody knew your name ..it breaks my heart to hear someone has to "sell the farm"

[@darleneschneck]

thank you, I know what you mean. How wonderful though that we remember and lived through those times.

[@Jacknife1964]

Dank da

[@dony.9014]

Great video and good music but would have been much better if your father was narrating along with the music. Lol. Thank-you

[@darleneschneck]

lol that’s hysterical and my dad will be flattered!! 😂