The banks of Bushkill Creek near 3rd Street in Easton have long been a center of industry and commerce and have repeatedly transitioned while remaining vital to the community. One of the earliest developments was the Brotzman and Herster Mill, built in 1789 just east of the present N. 3rd Street Bridge over Bushkill Creek. By 1868, this merchant mill could produce 50 barrels a day using a 9 foot drop of water from a dam several hundred feet upstream. This part of the city was also home to a series of breweries and distilleries, including the prominent Seitz Brewery, which used several buildings throughout downtown Easton. Since 1832, the area has served as the entrance to Lafayette College. The gateway at the base of College Hill was erected by the Class of 1929 using stones from the old Green Observatory. In 2001, Lafayette College dedicated the Williams Visual Arts Center as the home of its studio art program and as a leading high-tech facility for art education and exhibitions, and the college has continued acquiring nearby properties as it works to transform the N. 3rd Street neighborhood into a vibrant gateway to Easton and Lafayette College.
