Category:Griesemer Duck Farm

The Griesemer Duck Farm and Hotel was owned by the Griesemer family in what was known as Griesemerville between 1894 and 1932. Griesermilleville was once a suburb of Allentown, established in the late 1700s. Established by Valentin Greisemer, he and his son John acquired about 600 acres along Cedar Creek in 1789. The land included where the Allentown Fairgrounds, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Greenwood Cemetary and south to what is now the Joseph S. Daddona Lake and Terrace, formerly known as Union Terrace. John Griesermer's son Abraham opened a hotel in 1806 and is credited with the founding of Griesermiville. His son and grandson, both named Solomon, ran the hotel after him.

In 1887, Albert, Solomon II'd son, began operating the hotel. Albert raised thousands of ducks which were the feature of the hotel's famous duck dinners. The Duck Farm began with about 1,000 ducks, which were raised and fattened for markets. It had several buildings, and a large number of polutry pens. Various hunting and fishing clubs from Philadelphia and New York came to participate in various pidgeon shoots and fishing that were the hotel's other attractions. Among those that came here for a duck dinner was Champ Clark, U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1911 to 1919.

By 1900, the Allentown and Reading Traction Company's interurban line at about 20th and Walnut street/Reading Road Bridge over Cedar Creek (1824). A large white pavilion was built that operated as an annex to the hotel, under which the interurban trollies stopped provided access to the hotel and farm, which was open to visitors.

The facility was sold to General Harry Trexler in June 1911 who closed the duck farm, as it has been unprofitable in previous years. General Trexler later donated some of the land to the City which became Union Terrace Park. The Hotel was retained by the Greisemer family, who operated it until it closed during the Great Depression of 1932. The hotel operated as an apartment building by the Greisimers until 1963. It remained an apartment building in private hands for many years afterwards, finally being torn down in the early 2010s.