Leechburg in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

David Leech

Founder of Leechburg

1. David Leech Marker

Inscription. David Leech was born in Bucks County, PA in 1791 and trained as a civil engineer at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. Leech arrived here in 1827 with a contract to build a lock & dam for the Pennsylvania Canal. He laid out the town in 1829 then erected a sawmill, grist mill and woolen mill. He built the first school, served as a canal commissioner, burgess & postmaster. He was the founder of D. Leech & Co, largest freight forwarder to operate on the Pennsylvania Canal. Later, he was the contractor who built much of the Allegheny Valley Railroad. Served as a commissioner for the Pennsylvania Railroad and as a delegate for the Whig Party. Died in 1858. Founder of Leechburg

Erected 2024 by Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.

Location. 40° 37.609′ N, 79° 36.194′ W. Marker is in Leechburg, Pennsylvania, in Armstrong County. It is on First Street near Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 First Street, Leechburg PA 15656, United States

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pittsburgh.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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: Leechburg High School Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Leechburg Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Leechburg Veterans Mural and Sitting Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); D. Leech & Company / Western Transportation Company (approx. ¼ mile away); Leechburg (approx. ¼ mile away); Dr. H. W. Fraley Park (approx. ¼ mile away); The Hyde Park Foot Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Pennsylvania Canal (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leechburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2025. This page has been viewed 103 times since then and 23 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on June 19, 2025. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.