Macada, Pennsylvania Explained

Macada
Settlement Type:Former Village
Etymology:Macadam
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Label:Shimersville
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2: Northampton
Coordinates:40.6568°N -75.3562°W
Established Title:Best's General Store opens
Established Date:1889
Founder:William H. Best
Extinct Title:Absorbed into Bethlehem
Extinct Date:1904-1920
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Density Km2:auto

Macada was a former village in Northampton County, Pennsylvania located adjacent to Bethlehem. The village was initially a loosely defined farming community across the entire northern border of the borough until 1889 when William H. Best opened a general store which became the de-facto village center.[1]

History

In 1895, William H. Best's general store also operated as a post office.[2] The village was geographically close to Altonah, with the exact borders between the two villages being poorly defined. When Best chose to name his post office he initially wanted to name it after the older and more established Altonah, however, he decided that the name was too similar to Altoona.

At the same time, Nazareth Pike was being paved with macadam, so Best named the village Macada.[3] The village was annexed by Bethlehem during its consolidation effort between 1904 and 1920; Altonah and Hottlesville, Pennsylvania also were similarly annexed.[4]

Best's general store remained open until 1982 when it no longer became profitable. The lot remained abandoned until 2015 when a pre-school, the Lightbridge Academy, was built on its site.[5] The only remaining trace of Macada today is Macada Street.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rehm . Jason . THE STREETS OF BETHLEHEM . lvpnews.com . 16 October 2023 . 11 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230711020312/https://www.lvpnews.com/20200807/the-streets-of-bethlehem-2/ . live .
  2. Web site: WILLIAM H. BEST . . 16 October 2023 . 22 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022044149/https://www.mcall.com/1994/03/23/william-h-best/ . live .
  3. Web site: Bethlehem’s Best General Store to be demolished . . 16 October 2023 . 22 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022043045/https://www.mcall.com/2014/02/01/bethlehems-best-general-store-to-be-demolished/ . live .
  4. Web site: Grygiel . Phillips Preiss . Preservation Plan for the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania . bethlehem-pa.gov . 13 October 2023 . 22 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022044153/https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/CityOfBethlehem/media/DCED-Media-Library/PlanningZoning/CommunityPlans/Preservation_Plan_2011.pdf . live .
  5. Web site: Radzievich . Nicole . Pre-school, personal care facility OK'd for 'Besty's' property in Bethlehem . . 16 October 2023 . 22 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022173741/https://www.baltimoresun.com/mc-bethlehem-best-general-store-project-20151008-story.html . live .