Laporte in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Celestia

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 12, 2015

1. Celestia Marker

Inscription. Peter E. Armstrong founded a religious community here in 1850. He envisioned his followers as "wilderness exiles" in a "City of Heaven" on this mountaintop. In 1864 the land was deeded to Almighty God "and to His heirs in Jesus Messiah." Because of the "owner's" nonpayment of taxes, the county sold the land in 1876 to A.T. Armstrong, Peter's son. Peter Armstrong himself struggled to continue this community before he died in 1887.

Erected 1999 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Communal and Utopian Societies, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 41° 25.31′ N, 76° 31.507′ W. Marker is in Laporte, Pennsylvania, in Sullivan County. It is on Pennsylvania Route 42. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Laporte PA 18626, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

It is

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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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Merritt Field Airport (approx. 0.7 miles away); Burial Grounds (approx. 1.4 miles away); Sacred Heart (approx. 1.4 miles away); Dye Kettle (approx. 1.6 miles away); St. Peter's Church Bench (approx. 1.6 miles away); "Freight Gate" (approx. 1.7 miles away); Dr. Theodore Joseph Saul, Capt. M.C. (approx. 1.7 miles away); Sullivan County Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laporte.

Also see . . . MarkerQuest - Celestia. (Submitted on October 15, 2025, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by Don Morfe, October 12, 2015

2. Celestia Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 861 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 26, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.