New Bethlehem

My home town is New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is located about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh. Local small towns are Distant and Hawthorn. It has an area of one half of a square mile and a population of about 1,000 people. I live just outside of town, away from all of the buildings and people. My house is nestled between beautiful lush green hills and forest. New Bethlehem is very small and closely knit. It is an old railroad town, though recently the railroad tracks were taken out and made into a walking trail. The railroad had been built to navigate through the mountains and was often used to haul coal or even people. There is also evidence that Indians once inhabited the area along the creek. A local archaeologist uncovered artifacts including pottery at a site called Fishbasket which is just out of town. New Bethlehem is made up of working class people. My town is very friendly. I love being able to go to town and see familiar faces.

New Bethlehem is located in a valley and completely surrounded by rolling hills. Redbank Creek runs along the side of the town and sets the border for Armstrong and Clarion Counties. A new dam was recently constructed so fish can swim up the creek instead of being stopped at the dam. Mainly there are single family homes, but there is one high-rise. People earn their livings in a variety of different occupations. New Bethlehem offers jobs in everything from offices to factories.

On Sunday mornings the streets are parked full of cars and people going to church. There are four churches total. I would consider my town to be very religious. After church many people will meet at one of our four main restaurants for Sunday lunch. Also, the people in my town love Friday night football games. A big crowd always comes to watch the Redbank Valley Bulldogs play. When tragedy strikes one family, much of the town will be there for them to offer condolences. Recently our bridge that crosses over Redbank Creek was dedicated to a service man, Joey Garrison, who was killed in Iraq. My town is very supportive of our service men and women and is very patriotic.

New Bethlehem is home to a Smucker’s Peanut Butter factory that was built in 1946. Whenever they roast the peanuts you can smell it in the air anywhere in town. Because of the factory, we also hold our Peanut Butter Festival every year in the fall. There is a parade and then rides, food stands, and crafting tables are set up in our local park.

In July of 1996 a dam broke in North Fork and sent an eighteen foot wall of water cascading down the creek. Once it got to New Bethlehem much of the town was forced underwater. Our bridge withstood the turbulent waters and houses crashing into it but was replaced in 1998.  People had to be rescued off the roof of the high school. Luckily school hadn’t started yet, but it had to be delayed that year. It took over a year in some places for people to recover and continue life the way it had been before the flood. The town has moved on since then, but on the Miller’s Auto Body building there is still a high water mark so that people will never forget.

In my opinion, New Bethlehem is the perfect small town. What makes the town perfect is not only the town itself but the wonderful people who inhabit it. The majority of the citizens are very friendly and supportive of one another. I love New Bethlehem and wouldn’t have wanted to grow up in any other town or city.