Martinsburg
Pennsylvania
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Martinsburg Borough
History
The land on which the Borough of Martinsburg now stands is part of a tract that was purchased from the Six Nations of Indians by the Penn family. This purchase is known as the "Albany Purchase of 1754". A Cayuga Indian Chief named Logan was instrumental in bringing about the purchase.
The "Great Cove" or "Big Cove", which were names given to our area by the Indians, was in 1770 named "Morrison’s Cove" for surveyor James Morrison. In 1785 there were 1500 acres of land surveyed for John Brumbaugh, which is the site where Martinsburg is now located. In 1792 Thomas and Richard Penn issued Brumbaugh a patent for his land.
In 1815 the first commercial building was erected near the square in Martinsburg at 100 East Allegheny Street, which has an elevation of 1407 feet above see level. In 1817 the growing village was made a "Post Town" with George Davies being named the first postmaster in 1821. On April 2, 1832 Martinsburg, which was then part of Bedford County, was incorporated as a Borough by an act of the State Legislature. Martinsburg, which is thought to be named for an early cove pioneer John Martin, is the oldest continuously incorporated borough in Blair County, which was formed from Bedford and Huntingdon Counties in 1846.
By 1850 Martinsburg had grown to a population of 442 and had seen the formation of several churches along with various business. The second half of the century showed modest population growth along with the establishment of the first bank, newspaper, cemetery association, a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, kerosene street lights and telephone company. The first Borough Ordinance was passed on Sept. 28, 1878 and stated that no one shall place any material on a public street except for public improvement, the sum of one dollar shall be paid for every such offense committed. On July 4, 1881 the Martinsburg High School building was built at 133 East Allegheny Street and this building is presently being used as the Martinsburg Municipal Building.
The year of 1892 was a very important year with the formation of a fire company, the purchase of a hose cart with 500 feet of hose and water being furnished to the Borough from the Lock Mountain Reservoir. In 1893 a blacksmith shop was purchased to house the fire equipment.
The turn of the century brought continued growth to the Borough with the population reaching 590 in the year 1900. The first decade featured the ground breaking at Bean Hill to build the Brownstone building to house the University of Southern Penna. The Martinsburg Old Folk’s Home, presently the Morrison’s Cove Home, was dedicated along with the first electric light plant being established along South Market Street. Roads were on the agenda for 1919 when West Allegheny Street, South Market Street, and a portion of Locust Street were being paved with vitrified brick. Then in 1924 East Allegheny and North Market Streets were paved with reinforced concrete.
The Morrison’s Cove Memorial Park which currently encompasses nearly 30 acres was incorporated in 1921 and in 1934 a memorial was dedicated to all the soldiers and sailors of the Cove. In 1940 the Borough fire equipment was moved to 133 East Allegheny Street. The need was realized for a wastewater treatment plant and in 1942 a 250,000 gallon per day plant was put into service. In 1948 the Martinsburg Community Library was opened to the public on the second floor of the Municipal Building on Allegheny Street.
The land on which the Borough of Martinsburg now stands is part of a tract that was purchased from the Six Nations of Indians by the Penn family. This purchase is known as the "Albany Purchase of 1754". A Cayuga Indian Chief named Logan was instrumental in bringing about the purchase.
The "Great Cove" or "Big Cove", which were names given to our area by the Indians, was in 1770 named "Morrison’s Cove" for surveyor James Morrison. In 1785 there were 1500 acres of land surveyed for John Brumbaugh, which is the site where Martinsburg is now located. In 1792 Thomas and Richard Penn issued Brumbaugh a patent for his land.
In 1815 the first commercial building was erected near the square in Martinsburg at 100 East Allegheny Street, which has an elevation of 1407 feet above see level. In 1817 the growing village was made a "Post Town" with George Davies being named the first postmaster in 1821. On April 2, 1832 Martinsburg, which was then part of Bedford County, was incorporated as a Borough by an act of the State Legislature. Martinsburg, which is thought to be named for an early cove pioneer John Martin, is the oldest continuously incorporated borough in Blair County, which was formed from Bedford and Huntingdon Counties in 1846.
By 1850 Martinsburg had grown to a population of 442 and had seen the formation of several churches along with various business. The second half of the century showed modest population growth along with the establishment of the first bank, newspaper, cemetery association, a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, kerosene street lights and telephone company. The first Borough Ordinance was passed on Sept. 28, 1878 and stated that no one shall place any material on a public street except for public improvement, the sum of one dollar shall be paid for every such offense committed. On July 4, 1881 the Martinsburg High School building was built at 133 East Allegheny Street and this building is presently being used as the Martinsburg Municipal Building.
The year of 1892 was a very important year with the formation of a fire company, the purchase of a hose cart with 500 feet of hose and water being furnished to the Borough from the Lock Mountain Reservoir. In 1893 a blacksmith shop was purchased to house the fire equipment.
The turn of the century brought continued growth to the Borough with the population reaching 590 in the year 1900. The first decade featured the ground breaking at Bean Hill to build the Brownstone building to house the University of Southern Penna. The Martinsburg Old Folk’s Home, presently the Morrison’s Cove Home, was dedicated along with the first electric light plant being established along South Market Street. Roads were on the agenda for 1919 when West Allegheny Street, South Market Street, and a portion of Locust Street were being paved with vitrified brick. Then in 1924 East Allegheny and North Market Streets were paved with reinforced concrete.
The Morrison’s Cove Memorial Park which currently encompasses nearly 30 acres was incorporated in 1921 and in 1934 a memorial was dedicated to all the soldiers and sailors of the Cove. In 1940 the Borough fire equipment was moved to 133 East Allegheny Street. The need was realized for a wastewater treatment plant and in 1942 a 250,000 gallon per day plant was put into service. In 1948 the Martinsburg Community Library was opened to the public on the second floor of the Municipal Building on Allegheny Street.