Schoenersville, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Schoenersville is a small suburban village in Pennsylvania. It's a special place because it's split between two different counties: Lehigh County and Northampton County. Both parts of the village are located in areas called Hanover Township and Hanover Township.
You say "Schoenersville" like "SHOO-nerz-vil." This village is part of a larger area known as the Lehigh Valley. This metropolitan area is home to over 860,000 people. It's one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the United States.
Contents
The Story of Schoenersville
How the Village Got Its Name
Schoenersville is named after its very first settler, a man named Adam Schoener. He started a farm here in 1784. Adam's father, Heinrich, came to America in 1717 from a place called Ehrstadt in Germany.
The Famous Blue Ball Tavern
A long time ago, a special place called the "Blue Ball" tavern opened in the area. A tavern was like an inn or a restaurant where travelers could stop and rest. It might have been named for a blue ball sign that meant "no rooms available," or it could have been a signal for stagecoaches.
Adam Schoener and his wife built a brick house near Christ's Church. This church is the oldest religious building in Hanover Township. The Blue Ball tavern was a very important stop for people traveling between Mauch Chunk and Philadelphia. It was a good place to rest during a long journey.
There are different stories about when the Blue Ball tavern first opened. Some say Adam Schoener started it in 1794. Others believe a man named Jacob Clader opened it earlier, in 1776, and then sold it to Adam in 1791. After Adam Schoener passed away in 1849, his son, Thomas Schoener, took over the tavern. He later sold it in 1852.
Changes to the Blue Ball Tavern
In 1896, a newspaper reported that the original Blue Ball tavern was taken down. A man named E.R. Benner, who worked for the village, planned to build his family home there. However, another local place called the Schoenersville Inn claimed it was the original Blue Ball. This inn stayed open for many years, until 1988.
The Airport's Impact on Schoenersville
The Lehigh Valley International Airport is located very close to Schoenersville. From the early 1990s to 2004, the airport needed more space. They bought and cleared 11 properties in the village, covering about 35 acres. This was done to follow rules from the FAA for a safe runway area.
One of the buildings that was taken down was a clothing store called Partridge in a Pear Tree. It had been open since 1979, and the building itself was built in 1868. Some people in the village tried to get the building recognized as a historical landmark. However, the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission said no. They explained that the building had been changed too many times over the years and no longer had enough historical importance.
Where Schoenersville Is Located
Schoenersville Road is a main road that runs through the village. It goes from the northwest to the southeast. This road also acts as the county line, dividing Lehigh County from Northampton County. Schoenersville Road connects with Airport Road, which is also known as Route 987. After this intersection, Schoenersville Road changes its name to Weaversville Road.
The village of Schoenersville uses two different ZIP Codes. Part of it uses the Allentown ZIP Code of 18109, and the other part uses the Bethlehem ZIP Code of 18017.
