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1849-1899

Senator David Sankey, the father of Lawrence County.

September 8, 1860. The Eagle, a new boat on the New Castle Packet line, prepares to leave one of its scheduled stops.  Packets, primarily used for passenger service, left the New Castle packet landing at 12 noon and 7:30 p.m., arriving at New Brighton at 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., timed to make connections with trains going east and west.

1849

Lawrence County is formed from Beaver and Mercer County March 20

1850

First Court of Common Pleas held in First Methodist Church on South Jefferson Street, New Castle

1852

Lawrence County Court House completed at a cost of $32,000

1852

Westminster College founded in New Wilmington

1852

First McConnell's Mill built

1854

Wil-Roy furnace built in Slippery Rock Township

1855

Bank of New Castle established

1860

Population of County 20,000

1861- 1865

Civil War: Over 4,000 men from Lawrence County Served.  Nearly 500 lost their lives

1864

Villa Maria began by the Sisters of  the Humility of Mary on William Merrin farm

1865

President Abraham Lincoln assassinated

Many communities formed militias.  The Lawrence Guards (right) was the first military drill unit formed in New Castle. It was organized in July 1850 by Major W.W. Taylor. This picture was taken by John Mitchell at McGiffin's Corner. Judge L.L. McGuffin is standing in the doorway.

 

Ira D. Sankey

1866

First limestone quarries opened for by Green, Marquis and Johnson

1867

Shenango Hall  (later the Opera House then the Capital Theater) opens on South Mercer Street, New Castle

1874

Wampum Cement and Lime (Shinn Brothers began operation

1876

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone

1882

Water system established in New Castle

1886

Gospel hymn composer, Ira D. Sankey donates first Y. M. C. A. to New Castle

1886

The Park Opera House on the Diamond opens
  Ellwood City became booming industrial town within a short period of time. (Photo courtesy of the Ellwood City Ledger).

1887

Bessemer Limestone and Cement started

1889

First electric plant in New Castle & first street car service in New Castle

1891

Elliott Brothers Steel Company established.  One of first strip steel mills

1892

Ellwood City is created

1892

McKinley Tariff act passed

1893

Greer Tin Mill opens

1893

Fazzoni Fireworks begins operations


Limestone quarry workers.

1895

First seamless steel tubes in America pierced at Ellwood Weldless Tube

1896

Nancy's Island opened in Pulaski

1897

Cascade Park opens in New Castle

1897

Frank Jongrass hanged at Lawrence County Court house for murdering his fiancee

1899

New Castle treasurer, John Blevins, found murdered in his office at city hall

Click a time-period below to continue exploring Lawrence County History.

 
   
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1745, New Castle, PA 16103  
Phone/Fax:  (724) 658-4022
Street Address: 408 N. Jefferson Street, New Castle, PA 16101  
Unless otherwise noted, all information and photographs contained on this page are the property of the Lawrence County Historical Society. © Copyright, 2005-2008. All rights reserved. No portion of this page may be reproduced without written permission of the Lawrence County Historical Society.