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THE A W LEH PROJECT
Book Garners Praise from a Wide Range of Readers THE A.W. LEH PROJECT began in the winter of 2007-2008. It grew out of historian Ken Raniere's desire to document the work of the man who was responsible for designing many business and residential structures in the Lehigh Valley at the turn of the 20th century. After almost 2 years of intensive research and writing, Raniere's A LIVING LEGACY: ARCHITECTURE OF A.W. LEH was finally unveiled in September 2009 at Bethlehem's Leh-designed Ambre' Studio on the 161st anniversary of the architect's birth. In the book's Foreword, architect Christine E. Ussler observes that "As one walks the streets of Bethlehem, the telltale features of Leh's buildings greet the attentive observer on nearly every block. . . . Leh's work defined the built environment of the towns of South Bethlehem and Bethlehem during this period [1880-1918]. . . . Leh still merits further study, but this is a delightful beginning." January 2010's LEHIGH VALLEY STYLE magazine declared that history and architecture buffs would "find Ken Raniere's A LIVING LEGACY a fascinating read as he takes us on a chronological journey through the life and work of South Bethlehem architect Albert Wolfring Leh. Leh designed more than 250 buildings throughout the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and New Jersey, spanning a career of 40-plus years from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Homes, businesses, and schools designed by Leh provide the backdrop of Bethlehem today, and Raniere's extensive research details the foundations of some of the beautiful buildings of Moravian College, Broughal Middle School, dozens of churches, and Ambre' Studio. The original photography and architectural records included in the book shed light on Leh's prolific design career throughout the Industrial Era and its enduring success in creating some of the most significant turn-of-the-century architecture in our area." Visit the A.W. Leh fan page on Facebook.
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