Category:Ralston's Flowers, Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Ralston's Flowers was a floral store and greenhouse, located at 3300 Lehigh Street, just to the east of the Allentown/Salisbury Township line in southwestern Allentown.

The buisness was started by Herbert E Ralston, born in 1904, who came to Allentown in 1939. Ralston started Ralston's Flowers in December 1940 by purchacing the former Sykes's Greenhouse property on Emmaus Highway (later Lehigh Street) which had opened in 1908 and was serverley damaged in a hailstorm in July 1940.

Ralston's buisness prospered and he joined the Allentown Chamber of Commerce, becoming one of the leading members. His wife, Mary Ralston, was also socially active in the city. Herbert Ralston died Mar 5 1955 in a car accident on US 22 by Shankweiler's Hotel near Foglesville. Ralston's death spurred the construction of the US 22 bypass north of Allentown, today known as the Lehigh Valley Thruway.

After his death, his wife took over the buisness. In May, 1966 Mary Ralston sold the 47 acres of land that comprised the Ralston Florest land and buildings to land developers for future use. Mary Ralston retired in 1969. In March 1970, Phillip Berman, owner of Hess Brothers purchaced the property, and Ralston's Flowers closed on 1 June 1970.

In 1974, the South Mall was built on the property with Hess's being the main anchor store. Mary Ralston Wilheim passed in April 1992.

Media in category "Ralston's Flowers, Allentown, Pennsylvania"

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