Category:949-959 Hamilton Building, Allentown, Pennsylvania

This address is an amalgamation of several former buildings, which were converted to a single address. It consists of the following: Rialto Building:

949 Hamilton Street

951 Hamilton Street

953 Hamilton Street

This building was originally erected in 1916 after the Lyceum Theater Fire. It consisted of various storefronts and second floor offices, along with a bowling alley in the basement. It was gutted in the 1946 Rialto fire which destroyed the theater at 945-947 Hamilton as well as this entire structure. It was rebuilt and reopened along with the theater in 1947.

955 1/2 Hamilton Street

957-959 Hamilton Street

This building, on the northeast corner of 10th and Hamilton Streets is significatly different than the rest of the 949-959 address. The building was erected likely as a residence, that has survived in it's original form since the Civil War era or perhaps somewhat earlier, , it already had the rear extension built on it in 1885. Sometime in the 1880s, it was subdivided into a fruit and produce grocery store (959), and a cigar factory (957). Another building adjacent to it at 955 1/2 was added prior to 1916.

Over the years the building has survived commercially, being the location of many businesses. Today, the property is vacant. The fact that it's not falling apart makes it a very historic building, which should be kept due to it's historical significance.