Borough of Stoneboro
| History |
The Borough of Stoneboro, named
after Amasa Stone, was incorporated on August 26, 1866. This was in
response to a petition filed by the major landowner, the Mercer Iron
& Coal Company, along with the signatures of 103 local residents.
This
enterprising place, situated on the beautiful sheet of water known as
Sandy Lake, was first settled as early as 1825 by a colony of colored
people. After a lapse of time this republic of Liberia gradually
disintegrated, so that by the middle of the present century but one
lone specimen of the sons of Ham remained. His tastes were commercial
in character, and consequently from his hut on the lakeside he retailed
cigars and whiskey to those disposed to patronize him. The land on
which this Negro colony lived was ultimately sold to Messr. John F.
Hogue and William Shields, who, in turn, sold it in 1862 to Jeremiah
Bonner and the Mercer Iron and Coal Company, Bonner purchasing Hogue's
interest, and the company that of Shield. J. M. Goodwin, now a resident
of Sharpsville, surveyed these lands and laid out the village of
Stoneboro in 1865, on territory belonging to both Lake and Sandy Lake
Township.
The location of the town is one of great beauty,
especially as viewed from the opposite shore of Sandy Lake, although
the smoke arising from the burning of refuse from the coal mines is
anything but pleasant, and does not help the picture any. But,
naturally, the lake, the cozy village, nestled at the foot of the
hills, themselves form a picturesque page in the panorama we see in
traveling over the county. The place is a great resort or picnic
parties, who find plenty of craft at the boat houses, in which to take
a row, sail or steamer ride, on the clear waters of the beautiful lake,
the north shore of which is dry, and covered with forest trees, beneath
which no person can fail to enjoy himself, nor find any lack of variety
with which to make the time pass pleasantly
Source: History of Mercer County: its past and present,1888, pages 467 - 472
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| Borough Firsts |
First house - built by Jeremiah Bonner in 1866.
First
merchant - W. H. Bonner. He had a frame building on the corner of Lake
and Walnut Streets. The building has since been destroyed. Mr. Bonner
is deceased. His father, Jeremiah Bonner, was one of the pioneers of
the place.
First Blacksmith Shop - was the property of James Lisle.
First Wagon Shop - William Beatty
First Physician - Dr. D. A. Philips. He is now in Sheakleyville.
First Postmaster - Robert P. Cann, now secretary and general manager of the Mercer Iron and Coal Company | | Government | | The
first election of Borough officers was held on the third Friday of
March, 1867, Frank W. Hubley acting as judge, and Samuel Hines and Evan
Evans as inspectors. The principal borough offers in 1867 were Burgess:
H. B. Blood; Council: F. M. Finney, J. C. Cornwell, J. C. Nolan, A. S.
Troop, Samuel Custer; Clerk: J. A. B. Atwater | | Churches | The Methodist Episcopal Congregation - organized winter of 1869
The First Baptist Church of Stoneboro - organized October 1870
The Catholic Church - celebrated first mass about 1864
The Presbyterian Church - organized November 1878
St. Paul's Primitive Methodist Church - organized January 1879 | | Schools | | The
first school-house was built in 1868. As of 1888, the number of schools
in the borough is four, with a property valued at $3,600. The school
children number 312 - 133 being males and 179 females |
| Cemeteries |
Amasa Stone Slave Cemetery aka "Freedom Road Cemetery"
St. Columbkill Cemetery | | Railroads | Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railways with branch traffic on the New Castle and Franklin, and the Jamestown and Franklin.
The
railroads have a fine passenger depot, and a large number of tracks; a
branch also runs to the mines, for the accommodation of the Mercer Iron
and Coal Company.
The business at the Stoneboro station is
extensive, the principal commodity handled being the coal shipped by
the Mercer Iron and Coal Company. | | Secret Societies | Keystone Mutual Relief Association - chartered April 17, 1880
Lake Lodge No. 434, F & A. M. - instituted January 24, 1869
Lake Lodge No. 1363, I. O. G. T. - organized and chartered November 1, 1879
Lake Lodge No. 1193, K. & L. of H. - instituted October 20, 1886
Sandy Lake Circle No. 16, P. H. C. - instituted August 1 , 1887
Stoneboro Lodge No. 458, K. of P. - was instituted August 15, 1878
Stoneboro Lodge No. 501, I. O. O. F. - instituted December 18, 1882
Stoneboro Union No. 376, E. A. U. - organized December 1, 1881 | | Manufacturing | - Sandy
Lake Ice Co. though in existence for a number of years previous, was
not formed into a partnership association until 6 September 1882.
- Stoneboro Milling Co. was incorporated into a partnership association February 8, 1887.
| | Sources: | History of Mercer County, PA; its past and present, 1888
Borough of Stoneboro website |
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