In this column, we will be remembering some news stories from 1956. One of my neighbors discovered old newspapers while working in his basement. The major international story in the newspaper takes us back to the Cold War.

After World War II, the Soviet Union seized countries in Eastern Europe. In 1956, the Cold War was a continuing source of tension between the West and the Soviet Union.

The Soviets said they would cut their armed forces by more than a million men, and they called on the United States and Britain to follow their example. Many of the Western nations doubted the sincerity of the Soviets. At the time, the Soviet military totaled close to 5 million men.

In 1956, there was a race between the U.S. and Soviets for nuclear superiority. The U.S. was preparing for hydrogen bomb tests. The bomb was many more times powerful than an atomic bomb. The U.S. tested the bomb at the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. The bomb was dropped by a B52 bomber.

Fortunately, the bomb has never been used in any conflict.

Nationally, 1956 was also a presidential election year. The Democrats nominated Adlai Stevenson, former governor of Illinois. He had also been the Democratic candidate in the presidential election in 1952. The Republicans nominated President Dwight Eisenhower who was seeking a second term in office.

Eisenhower had been the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. A popular president, his election slogan was, “I Like Ike.” He easily won a second term.

During his term, the government created a national highway system. This was a boom for our local cement industry as they produced record amounts of cement for the highway system, which made travel easier to various parts of the country.

Locally, in the Lehigh Valley just as today, there was a demand for affordable housing. There were several building projects in the area. This writer remembers when Mann Homes Inc. was selling houses in Echo Hills, Fullerton.

The Seville model had a full basement, garage and an 85-foot-by-110-foot deep lot at the price of $14,490. Veterans could purchase a home there for $295 down and $83.84 a month. A nonveteran could get a home for $2,195 down and $79.51 a month. They also sold a low-cost rancher style for $9,990 with $950 down and $58.88 a month. Also, an El Dorado model was at $11,490.

These prices seem very low, but so were wages. Let’s compare these home prices with the current housing market. A few blocks from my home in Northampton I have seen homes sold for $400,000 and $500,000. The average price for a home today in the Lehigh Valley is more than $300,000.

To furnish your new home in 1956, the Eastern Light Company at 526 Hamilton St., was selling a four-piece bedroom suite for $147.86 or a three-piece Lawson Suite for $166.68. But why shop in Allentown when Northampton had two furniture stores on Main Street, Roth Brothers Furniture and Northampton Home Furnishers. This writer remembers when former Mayor John Daumer was a very successful salesman at Home Furnishers. He gave customers a smile and fair price for all their purchases.

Other local news events included two strikes in the Valley in 1956. Two hundred and fifty members of the United Cement Lime and Gypsum Workers Union were on strike against Coplay Cement Company. In Palmerton, the United Steel Workers were also on strike at New Jersey Zinc Company.

The zinc company was the major employer in the Palmerton area with an East and West plant. Both the Coplay Cement Company, New Jersey Zinc Company and United Cement Lime and Gypsum Workers have passed from the scene.

See you in two weeks!