EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of our recurring series: Lehigh Valley 250th — a project that examines our region's place and contributions in American history leading up to the nation's 250th anniversary next year.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — This is part two of an interview with Prof. Scott Gordon of Lehigh University. Gordon is professor of English and a scholar of the Colonial and post-Colonial history of the Lehigh Valley.
Speaking recently with WLVR’s Brad Klein, Gordon explained how the American Revolution changed the city of Bethlehem, and its Moravian founders.
He said that the Moravians had to loosen their focus on purely religious matters, and accommodate themselves to the demands of the Continental Army. The revolution led to greater interaction with the ‘outside world’ for the religious group.
Gordon adds that many artifacts of the 18th century remain visible and in active use in Historic Bethlehem to this day. That includes buildings and burial sites that contain the remains of hundreds of soldiers who died from their wounds in battle.
The West Bethlehem Revolutionary War memorial at Market Street and First Avenue marks the site where many of those casualties were interred.
Listen to the interview by using the audio player above (just below the headline).