Marietta in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Decatur Street

Photographed by William Pope, March 10, 2024

1. Decatur Street Marker

Inscription. Decatur Street has served as a public thoroughfare and river access for Marietta since 1813, when it was developed as one of the principal streets in the westernmost portion of the town. Laid out at the height of the War of 1812, the wide-spread exuberance of national patriotism was memorialized in Marietta through the naming of local streets.

The north-south streets bear the names of American naval heroes-Decatur, Porter, Bainbridge, Biddle, Perry, and Hull, while the east-west streets are named after notable US ships-Wasp, Essex, and United States (now West Market).

Known by the moniker Irishtown, this westernmost portion of town was founded by three local entrepreneurs: James Duffy (1771-1836), James Mehaffey (1772-1851), and John Pedan (1777-1821). Eager to take advantage of an unprecedented economic boom, Duffy, Mehaffey, and Pedan purchased 161 acres of land and laid out the building lots and necessary streets to develop Irishtown in 1813. Although physically connected to Marietta, Irishtown remained distinctly outside the corporate limits of the borough until 1970, when it was formally merged as part of a requirement to connect newly installed sewer lines to the borough-owned waste treatment plant.

(Captions)

Stephen Decatur was a distinguished US naval commander
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who was renowned for his bravery and unwavering patriotism during the War of 1812.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1813.

Location. 40° 3.212′ N, 76° 34.114′ W. Marker is in Marietta, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. It is at the intersection of Decatur Street and Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, on the right when traveling south on Decatur Street. This marker is at the Decatur Street Parking Lot for the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21 Decatur St, Marietta PA 17547, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Marietta (approx. 0.3 miles away); Anderson's Ferry (approx. 0.6 miles away); Those Who Served From Marietta in World War II (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Marietta (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Marietta (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Marietta (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Old Town Hall (approx. 0.9 miles away); Women in Marietta (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marietta.

Photographed by William Pope, March 10, 2024

2. Decatur Street Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 217 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 18, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.