Parkesburg Borough
As a settled community, Parkesburg predates the Revolutionary War. First known as the Fountain Inn (the Fountain Inn, circa 1734, still stands today as a private residence), the area was inhabited by settlers of predominantly Scottish-Irish descent, who migrated north on the Gap-Newport Pike (now Route 41), from New Castle, Delaware.
Looking West up Main Street John G. Parke, from whom the Borough got its name, was a noted politician from a prominent family in the area. A relative, General John G. Parke, served during the Civil War and played a prominent role in such campaigns as Fredericksburg Vicksburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg.
Throughout the nineteenth century, the small community expanded rapidly. The prominent Fountain Inn ceased operation as a tavern around 1836 and became Parkesburg's first Post Office. As the population of the town grew, many new industries were attracted there. Among these were the railroad workshops of the newly formed Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad.
The tracks of the Philadelphia and Columbia were laid to Parkesburg in 1831. A state funded venture, this railroad was coordinated with an extensive canal system. Since Parkesburg was located at one of the highest points along this railroad, it was decided to situate the repair shops there. Good fortune, however, was not to follow the Philadelphia and Columbia. By 1857, the system had gone bankrupt, with portions of the canal, it was sold to the new Pennsylvania Railroad.
Looking West up Main Street John G. Parke, from whom the Borough got its name, was a noted politician from a prominent family in the area. A relative, General John G. Parke, served during the Civil War and played a prominent role in such campaigns as Fredericksburg Vicksburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg.
Throughout the nineteenth century, the small community expanded rapidly. The prominent Fountain Inn ceased operation as a tavern around 1836 and became Parkesburg's first Post Office. As the population of the town grew, many new industries were attracted there. Among these were the railroad workshops of the newly formed Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad.
The tracks of the Philadelphia and Columbia were laid to Parkesburg in 1831. A state funded venture, this railroad was coordinated with an extensive canal system. Since Parkesburg was located at one of the highest points along this railroad, it was decided to situate the repair shops there. Good fortune, however, was not to follow the Philadelphia and Columbia. By 1857, the system had gone bankrupt, with portions of the canal, it was sold to the new Pennsylvania Railroad.
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610-857-2616
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610-857-1102
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