just found this thread. i bought my schwinn le tour II from a thrift shop for $15. Put new tires/tubes on it and rode it for my first century. I picked up a Miyata 721a at the same thrift shop 3 years later ($20), so I turned the le tour into a fixed gear ride.

I love it, it's my favorite bike to ride. (bike is also from allentown, like the OP's bikes)