✨ History of 311 Lafayette St, New Bethlehem PA 🏛️💻

Curious how one New Bethlehem building went from tile to tech? Take a quick tour, then dive deeper here: TechReadyPro.com/about 🔗

🏭 New Bethlehem Tile Company (1898 to 1973)
Rich local clay and nearby gas powered an innovative plant that made the famous 8×8×16 salt-glazed, rock-face hollow tile. The corner building at Spruce and Lafayette served as the Tile Plant Office, built with the company’s own materials. A 1933 photo notes 11,500 tons, which hints at the scale of production. 📸🧱

👷‍♂️ Fowkes Construction (about 1960s to early 1990s)
Brothers Corbin and Burt Fowkes ran a powerhouse general contractor from this address, employing 40 plus tradespeople across Western PA. Services included masonry, stonework, plumbing, and electrical. Corbin and his wife lived upstairs for more than 12 years while the first floor operated as a bustling office. 🧱🔧⚡

🗝️ Quiet Years and a Time Capsule (1990s to early 2010s)
The upstairs apartment remained in use, and the first floor sat sealed, preserving decades of business history until a new chapter began. 🕰️

💡 TechReady Professionals, Inc. (early 2010s to today)
Local entrepreneur Gordon V. Barrows purchased the building and restored it for a modern technology firm. The former apartment became commercial space with a break room, a luxurious conference room, and multiple offices. The first floor returned to active service, and the landmark now supports clients and community initiatives. 🔌🖥️🌟

👉 Learn more, see photos, and explore the full timeline: TechReadyPro.com/about

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