Harlansburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harlansburg, Pennsylvania
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
 Harlansburg, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Harlansburg, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lawrence |
| Township | Scott |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Harlansburg is a community in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located about 8 miles (13 km) east of the city of New Castle.
This historic community is home to the Harlansburg Station Transportation Museum. It also has the Harlansburg cave, which is thought to be the longest cave in Pennsylvania.
Contents
Discover Harlansburg's History
Harlansburg is on an old stage road that connected Pittsburgh and Erie. This road was very busy with travelers once the area became settled. The first person to settle here was Jonathan Harlan.
Early Settlers and the Town's Beginning
Jonathan Harlan moved from Chester County in 1792. He first lived in Allegheny County. In 1794, he was there during the "Whiskey Rebellion." This was a time when some people protested a tax on whiskey.
Around 1797 or 1798, Jonathan Harlan moved to what is now Scott Township. He bought about 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land. This land included the spot where Harlansburg village now stands.
In 1800, Jonathan Harlan officially laid out the town of Harlansburg. He also built the first house in the area. It was made of round logs and stood on a hill. He also built a gristmill (a mill for grinding grain) east of the village. This mill was probably built even before the town was officially started.
Jonathan Harlan and his wife had three children when they moved here. They had seven more children after settling in Harlansburg. Their first child born in the new settlement was a daughter named Sarah.
Growing the Community
Around the same time Jonathan Harlan arrived, Abraham and Levi Hunt also settled nearby. In 1802, Abraham Hunt built the first tavern (an inn or hotel) in the village. This building is still standing today. It was the first frame building (made with a wooden frame) for many miles around. It has been used as a tavern ever since it was built.
William Elder came to Harlansburg around 1807 or 1808. Soon after, he opened a small general store. It was a tiny space, only about five by ten feet, inside the tavern building. A post office was set up in the village around 1811 or 1812. Mr. Elder was also the first postmaster.
In 1814, John Bently moved to Harlansburg from Chester County. He came with his wife and six children. His oldest son, Robert Bently, lived near Harlansburg for many years.
Learning and Worship
The first log school house in Harlansburg was built around 1820. The first teacher was an Irishman named David Gourley. Before this, schools were held in people's homes. For example, Joseph Campbell taught a small school in his own house around 1815.
Around 1857, a two-story brick school house was built on a hill in the western part of the village. This building is still standing today. For most of its history, this school has been a high school. It usually had about one hundred students attending.
Some German families built a log church as early as 1799. The Methodist Episcopal Church started in Harlansburg in 1834. Their first church building was originally a house. Another church, the Cumberland Presbyterian church, was formed around 1836. However, their group became very small and stopped meeting in 1865. The U.P. (United Presbyterian) church, a short distance from the village, was built in 1855. It is a brick building.
Life in Early Harlansburg
The first blacksmith shop in the area was started by John Smith in 1816, south of the village. The first one in town was opened by Jesse Bentley in 1831. Charles Book started the first wagon shop in 1862. Ira Emerson opened the first boot and shoe shop. James Sturling had the first tailor shop in 1833.
The Harlansburg Agricultural and Horticultural Association was formed in 1871. They leased 24 acres (97,000 m²) of land and held fairs there. The company later closed down.
In the winter of 1818-19, a lot of snow fell. People who lived there for a long time said it snowed 26 inches (66 cm)! They said they hadn't seen that much snow since.
Around the time this history was written (1887), the population of Harlansburg was about two hundred people. People hoped that a railroad would come to the area. This would help develop the coal and mineral lands nearby and help the town grow.
