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Up for sale is an incredibly unique, multi-item historical archive from the Police Department of the Borough of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. This cohesive lot captures a fascinating window into small-town policing and municipal operations in the Lehigh Valley during the late 1960s counter-culture era.
What is Included in This Historical Lot:
1. Original 1967 Daily Bulletin Log Book (Binder + 4 Complete Pages)
This official heavy-duty binder was kept directly on the desk of the department to issue internal directives, special orders, and patrol updates to the force. It contains four complete, fully filled-out typewritten pages dating from January through May of 1967.
Each order was issued under the command of Chief Harris and signed. In the left margins, you can see the handwritten ink initials of the on-duty patrol officers (including SSH, JB, TH, and SGT. NW) who initialed each entry to prove they read the orders before going out on patrol.
The typewritten pages offer amazing, nostalgic historical details, featuring highly specific local directives such as:
• January 17, 1967: A special directive ordering a comprehensive survey of all abandoned vehicles on both public and private property under a newly enacted law.
• January 19, 1967: A localized neighborhood watch directive ordering officers to watch the quarry on Mulberry Street due to "boys hanging around... maybe stealing gas from cars."
• January 25, 1967: An order to patrol the high school football field on weekends and take down the names of trespassers.
• May 20, 1967: A classic 1960s directive ordering the patrol force to "cut out all rowdys on motorcycles around Walkers Ranch on Second St." with special instructions for Car #8 to constantly check the area on "GO-GO nites."
2. October 17, 1968 Official Internal Command Order Sheet
This is a loose, official internal command memo issued and directly initialed by Chief H. Harris (with his handwritten HH mark next to his typed name). The directive strictly foroffers patrolling officers from leaving the geographical boundaries of Catasauqua unless on official business, warning of severe disciplinary action.
What makes this sheet highly desirable is that it features the complete 1968 officer roster for the borough, filled with the handwritten signatures and initials of the active duty officers acknowledging the strict order:
• Sgt. Bruchok
• Sgt. Harbst
• Ptl. Garger
• Ptl. Braun
• Ptl. R. Rice
• Ptl. Sperlbaum
• Ptl. Costenbader
• Ptl. Anglestien (marked NA)
• Ptl. E. Rice
Condition Notes:
Both items are in excellent, well-preserved vintage condition. The heavy-duty institutional binder cover is solid, featuring clear, typed cover directives regarding mandatory reading instructions. The internal log pages and the 1968 loose sheet are crisp and clean with strong ink and clear typography. There is light, natural age-toning and minor curling at the page edges, typical for authentic 1960s municipal documents.
Please review the high-resolution photos to see the exact condition of the binder, the signatures, and the detailed text across all pages.
This archive makes a phenomenal display piece or research item for collectors of vintage law enforcement ephemera, local Lehigh Valley / Northampton County history, or mid-century true crime artifacts.
Shipping & Handling:
Ships securely and carefully packaged via USPS Ground Advantage or Media Mail with tracking included to ensure it arrives safely. Combined shipping is available if you purchase other historical lots from my store. Please reach out with any questions!
