The Judge's Stand

The Judge's Stand, built in Victorian style, held a significant role as the focal point of the Great Lehighton Fair, later known as the Carbon County Fair. From 1858 to 1992, the fair was hosted in Lehighton, and the Stand always occupied a central position within the fairgrounds. Previously situated on the Lehighton Area School District grounds, this structure is believed to be the sole surviving example of its kind in the United States. Notably, its roof showcased remarkable engineering ingenuity, allowing it to be manually cranked upwards to provide sheltered seating for the judges during evaluations, effectively shielding them from the elements. When not in use, the roof could be lowered to enclose the area.

In order to restore the Stand, the Borough secured a $20,000 grant from the DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development) with assistance from the DLNHC (Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor). Subsequently, in 2012, Lowe's expressed interest in supporting the project through their Lowe's Heroes Volunteer Program. Thanks to the collaboration with Lowe's, the project was successfully realized. Presently, the historic Judge's Stand has been relocated to Grove Park, situated at the intersection of Eighth and Iron Streets.