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William Oldham moved to Shade township in 1827. At that time every aspect of the surrounding country was exceedingly wild; there were no public roads; the nearest neighbor lived six miles distant; school and church were eight miles away. Mr. Oldham was an expert hunter and captured many bears and wolves. He once shot seven … Read more
The city of Germany, a paper town, was laid out by Dr. Samuel F. Conover, of Philadelphia, in 1810. Its site is about six miles northeast of Buckstown, in the Sand Spring school district, somewhere about the junction of the two streams that form the Beaver dam run. The locality is sometimes also referred to … Read more
Among the early settlers of Turkeyfoot were the Hannas, who located where Harnedsville now is. The last of the old stock, Maj. Alexander Hanna, died in 1881, aged seventy-nine. He was a noted character in his day. Of a bright intellect and remarkable physical strength, he performed deeds of almost superhuman power. He was a … Read more
Friday, October 1, 1875, news article:“A correspondent of the Pittsburg Leader writes that there is a very remarkable and curious freak of nature on the bank of the Castleman (Casselman) River, about two and a half miles above Confluence which is well worth the trouble of going to see. A short distance from the river … Read more
The Board of Directors is sad to report that Alice Gayley, the Vice President of PA-Roots passed away on August 11, 2015. Alice and Nathan Zipfel began PA-Roots in 1998 as a resource for Pennsylvania county pages they were involved with. Alice was the co-host for Jefferson and Armstrong counties in those early days. Alice … Read more
Wittenburg is a small town in the central part of the township. It was built on land that Jonathan Leasure had purchased from John Witt for whom the town was named. John Fichner opened the first store, which was also the first store in Larimer township, at Wittenburg in 1852. He was also its first … Read more
Windber was laid out by the Wilmore Coal Company in 1897 for the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company and was named for the financier of the company, Charles F. Berwind. The town was to accommodate the large number of miners and their families. The Eureka Supply Company opened the first store in the town in 1897. … Read more
Located in the eastern part of the township, this village was laid out by the Somerset Coal Co. in 1902. Prior to this in 1900, there was a Wilson Creek Coal Co. The mine changed hands several times being bought in 1910 by the Consolidation Coal Co. and in 1932 by the Fogel Coal Company. … Read more
West Salisbury, in the southeastern part of the township, was laid out on the David Livengood farm by the Salisbury & Baltimore Railroad Company in 1871. A number of lots were sold, but little building was done until after 1877. A steam gristmill was built about 1870, on the river bank near the bridge. After … Read more
Wellersburg was laid out in 1830 and incorporated as a borough in 1857. The town is now in a dilapidated state having been steadily declining since the abandonment of the iron industry in 1866. It contains a population of about 250 and has one hotel, three stores, one blacksmith shop, one wagonmaker’s shop, one tannery … Read more