Steeped in tradition, Slatington has a long list of stories to tell.

A history book, "Slatington at 150 Years: More Stories to Share," was unveiled recently at Slatington Public Library.The hardbound 582-page book, published by Chernay Publishing of Coopersburg in conjunction with the borough's 150th anniversary of the borough's incorporation, contains information on Slatington churches, businesses, family histories, disasters, Slatington/Northern Lehigh High School athletics and more.Mike Hofmann Jr., a member of the Slatington 150th History Committee, is a 2011 graduate of Northern Lehigh High School, and a senior at Moravian College.The Washington Township resident, who served as the emcee at the ceremony, said he worked on the first comprehensive sports history of Slatington/ Northern Lehigh High School.It took the committee 22 months to complete the book."Actually, if you want to be technical, the book took not only 22 months to write by the historians, but rather 150-plus years of events to unfold by the residents of Slatington," Hofmann said. "We have all been waiting for this day, and this book, since spring 2013."Hoffman commended the committee members."I welcome you all to celebrate these individuals for their contribution to our community," Hofmann said. "If you have criticisms on this book, I'll keep them in mind for the next time in 25 years."He said, "In no way could we be holistic about our wonderful community, but we tried our darndest. With no further ado, here is our history committee, all of whom were raised in the Slatington vicinity and graduated from Slatington/Northern Lehigh High School."Hofmann said co-chairwoman Candyce Mantz-Merkle of Slatington has expertise in writing and researching family histories, as well as local businesses.Mantz-Merkle said the goals were to provide an accurate history of the local families and events that have shaped the borough's history.Merkle specifically thanked the Slatington Public Library, as well as its librarians, who she said were truly invaluable to the creation of the book."We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane," Merkel said.Hofmann said co-chairman Robert Stettner ofSlatington "was the glue that kept us together."Stettner was the maincorrespondent with theborough and 150 Committee for funding, in addition to researching and writing for the book.Tim and Judy Snyder of Washington Township researched and wrote family histories."Most importantly, they had the experience of previously being on a book committee, as they helped with what we as a committee like to call "the '89 book,'" Hofmann said.The Snyders then unveiled the book.Stettner said that when he would come to the library weekly to do research for the book, he would sit at the computer looking at old copies of the Slatington news. Occasionally, people would come in with bags or boxes of books to donate to the library."Louise (Bechtel) would always accept them graciously and thank the donors, but sometimes she would become a little frazzled afterward and say where are we going to put these, where am I (going to) find room for all of these books," Stettner said. "Well, Louise, I hope you will find room on a shelf for this book."Stettner presented the first and original copy of the book, which the committee donated in memory of Jean Benner Davies, a librarian in Slatington from 1964 until her death in 1994.It was through Davies' foresight and efforts that the library expanded its collections and relocated from the Berlin Building, or former post office, to the Haines Building, where it is currently located.Davies also trained current librarian Rose Pugh."The name of our book is More Stories To Share, and to that end we have published this book to share our version of Slatington history with all of you," Stettner said."Our committee obviously likes to share, so on behalf of the Slatington 150 History Committee, in memory of former librarian Jean Benner Davies, I would like to present the first copy of Slatington at 150 Years: More Stories To Share, to the Slatington Public Library."