A handful of historic marker wayside signs are set to be unveiled in Slatington.

Northern Lehigh Future Focus will hold a dual press conference at 9 a.m. Friday underneath the General Morgan Bridge on the Slate Heritage Trail in Slatington.At that time, the historic marker wayside signs on the Slatington portion of the Slate Heritage Trail will be introduced, said Robert Stettner, NLFF member.Also introduced will be the new informational kiosk at the Slatington Trailhead, Main and Railroad Streets, Slatington, Stettner said.The press conference and unveiling of the kiosk will immediately follow the unveiling at the General Morgan Bridge, he said.Stettner said the wayside signs were a cooperative project between the NLFF and Northern Lehigh Historical Society. Northern Lehigh Future Focus is a Slatington based community visioning group serving the Northern Lehigh area."The five signs explore and interpret the rich history of former places along Trout Creek, which helped Slatington to thrive and prosper," Stettner said. "The wayside historic signs and the kiosk will provide information to hikers and bikers visiting and traveling through Slatington, as well as exposing both residents and visitors to the rich and varied history found along Trout Creek and surrounding the Slatington Trailhead."The signs include New York Tunnel Quarry/Bed Bug Cave, Trucker's Mill, the Slatington News Building, Kern's Dam Pioneer Lodge, and National School Slate Company, Stettner said.Funding for the wayside signs was provided by a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, he said.Nicholas Sander, a former History Major at Kutztown University, researched and wrote the text for the markers. Local Historian Dave Altrichter provided pictures for and assisted Nicholas with his project.Stettner said the three panel kiosk located where the D&L Trail crosses Main Street is a cooperative project between NLFF, Lehigh County, the D&L and the borough of Slatington.The kiosk features a narrative on "Exploring The Corridor", history of the Lehigh Valley Railroad's Slatington Railroad Station, and a community bulletin board. A separate panel located at the rear of the trailhead near the railroad bridge offers a narrative on "Rails to Trails".A Streetscape Amenities Grant from Lehigh County, along with a grant from the D&L, made funding for the kiosk possible, Stettner said.To access the trail underneath the General Morgan Bridge, use Main Street, and turn onto Dowell Street. Turn left if traveling north on Main Street, or right if traveling south on Main Street. Then, make an immediate right onto Willow Avenue, and proceed straight passed North Street, and go down the hill. Parking is available on the left, and it is a short walk down the trail the General Morgan Bridge.For more information, contact Stettner at 610-767-7626, or

stettner@ptd.net.