In today’s column, I am speaking to Ms. Lila Sabia, whose family lineage dates back to Heinrich Kohl, former farmer and veteran of the Revolutionary War. Her mother, Leona Vogel Sabia, lived with her sister Virginia on the family farm on Stagecoach Road, north of Kreidersville.

She and her sister, along with friends, walked to Northampton High School from Kreidersville. If she was lucky, her father, Tilghman Vogel, would drop her off at the high school on Lincoln Avenue when he delivered milk to Northampton Dairy. There was no bus transportation!

She graduated in 1942. The school principal was Mr. Ira Shaeffer; the superintendent was Dr. George Eichler.

Leona’s first job was at the ribbon mill in Catasauqua. The mill helped make parachutes for the military during World War II.

She later went to training school in Allentown for eight weeks to learn R-wetting. To get to the school, Leona went to Northampton to board a trolley for the trip.

In 1942, the United States was in World War II. Everyone who was physically able was needed in the defense industry.

Consolidated Vultee Aircraft came to Allentown to build aircraft for the Navy. Leona was hired. A car pool was organized by some employees, and Leona was picked up at an intersection in Kreidersville each day. She was trained as a riveter. Leona, “Rosie the Riveter” from a Kreidersville farm!

Working alongside Ms. Vogel was a bright young man named Thomas Sabia, who was a hydraulic man on the same plane. He had moved from Hazleton because jobs were hard to find there. He didn’t want to work in the coal mines.

Slowly, they became friends, and a romance blossomed on the production line. One day, Thomas had the courage to ask for a date. Leona said yes, and they dated for five years.

Before Tom came to Coplay, his job in Hazleton was at Senape’s Pizzeria. He then worked as an orderly at Hazleton General Hospital. Later, he moved to good old Coplay. Remember the Ritz Theater in Coplay? This writer saw many a film at the old “Ritz Cracker.”

Tom enjoyed movies, so he was hired as a movie projectionist. He lived close to the cozy theater.

There was great jubilation when World War II ended, which resulted in a transformation of the war industry to a consumer economy. Vultee closed, so Tom and his fellow co-workers were back on the job market.

If you drive down Lehigh Street, the Queen City Airport, used by Vultee, reminds us when military aircraft was manufactured in Allentown.

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In two weeks, we will be at Penn Dixie Cement.

This series is dedicated to the memory of Leona Sabia, whose life is a major part of these columns.