Industry Flourishes 1861-1880

Industry Flourishes 1861-1880. . Patriotism has aiways been a Beaver County trait, and it was no different when the Civil War exploded on the scene. Eleven of the 270 regiments that the State of Pennsylvania raised contained one or more companies composed of Beaver County men, and seven of those men were awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery.

Both during and after the war, new industries grew here. Beaver County became well known for things like oil, pottery, cutlery, nails, and glass, thanks to our ready supply of natural resources and the power and transportation supplied by the rivers and railroads.

April 12, 1861 , The Civil War began with the attack on Fort Sumter. Eleven Pennsylvania regiments had one or more companies recruited in Beaver County. Seven Beaver County soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor.

1862 , Thomas Elverson established a pottery manufactory in New Brighton, perhaps the earliest successful such operation in the county.

1863 , Passavant Memorial Home was founded by Dr. William Passavant in Rochester Township originally as a home for orphan girls.

1864 , The Keystone Bakery was established in Beaver and later moved to Bridgewater.

1865 , President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.

The Civil War officially ended with General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

1866 , Thiel College was founded in Monaca and was the first college in the county.

1867 , The Beaver Falls Cutlery Company, owned by the Harmony Society, was formed in Rochester and moved shortly afterwards to Beaver Falls.

1868 , H.J. Heinz and Thomas Noble purchased a brickyard in Beaver Falls which they sold in 1872.

September 1, 1871 , Thiel College moved to Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

1872 , Standard Horse Nail Works opened in Fallston and moved to New Brighton in 1885. The plant is still in operation today.

1873 , Judge Daniel Agnew of Beaver became Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court.

Septemper 21, 1878 , The first locomotive crossed the P&LE railroad bridge which was the first rail bridge over the Ohio in the county. Also in 1878, the P&LE completed a line from Youngstown, Ohio, through Beaver County to Pittsburgh.

1879 , Freedom Oil Works was founded in present-day Conway and moved to Freedom around 1883.

The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad began passenger service in the county.

August 1880 , Phoenix Glass began operations in Phillipsburg (Monaca).

September 1880 , Geneva College relocated from Northwood, Ohio, to Beaver Falls.