The Kalmbach Legacy
Frederick Kalmbach Sr. was a man with a vision who wanted to share his ideals of patriotism and his love of nature with the citizens of Macungie and the surrounding community. He was born in Altensteig, Germany on August 10, 1879. Early in life, he developed a talent as a tool and instrument maker working for various firms in Germany, Switzerland, and France. This technical ability, and a meticulous attention to detail, would later be his passport to success. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 25 and further developed his tool making profession at the Goertz Optical Company in New York City. Three years later he founded the General Machine Company of New York. In 1907, he became the sole owner and president. Company activities were directed towards developing various technical applications based on clients individual needs.
Then in 1922, a major breakthrough occurred when the company contracted to produce an automatic anthracite coal stoker marketed under the name of Electric Furnace Man (EFM).
These stokers revolutionized the coal heating industry because of their self feeding automatic ash removal system. The idea worked so well that subsequent research and increasing orders necessitated almost complete curtailment of the company's other activities. Soon EFM was producing almost half of all automatic coal stokers produced in this country and was becoming too large for it's operation in New York City. By 1940, the company needed to own and operate its own foundry and after a short search for a new location, the business was moved to the vacant Zollinger-Schroth Silk Mill in Emmaus, PA.
On July 29, 1941, Fred Kalmbach Sr. bought a twenty-acre tract in Macungie, part of the John Singmaster farm along Cotton Alley, where he resided until his death on July 31, 1953. As a businessman, he was direct and practical, keeping detailed records of even the slightest expenditure; but in his personal life, Fred's benevolence overflowed with purchases and gifts made for the enjoyment of others. In Macungie, Fred was able to relax amidst the pleasant natural surroundings at his home of which he wrote reveal the omnipotence of our Creator.
Go to kalmbachpark.com for more information.
Police identify Selkirk body
SELKIRK -- The body found in the Hamlet of Selkirk on Sunday has been confirmed by fingerprints to be that of George W. Flannery Jr., 46, by the Bethlehem Police Department. Flannery was reported missing by his sister in July of this year, with the last known contact by family in March.According to police, he maintained a transient lifestyle with ties to West Virginia and the Capital Region.The woods off Route 9W at Maple Avenue were closely guarded by police at the beginning of this week, but for as many as six months, police say a body lay alone here across from Carla Martins' nursery. Extremely surprised and shocked, Martins said. Never thought we would see that right in this area.Police say two people were walking along 9W Sunday around 6:30 p.m. when they discovered the body here. Folks we spoke to in the area say even though this is a busy road, they often see people walking back and forth here.There are a lot of transient people moving around here, said John Scott. It's possible, with the railroad nearby, that it's someone we don't know.It is unclear if this place meant anything to the deceased.Matthew Kozakiewicz works at the nursery near the scene and told CBS6, there's an old house crumbling down over the past couple of years, people who look like they're picking metal back there.One identifying mark -- a tattoo of a heart on the man's left bicep. It reads George loves Linda.Bethlehem Police identify the remains as those of a white man between forty and sixty years old. He had reddish-gray facial hair and stood between 55 and 59. The man wore black size nine VANS sneakers with tan hospital socks. He wore LL Bean jeans, 37x29 size measurements. Also found near the body were an extra-large Superbowl Champion Giants sweatshirt, and a green Faded Glory t-shirt.A cause of death has not been determined. Because of the advanced state of decomposition, we may never determine the cause of death, Beebe said.If you have any information which may help police, you can call them at (518) 439-9973.