A sesquicentennial observance refers to the 150th anniversary of a "significant event."

Such an event occurred in 1866 when the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decreed that Lehighton shall be a borough.As befits all significant events, Lehighton's past, present and vision for a promising future will be celebrated through week-long events starting with opening ceremonies at noon on Saturday,and culminating with the sesquicentennial parade at noon, the closing ceremonies at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. onJuly 2.Lehighton was formerly a part of Mahoning Township, which bounds it on all sides, except the part of the borough which borders the Lehigh River from which the community takes its name.It still remains the largest borough in Carbon County in terms of population with about 5,500 residents, according to the last decennial census, a decline of about 1,500 from its highest population of about 7,000 in 1940.The river was an important source of water power for growing industries in the 19th century. Lehighton featured lace and silk mills, a shirt factory, automatic press works, car shops, foundries, stoneworks and a meat-packing plant. By the turn of the 20th century, the borough's population had grown to 4,600.The coming of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and its major repair facility at Packerton Yards was a significant economic shot in the arm for the community. As the area's largest employer, the railroad provided jobs for several thousand area residents at the repair facilities and for its operations and maintenance of the railroad itself.When the railroad industry was restructured, the repair facilities were moved elsewhere, so employees had to either move to the new location or find other work.Despite falling on hard times, downtown Lehighton is experiencing a resurgence of small specialty and service shops. The downtown declined after the Carbon Plaza and Walmart were built on Route 443 in Mahoning Township. Suburban housing projects also prompted businesses to relocate closer to their clientele, further causing erosion in the central business district, but in recent years, more people have come to appreciate the ability to walk to stores in a compact business district.According to the History of Carbon County, the land on which Lehighton stands today was mainly owned in 1794 by Revolutionary War veteran Col. Jacob Weiss (for whom the borough of Weissport is named) and William Henry.Historians believe that Weiss envisioned that a community would someday be established, so the men set aside a portion of the tract of land for that purpose, with a plot in its center for a town square.The construction of the Lehigh Canal in 1828 contributed to the growth of Lehighton and surrounding areas.When the Lehigh Valley Railroad was completed in 1855 between Mauch Chunk (today's Jim Thorpe) and Easton and then the company established its Packerton Yards facility about seven years later, Lehighton and the surrounding area experienced an economic boom.Several years after that, the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad Co., later part of the Central Railroad Co. of New Jersey, extended its line from Mauch Chunk to Easton.With this growth spurt, village leaders decided to apply for borough status, and on Jan. 2, 1866, ceremonies commemorated Lehighton becoming a borough with a population of about 1,500. John Lentz became the borough's first chief burgess.At one time, before most apparel was made abroad, Lehighton was a major silk and apparel center. Such names as the Baer Co., Lehighton Lace Co., Carbon Silk Mill Co. and the Lehighton Shirt Factory are etched in the borough's history.The borough's post office has been in existence for more than 200 years (October 1812). The first postmaster was John Pryor Jr.The Moravians, who settled the area, opened a log schoolhouse about 1820, which also was used for church purposes. The original Lehighton High School building was constructed in 1873 for $45,000.Aside from the Moravians, the Reformed and Lutheran sects were the first to hold regular church services in the Lehighton area.Lehighton's first newspaper, the Weekly News, was started by O.M. Boyle in 1872; the first daily was The Evening Leader, established by George Morthimer in 1902.The Times News is based in Lehighton and Mahoning Township, having acquired the Jim Thorpe Times News in 1967, The Evening Record in Lansford in 1968 and The Evening Courier in Tamaqua in 1971. The Times News and Pencor's eight weekly newspapers are published at the company's facility along Blakeslee Boulevard in Mahoning Township.Lehighton's earliest known fire company was organized in August 1874.The First National Bank of Lehighton was chartered in 1875 with a capital stock of $50,000. That same year, the first building and loan association was established.Space does not permit us to delve into the long and glorious history of Lehighton borough, but we encourage you during this special observance to acquaint yourself with the background of this important community that is a linchpin in the fascinating history of Carbon County.We congratulate the citizens of Lehighton, its leaders and all who have contributed to make this community one of the most important in the county.We urge all area residents to participate in the borough's sesquicentennial activities. While enjoying all of the festivities associated with this "significant event," we also urge borough residents to remember their heritage and the efforts of those who have preceded them in making the community what it is today.BRUCE FRASSINELLItneditor@tnonline.com