New Galilee, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New Galilee, Pennsylvania
Borough
Centennial Avenue
Motto(s):  The Best Kept Secret in Beaver County
Location in Beaver County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Beaver
Settled	1804
Incorporated	1854
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	0.28 sq mi (0.72 km2)
• Land	0.28 sq mi (0.72 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	958 ft (292 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	330
• Density	1,191.34/sq mi (460.62/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code	16141
Area code(s)	724
FIPS code	42-53592

New Galilee is a small town, called a borough, in northern Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2020, about 330 people lived there. It is part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

Discovering New Galilee's Past

Early Settlers and Land Stories

Around 1800, the first white settlers arrived in the New Galilee area. Many were young couples from other parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ireland.

An interesting part of its history involves land ownership. In 1808, Joseph Chapman owned a large piece of land called Chapman's Hall. He later sold it to James Nicholson.

Mr. Nicholson and his wife later gave their farm to three loyal servants: Pompey Frazier, Tamer Frazier, and Betty Mathers. This gift was set to happen after the Nicholsons passed away.

After Mr. Nicholson and Tamer Frazier died, Pompey Frazier and Betty Mathers became the owners. Betty Mathers later married Henry Jordan. She sold parts of the land, which became much of New Galilee.

The stream flowing through New Galilee is named "Jordan's Run" after the Jordan family. The original home of Betty Mathers and Henry Jordan is now a museum. It houses the New Galilee Historical Society.

How New Galilee Got Its Name

In 1854, people in the village wondered what to name their community. Many citizens were religious. They decided to name it "New Galilee." This was because the small stream nearby was called Jordan's Run. "Galilee" means "beyond Jordan," which fit perfectly.

The village officially became a borough on January 15, 1868. This meant it could govern itself. The first election for leaders happened in March 1868. The town was mapped out in 1876. Its main streets were named Washington, Centennial, Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, and Madison.

Local Industries and Businesses

New Galilee has been home to several important businesses over the years. From 1860 to 1875, the Harmony Society ran two coal oil mills. One of these was very large for its time in the United States.

In 1863, Henry Donaldson started a cooper shop, making barrels. Another cooper shop opened in 1865 by Anthony Smith. These shops were important for local trade.

Beaver Clay Manufacturing Company

Beaver Clay Company Brick

The Beaver Clay Manufacturing Co. started in 1902. They began by making paving bricks. Soon after, they also made face bricks for buildings.

The company grew and improved its operations. During World War I, they received contracts from the U.S. government. This helped them produce millions of bricks.

In 1935, New Castle Refractories Company bought the plant. They used it to make special heat-resistant materials for the steel industry. Today, E.J. Bognar, Inc. operates on the property.

Mining Clay in Beaver County

Clay was a very important resource in Beaver County. In 1955, Beaver County produced a lot of Pennsylvania's total clay. Many companies mined clay there.

Some companies mined fire clay, which is used for fire bricks and foundry products. New Castle Refractories also mined stoneware clay. This clay was used to make pouring channels for steel.

Places of Worship in New Galilee

New Galilee is home to three churches. They are The Galilean United Presbyterian Church, The New Galilee Church of the Nazarene, and St. Ann's Church.

The Galilean United Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian worship began here in May 1874. Early meetings were held in homes and rented halls. The current church building was built in 1895. It cost $2,100 for the land, building, and furniture.

The New Galilee Church of the Nazarene

In 1907, a traveling preacher named Reverend C. A. Imhoff held a special meeting. Afterward, a small group of about 35 people formed a congregation.

They built a church on Washington Avenue. It was dedicated in January 1908. The church has been updated and expanded over the years. It still holds services today.

This church also puts on a special play called "God With Us." It tells the story of Jesus Christ. The play started in 2008 and attracts many people.

St. Ann's Church

For Roman Catholic residents, a dream came true on June 19, 1923. Ground was broken for St. Ann's Church. Before this, they had to travel far to worship.

The church was dedicated on November 16, 1924. St. Ann's held its last services on June 3, 2001. The building has since been used for other purposes.

Community Groups and Fun Activities

Lombardia Mutual Benefit Association (LMBA)

The LMBA is a social club started in 1916. It is located at 101 Locust Street, next to Jordan Run. The club offers activities like bocce, a pool league, and a golf league.

Many of the club's founders were immigrants from Italy's Lombardia province. They came to New Galilee to work in the town's brick factories.

New Galilee Volunteer Fire Department

The New Galilee Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1929. Their first fire hall was built in 1947. Sadly, the building was destroyed by fire in 2006.

A new fire station was completed in 2008. The firefighters work hard to keep the community safe.

Veterans of Foreign War Post 8106

This organization supports veterans. It is located at 100 Cleveland Avenue in New Galilee.

Things to See and Do

Annual Gilkey Potato Festival

New Galilee is famous as the birthplace of the "Gilkey" Potato. John Gilkey brought the first potatoes to Pennsylvania in 1797. He planted red, white, and blue varieties.

These potatoes mixed together to create a new type. He named it "Neshannock" after a nearby creek. This new potato became very popular. Farmers loved it because it grew well and tasted great.

By the late 1800s, the Neshannock potato was the most common commercial potato in the United States. New Galilee celebrated this history with a Potato Festival in 2014. The festival included a circus troop.

New Galilee Community Park

The New Galilee Community Park is a great place to play. It is located southeast of the intersection of PA Route 168 and PA Route 351.

The park was dedicated on July 2, 1978, by the local firefighters. The park covers 19 acres.

New Galilee Historical Society

You can visit the New Galilee Historical Society at 709 Washington Avenue. It's a great place to learn about the town's past. You can see old records, photos, journals, and artifacts.

Important Landmarks and Memorials

Veterans Memorial

In 1969, the city council decided to build a monument. It was planned to honor veterans. The memorial was to be placed on a triangular lot.

In August 2018, plans were made to update the memorial area. They planned to remove some trees and shrubs. The council also intends to build a small pavilion there.

Geography of New Galilee

New Galilee is located in northern Beaver County. It is completely surrounded by the borough of Big Beaver.

The borough covers about 0.7 square kilometers (0.28 square miles) of land. The Jordan Creek is the largest waterway flowing through New Galilee.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 424 people living in New Galilee. There were 174 households and 120 families. About 27.6% of households had children under 18.

The average household had 2.39 people. The average family had 2.91 people. The median age in the borough was 41 years old.

Education for Kids

Children in New Galilee attend schools in the Big Beaver Falls Area School District. The schools serving New Galilee are:

• Big Beaver Elementary School – for grades K–5
• Beaver Falls Middle School – for grades 6–8
• Beaver Falls High School – for grades 9–12

See also

In Spanish: New Galilee para niños