Mayors of Allentown, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Samuel McHose was the first mayor of Allentown. He started his job on May 19, 1867. He was born in 1816. McHose started a company that made fire bricks in 1854. He was against slavery in the 1850s. He even went to a big meeting in 1860 where Abraham Lincoln was chosen to run for president. As mayor, McHose helped the city grow its industries after the Civil War. He died in 1893.

Tilghman H. Good was born in 1830. He worked as a shoemaker and later managed a hotel. He was elected to the state government. When the Civil War started in 1861, he helped create Pennsylvania's volunteer army units. He led the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry for three years. He fought in battles in South Carolina and Louisiana. After the war, he became a hotel owner and worked in banking. He was elected mayor in 1869. He was elected again in 1874 after another mayor passed away. He died in 1887.

Theodore C. Yeager was the first mayor born in Allentown (in 1838). He went to medical school and became a doctor. During the Civil War, he helped as an assistant surgeon. He became mayor in 1873. He was known for being very good at his job and honest. Mayor Yeager passed away in January 1874 due to illness.

Herman Schuon was born in Germany in 1835. He came to Allentown when he was 16. He first worked in hotels, then opened a grocery store. He served in the Civil War. He was part of the City Council. When Mayor Yeager passed away, Schuon was appointed mayor to finish his term. He did not run for mayor again. He was also a founder of the Allentown Band. He died in 1912.

Edward B. Young was known as the "Centennial Mayor." He was born in Allentown in 1836. He fought in the Civil War, including the Battle of Gettysburg. He was involved in several businesses, including a hardware company and a heating and power company. He died in 1878, shortly after his term as mayor ended.

Alfred J. Martin was born in Allentown in 1837. He became a medical doctor. As mayor, he encouraged business growth. He also supported Civil War veterans and their families by providing medical care. After being mayor, he continued to be active in politics and healthcare. He died in 1896.

Edwin G. Martin was Alfred J. Martin's brother. He was also a medical doctor, born in 1836. He took over his father's medical practice. He was elected mayor in 1880 and again in 1882. He continued the good work started by his brother. He stepped down in 1884 to return to his medical practice. He died in 1893.

Edwin S. Shimer was born in 1832. He worked in dry goods and then started his own carpet business. He was elected mayor in 1884. His time as mayor was known for being very professional. The Allentown Police Force was seen as a model of efficiency. The city also grew, expanding west to 15th Street. He stepped down in 1886. He died in 1902.

Werner Knauss Rhue was born in Allentown in 1843. He was a veteran of the Civil War, fighting in battles like Gettysburg and Antietam. After the war, he worked for the Allentown Democrat newspaper, which his father published. He was also a volunteer firefighter and later Chief Engineer of the Allentown Fire Department. He was elected mayor in 1886 and served one term. He died in 1904.

Henry Willard Allison was born in Kentucky in 1846. He worked in the iron and coal industries. He moved to Allentown in 1875 and worked at the Allentown Rolling Mills. He was first elected mayor in 1888. During his term, streetcar service in downtown Allentown changed from horse-driven to electric. He served again from 1893 to 1896. His second term saw the Allentown business district expand. He died in 1913.

Samuel D. Lehr was born in Allentown in 1838. He worked in engineering and construction. He served as a Captain in the Civil War. After the war, he became the City's Chief Engineer. He was also a Colonel in the Pennsylvania militia. He was elected mayor in 1890. During his term, new train stations were built in Allentown. He resigned in 1893 to work in private engineering. He died in 1915.

Fred Ewing Lewis was the first person to be mayor of Allentown three times. He was born in Allentown in 1865. He became a lawyer and a bank president. He was first elected mayor in 1896. He was re-elected in 1902. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives. His third term as mayor was during the Great Depression (1932–1936). He died in 1949.

James L. Schaadt was born in 1856. He was a lawyer and a teacher. He served in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was elected mayor in 1899. During his term, the Soldier's and Sailor's Civil War monument was built. Telephone and electricity services expanded. New fire stations were also built. He worked to make sure police appointments followed fair rules. He died in 1924.

Alfred J. Yost was born in 1870. He became a medical doctor. He was elected mayor in 1905. He is best known for helping to develop West Park, which was Allentown's first public park. He believed the city needed more green spaces for people to enjoy. Mayor Yost passed away while in office in 1907.

Charles D. Schaeffer was born in 1864. He was a doctor and president of the Allentown Board of Health. He was chosen to be mayor after Mayor Yost's health declined. During his time as mayor, he focused on improving the Allentown Hospital Nursing College. He also worked on plans to improve the city's public water supply. He died in 1923.

Harry G. Stiles was born in Allentown in 1856. He went to Harvard University and became a lawyer. He was elected District Attorney of Allentown. He also served in the Pennsylvania State Senate. He was elected Mayor of Allentown in 1908. He passed away in office in November 1908, after serving for 10 months.

Henry Herbert Herbst was born in 1858. He became a medical doctor. He was appointed mayor after Harry G. Stiles passed away. During his term, he continued plans for the Allentown Water Works. He also expanded the public school system. After being mayor, he did a lot of work for the Allentown School District. An elementary school was named after him. He died in 1911.

Charles O. Hunsicker was born in Allentown in 1878. He became a lawyer. In 1909, at age 31, he was elected Mayor of Allentown. He was the youngest mayor in the city's history. Hunsicker was also a real estate developer. He built over 1,000 homes in the city, especially in the West End. An elementary school was named after him. He died in 1941.

Charles W. Rinn was born in 1868. He worked in the wholesale meat business. He was elected mayor in 1911. During his term, Allentown became a "Third-Class City" in Pennsylvania. This led to a new city government structure. Rinn reorganized the Allentown Police and Fire departments. He also helped build Hanover Avenue, a main road into the city. The city's first sewage system was built under his leadership. He died in 1920.

Alfred L. Reichenbach was born in Allentown in 1860. He was the city treasurer for 24 years. He was mayor during World War I. He loved flowers and encouraged planting floral displays downtown. He helped renovate Hamilton Street, moving power lines underground. He also worked to restore Trout Hall and pave city streets. He helped create a modern Allentown Ambulance Service. He designed the current Allentown City Flag. He died in 1920.

Malcolm W. Gross was mayor of Allentown for four terms, totaling 16 years. He was born in Allentown in 1872 and became a lawyer. His first term began in 1920. During the 1920s, Gross worked to create Allentown's park system. He developed the Allentown Rose Garden and bought land for Little Lehigh Parkway. He also expanded the Allentown Airport. He served a fourth term from 1936 to 1940. He helped the city get money for projects during the Great Depression. These projects created jobs. The Allentown Rose Garden was later renamed in his honor. He died in 1944.

George F. Erich was born in Allentown in 1899. He was a successful coal and building supply dealer. As mayor, he supported public housing and improving older buildings. He started a program to repave streets. He also helped organize metal scrap drives and war bond sales during World War II. Several defense contracts came to Allentown during his term. He died in 1947.

Brighton C. Diefenderfer was born in Allentown in 1902. He was elected Alderman at a young age. He was first elected mayor in 1944. During his term, the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton (ABE) Airport opened a new terminal. He helped the city move from wartime industry to peacetime growth. He also oversaw Cold War air raid drills and the creation of Civil Defense shelters. Industrial development expanded in southwest Allentown. He died in 1982.

Donald V. Hock was born in 1910. He was a lawyer and a veteran of World War II. He was elected mayor in 1947. He helped create a wage tax for Allentown. He also started a system for parking enforcement. He worked to develop Queen City Airport. In 1957, he helped expand Allentown's St. Patrick's Day parade into a citywide event. New high schools and junior high schools were built during his terms. He died in 1986.

John T. "Jack" Gross was born in Allentown in 1909. He was the son of former mayor Malcolm W. Gross. He was elected mayor in 1959. During his time, an industrial park was developed at Queen City Airport. The Fourth Street Urban Renewal Project began, which led to new city buildings. Allentown was named an "All-America City" in 1963. He worked to keep Mack Trucks in Allentown. He also started studies to turn downtown Hamilton Street into a pedestrian shopping area. He passed away while in office in 1964.

F. Willard Harper was born in 1928. He was appointed mayor by the city council after John Gross passed away. During his 15 months as mayor, he saw the completion of several projects started by Mayor Gross. These included redeveloping the Allentown Wire Mill area. A new junior high school was also built. He died in 1981.

Raymond B. Bracy was born in 1901. He was a city councilman before becoming mayor in 1966. During his term, Allentown worked to encourage equal rights for all citizens. He helped complete the citywide sewer service. He also expanded public housing and established the Allentown Human Relations Commission. He started changes to the city government's rules. He retired from politics in 1969. He passed away in 1983.

Clifford S. J. "Chips" Bartholomew was born in Allentown in 1904. He was the first "Strong Mayor" under the new city government rules (1970). Before becoming mayor, he was a teacher, counselor, and principal in the Allentown School District for 43 years. As mayor, the city started a 911 emergency system. The police department got a K-9 (dog) unit. A citywide newspaper recycling program began. His most lasting achievement was turning Hamilton Street into the "Hamilton Mall." This project made the area a large shopping space for walkers. He died in 1999.

Joseph S. Daddona was mayor of Allentown for four terms over two different periods. He was born in Allentown in 1933. He served on the city council before becoming mayor in 1973. His achievements included introducing 911 dialing and the first waste-recycling programs. New parks and fire stations were built. Allentown received its second "All-America City" award in 1975 during his term. He returned to office in 1981. He worked to turn an old factory into "Lehigh Landing," a park and museum complex. He retired in 1994 and later hosted local TV and radio shows. He died in 2004.

Frank R. Fischl was born in Allentown in 1926. He graduated from West Point and served in the United States Air Force. He flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. He received many awards for his bravery. Fischl became mayor in 1978. He worked to bring new businesses to Allentown by offering tax breaks. This helped develop properties and boost the economy. He did not seek a second term. He died in 2016.

William L. Heydt was born in Allentown in 1938. He owned an insurance agency. He was elected mayor in 1993 and re-elected in 1997. He worked to help the city's economy grow. He helped renovate the former Hess Brother's building. He also started the "Lights in the Parkway" Christmas display. He helped turn a vacant building into a college campus for Lehigh-Carbon Community College. During his term, the canopies of the Hamilton Mall were removed.

Roy C. Afflerbach was born in Allentown in 1945. He was a former Pennsylvania State Senator. He was elected mayor in 2001. Early in his term, he reorganized the Allentown Police Department. New contracts were made with the police and fire departments. This caused financial difficulties for the city. He proposed laying off city employees to balance the budget. He did not run for re-election.

Edwin E. "Ed" Pawlowski was mayor of Allentown for four terms. He was born in Chicago in 1965 and moved to Allentown in 2000. Before becoming mayor, he worked in community and economic development for the city. He was first elected mayor in 2005. He was re-elected three more times. Pawlowski resigned in March 2018 due to serious legal issues. After his resignation, Roger MacLean and then Ray O'Connell served as interim mayors.

Ray O'Connell was born in Allentown in 1949. He worked in the Allentown School District for many years as a teacher, principal, and director. In 2009, he was elected to the Allentown City Council and became council president. After Mayor Pawlowski's resignation, O'Connell was chosen as interim mayor in March 2018. He was later elected to fill the rest of Pawlowski's term. His main goal was to restore trust in the city government. He also raised property taxes to help the city's finances. His term was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was defeated in the 2021 primary election.

Matt Tuerk was born in Pennsylvania in 1975. He comes from a Cuban-American family. He received his MBA degree in 2004. In 2008, Tuerk started working for the Allentown Economic Development Corporation. He later joined the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. In 2020, he decided to run for mayor. He won the election in 2021. Matt Tuerk is the city's first Latino mayor.