Month: August 2025

HEADER Chapter 23 Plum Creek Township FORMATION AND BOUNDARIES-BLOCKHOUSES-FIRST SETTLERS IN THE COUNTY-EARLY LAND VALUES-INDUSTRIES-NOTABLE EVENTS-WHITESBURG-“GREEN OAK”-ELDERTON BOROUGH- ELDERTON ACADEMY-SOLDIERS’ AID SOCIETY-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-GEOLOGY The name of this township was derived from the Indian name Sipuashanne, of which Plum Creek is a liberal translation. It was also called Alum creek on an old historical map of the … Read more

HEADER Chapter 22 South Bend Township ORIGIN OF NAME-SETTLERS AND LANDOWNERS-FIRST INDUSTRIES-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS-POPULATION-GEOLOGY AND ALTITUDE The name of this township naturally occurred to the original signers of the petition for its formation in 1867, because of the sharp southward bend of the creek which is rightfully named “Crooked.” The separation of the township was made from … Read more

HEADER Chapter 21 Burrell Township FORMATION-LANDOWNERS-ASSESSMENT LIST OF 1805-06-INDUSTRIES-GUNPOWDER FACTORIES- A “PAPER” TOWN-SALT WORKS-BRICK CHURCH-GEOLOGICAL Burrell township, which was formed in 1855 out of parts of Kittanning, Kiskaminetas and Plum Creek townships, was named after the late Judge Burrell, who was president judge of the Tenth Judicial district, composed of Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland counties. … Read more

HEADER Chapter 20 Kiskiminetas Township AN INDIAN NAME — POST’S EXPEDITION — SETTLERS — INDUSTRIES — OLDEST FURNACE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA — SALT WORKS — RIVER IMPROVEMENT — ANCIENT LANDMARKS — MAYSVILLE — SPRING CHURCH — SHADY PLAIN –HICKSVILLE-SCHOOLS — POPULATION — GEOLOGICAL This township was named from the river which forms its southern border. … Read more

HEADER Chapter 19 Parks Township BOUNDARIES — PIONEERS — STITT�S MILL — NORTH VANDERGRIFT — OLD SETTLERS — THE PARK FAMILY — SCHOOLS — RELIGIOUS — ELECTRIC RAILROAD — POPULATION — GEOLOGY As was the case with Bethel and Gilpin, this township was formed from the territory of the original Allegheny township, now obsolete. It … Read more

HEADER Chapter 18 Gilpin Township – Johnetts Borough A DIVISION OF ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP – EARLY SETTLERS – INDUSTRIES – SCHENLEY – BAGDAD – CHURCHES – GRANGERS – POPULATION – SCHOOLS – GEOLOGY – JOHNETTA BOROUGH – THE BRICK PLANT – MINES – A MODEL TOWN The area of old Allegheny township having become too unwieldy … Read more

HEADER Beers Historical Record Volume I Chapter 17 Parker City Smallest City in the United States In this little, almost forgotten town on the Allegheny, in the northernmost part of the county limits, Armstrong can claim the credit of possessing the smallest city in the United States. Yet at the date of its incorporation every … Read more

HEADER Beers Historical Record Volume I Chapter 16 Freeport Borough PREHISTORIC REMAINS From undoubted evidences in the shape of mounds, clearings, fortifications and other prehistoric remains there is no doubt that the site of Freeport was once as densely populated as at present, although by strange and unknown races, whose history we can only conjecture. … Read more

HEADER Chapter XV Apollo Borough   LOCATION – “WARREN’S SLEEPING PLACE” – EARLY ASSESSMENT LISTS – FERRIES AND BRIDGES – TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS – INDUSTRIES – MERCANTILE – ROLLING MILLS – THE APOLLO STEEL COMPANY – BANKING – WATER SUPPLY – NEWSPAPERS – CHURCHES – SECRET ORDERS – PUBLIC LIBPARY – WOMAN’S CLUB – W.C.T.U. … Read more

HEADER Chapter XIV Leechburg Borough PIONEERS – DAVID LEECH – MUNICIPAL – THE KISKIMINETAS RIVER – THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL – FERRIES AND BRIDGES – MANUFACTURES – POSTAL – THE ROLLING MILLS – FIRST USE OF NATURAL GAS FOR METALLURGY IN THE UNITED STATES – WATER AND FIRE PROTECTION – PUBLIC BUILDINGS – BANKS – MERCANTILE … Read more