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

The Center Of Town

— The Ford City Trail —

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

1. The Center Of Town Marker

Inscription.

The Center Of Town. . , Appropriately named, Ford Street is the center of the business district in town. From its beginning, Ford Street has been a vibrant place for merchants as well as a meeting place for its citizens. Times have changed, and so has Ford Street. Today, many of the "hometown" merchants are gone, but the spirit of Ford City still remains., The Ford City Train Depot, which was built in 1900, was the stop-off point for many European Immigrants as well as Americans looking for employment and a new life. Located at the Third Avenue end of Ford Street, it was originally at street level. After the 1913 flood, the railroad tracks were raised and the depot was rebuilt. It provided direct access to the factories, the business district, and the town in general. Many of our older citizens have fond memories of riding the train to Kennywood Park and Pittsburgh. The train depot ultimately became obsolete and was razed in 1974., (Captions):, Ford Street looking west. Early 1900s. Train depot at street level., Ford Street from Third Avenue looking east. Circa 1920s., Ford Street looking west. Mid 1950s. Train depot raised., The Clock Tower now occupies the former location of the Ford City Train Depot. It was built for the community in the year 2000 by the Ford City Lions Club. It has since become the focal point of many celebrations and events in town., The Freight Station and Loading Docks were located on Third Avenue directly across from the present day Tenth Street Station. This unit served the factories and the town as a drop-off and pick-up place for trains on one side and trailer trucks on the other. The Freight Station eventually lost its usefulness and was torn down in 1957., The Philadelphia Block was a beautiful Victorian style series of homes located in the area of the present day Municipal Parking Lot. It housed a number of prominent families during its time. The structure fell into disrepair and was torn down in 1951 in order to widen Third Avenue., Photos are courtesy of Bill Oleksak and Larry Vorpe

Appropriately named, Ford Street is the center of the business district in town. From its beginning, Ford Street has been a vibrant place for merchants as well as a meeting place for its citizens. Times have changed, and so has Ford Street. Today, many of the "hometown" merchants are gone, but the spirit of Ford City still remains.

The Ford City Train Depot, which was built in 1900, was the stop-off point for many European Immigrants as well as Americans looking for employment and a new life. Located at the Third Avenue end of Ford Street, it was originally at street level. After the 1913 flood, the railroad tracks were raised and the depot was rebuilt. It provided direct access to the factories, the business district, and the town in general. Many of our older citizens have fond memories of riding the train to Kennywood Park and Pittsburgh. The train depot ultimately became obsolete and was razed in 1974.

(Captions):

Ford Street looking west. Early 1900s. Train depot at street level.

Ford Street from Third Avenue looking east. Circa 1920s.

Ford Street looking west. Mid 1950s. Train depot raised.

The Clock Tower now occupies the former location of the Ford City Train Depot. It was built for the community in the year 2000 by the Ford City Lions Club.

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It has since become the focal point of many celebrations and events in town.

The Freight Station and Loading Docks were located on Third Avenue directly across from the present day Tenth Street Station. This unit served the factories and the town as a drop-off and pick-up place for trains on one side and trailer trucks on the other. The Freight Station eventually lost its usefulness and was torn down in 1957.

The Philadelphia Block was a beautiful Victorian style series of homes located in the area of the present day Municipal Parking Lot. It housed a number of prominent families during its time. The structure fell into disrepair and was torn down in 1951 in order to widen Third Avenue.

Photos are courtesy of Bill Oleksak and Larry Vorpe

Erected 2020 by The Ford City Lions Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Notable Buildings • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 40° 46.293′ N, 79° 31.939′ W. Marker is in Ford City, Pennsylvania, in Armstrong County. It is on 3rd Avenue north of Ford Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the Armstrong Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 961 3rd Avenue, Ford City PA 16226, United States 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.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

2. The Center Of Town Marker

View is looking north on the Armstrong Trail.

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 10th Street Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Ford City / Armstrong Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); A Town Of Worship (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pittsburgh Plate Glass Ford City Works (about 400 feet away); The Ford City Park (about 500 feet away); German World War II Cannon (about 600 feet away); Ford City Veterans Monument (about 700 feet away); John B. Ford (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ford City.

Ford City Clock Tower Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

3. Ford City Clock Tower Plaque

With gratitude to the Lions Club of Ford City and the generous benefactors, this Clock Tower was erected in the year 2000, and is maintained by the Lions Club of Ford City

Ford City Clock Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

4. Ford City Clock Tower

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 38 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 31, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.