Boroughs & Towns, Somerset County

New Baltimore borough occupies a picturesque location. It is situated on the bottom-lands of the Raystown branch of the Juniata, in a deep valley between High Knob and Cove Ridge known as Harmon’s Bottom. The town was laid out in 1829 by Michael Riddlemoser, of Baltimore, and named after that city. Bernard Connelly was the … Read more

Also known as Murdock after one of its builders, this village in northern Black township dates back to 1871 when the railroad was constructed through the area. Its main industry was the Bare Rock Stone Quarry started in 1891 and employing approximately 100 men. In 1904, when there was a greater demand for concrete, the … Read more

HISTORY The location of the town is pleasant and picturesque. It also possesses great commercial advantages, being in the midst of a good agricultural region, while close at hand are abundant resources as yet but slightly developed, such as timber, coal, ore and limestone. Meyersdale has present prosperity and encouraging prospects for the future. The … Read more

Nestled between two hills, the village of Markleton is seven miles west of Rockwood and divided by the Casselman River, thus putting part of the town in Black township and the remainder in Upper Turkeyfoot township. Its beginnings, about 1880, coincide with the establishment of the Markle pulp works for which it is named. At … Read more

Listonburg is a small settlement, deriving its name from the Listons, who were the first to establish industries at this point. A tannery was started by John Liston about 1790. An oilmill was connected with it. This was destroyed by fire in 1834. The present tannery was erected about 1852, by Joseph Hendrickson. It is … Read more

The village of Lavansville is situated about four miles west of the county seat. Its name is derived from David Lavan, who owned the eastern part of the town site. The first building erected here, a hotel, was built by John Tantlinger, of Somerset, in 1803; the second and third being the shop and dwelling-house … Read more

Kingwood, a small village in the north central part of the township, was founded by Alexander W. Walter in 1854.It consists of about a dozen houses and up to the time of the completion of the railroad along the river, it was the business center of the township. The first dwelling house was built by … Read more

Jennerstown was named for Dr. Edward Jenner, the originator of vaccination. It was laid out under the name of “Jennersville” in 1822 by John Dennison, who owned the land and sold the first lots. The tract of land it was laid out on was originally warranted to James Wells and called “Well’s Escape” in honor … Read more

Jenner Crossroads, a small town in the southeastern part of the township, was a tavern stand on the Old Pennsylvania Road. Prior to the laying out of this village the land on which it is built was owned by Jonas Ankeny, Jesse Griffith and Frederick Althouse. Felix Launtz erected the first building in 1845. As … Read more

Hooversville is a small but pleasant village, situated in the midst of a fertile agricultural country. The first settler, on the land where the village now is, was Caspar Ripple, who obtained a warrant for the tract in 1794. Hooversville, however, is of modern growth. The first house in the village was built by George … Read more