The wonderful location of Easton, PA has long been a major part of its vibrant history and economic development. Two large rivers, the rapidly flowing Lehigh River and the vast, deeper Delaware River, meet in Easton. Settled in 1739 and founded in 1752, the location became an important military center during the Revolutionary War, and it was the site of a large military hospital.
Easton’s Long and Lively History
In 1776, the Centre Square, which is still a vibrant part of Easton, was the location of one of only three public readings of the Declaration of Independence in the country. Easton’s own George Taylor was one of the signers. His home in nearby Catasauqua was preserved, and in 1971, it was declared as a National Historic Landmark.
In the early 18th century and continuing for almost 150 years, this location along the river led to an economic boom. The Lehigh Canal, Delaware Canal, and Morris Canal were developed, leading to the relatively short, but very prosperous, Canal Age. Easton became the hub to transport coal from the “Coal Region” to the rest of the world. The canal systems were an incredible engineering feat at the time, and today, there is a national canal museum—called The Hugh Moore Historical Park & Museums—located at the fork between the Lehigh and Delaware rivers that wonderfully highlights the canal operations.
The canal era was replaced by the railroad industry by the mid-19th century, as the railroads were a much more efficient way to transport coal and iron ore. Easton continued to prosper, as it was the hub for five major railroads. In addition to transporting the new, high-demand fuel source, the railroads provided lucrative passenger travel services. One local railroad offered twice-daily runs to and from New York City and Buffalo from this Easton location. The advent of the automotive and airline industry in the mid-20th century led to the demise of the importance of Easton’s railroads, as the automobile and airplane eventually became the more popular method of passenger transportation. In addition, oil and gas were supplanting coal as the optimum choice for fuel, and the coal industry fell on hard times.
Easton’s Place in the Scenic Lehigh Valley
As with the other two cities (Allentown and Bethlehem) that make up the core of the Lehigh Valley, Easton has maintained some of its magnificent features of years past—while the downtown has seen a nice revitalization. The historic Grand Eastonian Hotel was built in the 1920’s as part of a movement by mid-sized cities to create landmark hotels as the crown jewel of downtown nightlife. Neighboring cities of Allentown and Bethlehem did exactly the same thing. The extravagant hotel, known for its interior construction and marvelous furnishings, became a local landmark and one of the premier places to stay for prominent guests. The hotel anchored the community and prospered for many years until it fell on hard times in the late-20th century and closed down. The great news is that it was acquired and renovated into both a hotel and condominiums while saving many of the historic features, restoring many elements of the original buildings, and retaining its original ornate elevator lobbies!
The magnificent Soldiers and Sailors Monument is another historic piece of Easton’s past. Built in 1900 to recognize Easton-area veterans killed during the Civil War, the monument is made of granite and stands 75 feet tall. The monument is located in the “Circle” in downtown Easton, at the intersection of two major streets. The Circle is known as the traffic hub and center of civic activity, and the area has become the epicenter of Easton’s revitalization, with many new restaurants and businesses opening or relocating there. People attending another famous, historic venue—the State Theatre that was built in 1910—are elated to have many wonderful restaurants to choose from.
The wonderful downtown, coupled with the natural beauty of the two rivers that flow through the city, will keep Easton prosperous for many, many years to come.
Simplify Your Move with Our Comprehensive Easton Moving and Storage Services
There are countless reasons to make a move in Easton, whether you are relocating closer to the vibrant downtown or upgrading your commercial facility. Whatever your reasons, you need to choose one of the local Easton moving companies to help you coordinate all the details of relocation—which is where O’Brien’s Moving & Storage comes in.
As a premier Easton mover, we offer award-winning services that cover:
- Residential: Relocating your home is always a big undertaking, but our team can provide start-to-finish solutions that minimize the stress of the process—at an affordable price!
- Commercial: The goal of our Easton movers is to keep your relocation on-budget and on-schedule, and we do that by delivering superior service and expert project management.
- Specialized: From hotels and colleges to medical laboratories and industrial facilities, we provide state-of-the-art services for transporting specialized equipment safely and efficiently.
- International: When you’re making a move around the world, we can make it an effortless experience with customs clearance, storage, and our global network of Allied moving resources.
- Storage: Our cost-effective storage plans cover short- and long-term needs, and you’ll know your items are safe in our fully secured, 72,000 square foot facility.
- Warehousing: Streamlining your supply chain is the first step towards maximizing your bottom line, and we offer warehousing services to support your growing company.
The Name You Can Trust for Experienced Movers in Easton, PA
When relocating in or around Easton, moving and storage services from an expert provider can make all the difference in your experience. O’Brien’s Moving & Storage has been around since 1928, and in that time, we have watched the area grow and evolve. We’re proud of our legacy as a trusted, BBB-accredited mover that is a long-term agent of Allied Van Lines—allowing us to handle any size move, anywhere in the country.
“Courteous and Dependable” is the mission our Easton moving company was founded on, and we go the extra mile to deliver a moving experience that is affordable, timely, and fully customized to your needs.
Learn More About Our Affordable Moving Services in Easton Today!
There may be several choices out there for movers in Easton, PA, but O’Brien’s Moving & Storage is the company that has been there every step of the way to deliver expert, budget-friendly moving solutions. Near or far, our team can take on any job and get you or your business safely to your next destination—just contact us today to get started! Call or fill out our online form now, and we’ll get you set up with a free, on-site quote and consultation.