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The public is invited to enjoy a new virtual tour:
From Past to Present: A Virtual Tour of Jewish Easton.
Easton, PA – The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society is pleased to announce a new virtual tour to the community. From Past to Present: A Virtual Tour of Jewish Easton has launched in time for Jewish American Heritage Month celebrations. The tour started May 1, 2022 and will permanently be offered as a virtual activity through NCHGS’ online platform.
In the 1650s, Dutchmen from New Amsterdam (present-day New York) were exploring the area that would become Northampton County. Among those explorers was a group of Jewish refugees from Brazil, who had made an agreement with the Dutch West India Company to stay and settle in New Amsterdam. This Brazilian group was the first established Jewish community in North America.
On November 29, 1655, three of those explorers – Abraham de Lucena, Salvator Dandrade, and Jacob Cohen – requested permission from the West India Company to travel and trade along the Delaware River. Although their request was denied, they were granted permission to send two others on a different expedition. This is where Easton’s Jewish history begins, and it has flourished ever since.
This twenty-two stop virtual tour will move in chronological order, encompassing Easton’s downtown area between Scott Park and Sixth Street. Exact addresses and/or approximate locations are provided, should you wish to walk through the sequence of tour stops. Citations, sources, and further reading material are provided at the end of the tour. Additionally, many sections are given short introductions to provide background context relevant to tour stops.
NCHGS Executive Director Megan van Ravenswaay, “We are thrilled to present this fascinating tour to our community. The Jewish American community is a critical part of Northampton County’s history and our future. We are especially pleased to offer the tour through our platform which will allow access to the information to people all over the world!”
From Past to Present: A Virtual Tour of Jewish Easton is available now. Access is free for NCHGS members and $10 per device for non-members. Visit www.NCHGSpa.org to log in.
Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society’s mission is to share the stories of Northampton County’s past to encourage personal reflection, community dialogue, and an understanding of history’s impact on our lives. Guests enjoy exhibitions at the Sigal Museum, accessing their genealogy or family history at the Jane S. Moyer Library and the NCHGS Archives, and dozens of programs, events, workshops, and tours at our three historic house properties: the Jacob Nicholas House, the Mixsell Illick House, and the Bachmann Publick House.We believe that by exploring local history, we will foster a more respectful, caring, and inclusive community.
Information Provided By:
Megan van Ravenswaay
Executive Director
Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society
https://sigalmuseum.org/
