Old Forge, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
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| Borough of Old Forge | |
| — Borough — | |
  Borough of Old Forge
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lackawanna |
| Established | 1899 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Mayor/Council |
| - Mayor | Michelle Avvisato |
| Area | |
| - Total | 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km²) |
| - Land | 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Elevation | 732 ft (223 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 8,798 |
| - Density | 2,546.9/sq mi (983.4/km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 18518 |
| Area code(s) | 570 |
| Website: www.oldforgeboro.com | |
Old Forge is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,798 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Old Forge is located at (41.369679, -75.738297)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.5 square miles (8.9 km²), all land.
[edit] History
The History Of Old Forge can be traced back to the creation of the original iron forge in 1789 by Dr. William Smith, who was an army surgeon in the Revolutionary War. During the 1820s, Charles Drake operated the only stagecoach inn between Wilkes-Barre and Carbondale. Drake's son, Ebenezer, secured a post office for Old Forge in 1848, where he served as postmaster until 1885. On May 26, 1871, Old Forge Township was designated, as it previously had been part of Lackawanna Township. Old Forge Borough was incorporated in May 2, 1899.
During the early part of the 20th century, the borough's main industry was anthracite coal mining along with a minor silk throwing industry. During the 1920s, the Dutchess Underwear Company came to Old Forge where many residents worked until the 1950s, when the company relocated to Georgia. It was during this time that the borough's population reached an all-time high of over 14,000 residents. As a result of a major coal mining strike, many people left Old Forge and the population dropped to 12,661 according to the 1930 census.
The 1930s brought a new industry to the borough in that of textiles. This was an important addition to the industry of Old Forge during World War II. By the 1950s, the Maxson Corporation began operating its electronics factory, at one point employing as many as 1,000. The Knox Mine Disaster on January 22, 1959 virtually put an end to all anthracite coal mining in the area.
The 1960s saw the Butler Silk Mill and the Maxson Corp. close. The Gabriel Sporting Goods Company moved into a portion of the Maxson plant. Brooks Manufacturing was the major employer in town during this time. By the 1970s, though, Brooks was undergoing a major reduction in workforce and eventually closed in the 1980s to be replaced by its current tenant, King Coil Mattress Co.
The 1960s and 1970s saw the growth of what has become the borough's trademark, the pizza business. The origins of selling pizza is believe to have began with the Ghigiarelli family, when Mrs. Ghigiarelli used to serve her homemade pizza to men playing cards. This led to what is known as "Old Forge Pizza". This pizza is typically rectangular in shape with a balanced tangy sauce and topped with a creamier cheese similar to fontina or white American on a crispy thicker crust. Old Forge style pizza is served at many restaurants in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
[edit] Government
Old Forge consists of a Burgess (Mayor) and a six-seat council government established in 1899. The first election was held on May 13, 1899. In 1901, a petition was filed to divide the borough into wards and in 1903 six election wards were established . In 1927, the Sixth Ward was divided into 3 districts. The term "Burgess" was used until 1961 when office became known as "Mayor". Here is a history of the Burgesses/Mayors in Old Forge.
| NAME | TERM |
|---|---|
| Andrew Kennedy | 1899-1900 |
| R.W. Rees (Resigned) | 1900-1902 |
| J.N. Cooke | 1902-1903 |
| John Hayes (Grandfather of Congressman Joseph McDade) | 1903-1906 |
| Edward Garvin | 1906-1909 |
| William Repp | 1909-1913 |
| Martin Memlo | 1913-1917 |
| Michael Farrell | 1917-1921 |
| Frank Costanza | 1921-1925 |
| Frank Burger | 1925-1929 |
| Louis Pagnotti | 1929-1933 |
| Thomas Carey | 1933-1937 |
| James Tedesco | 1937-1945 |
| Bart Petrini | 1945-1965 |
| Edmund Wascavage | 1965-1969 |
| Elio Ghigiarelli | 1969-1973 |
| Edward Salerno | 1973-1977 |
| Frank DeGennari | 1977-1981 |
| Anthony Cristiano | 1981-1985 |
| Amil Bertocki | 1985-1989 |
| Anthony Trotta | 1989-1993 |
| Edward Kania | 1993-1997 |
| Philip Tagliaterra | 1997-2001 |
| Anthony Torquato | 2001-2005 |
| Michelle Avvisato | 2005-Present |
[edit] Sections
There are many Sections of Old Forge which still are referenced to today.
| NAME | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| Austin Heights | West Northwest, above Milwaukee Avenue |
| Babylon | South, in lower Old Forge along Main Street |
| Barbertown | North Northwest, area near Vine Street |
| Bush Patch | West, area along Milwaukee Avenue |
| Connel's Patch | West Southwest, in lower Old Forge on the north side of the Lackawanna River |
| Goose Alley | East Southeast, area near River Street |
| Lawrenceville | South, area along Bridge Street |
| Rendham | Northeast, area around Dunn Avenue |
| Sibley | North Northwest, area along Keyser Avenue between Oak Street and Sibley Avenue |
| Snyder's Patch | East, area behind Moosic Road between First & Hoover Streets |
[edit] Schools
Since 1910, the town of Old Forge has had its own school district. Originally, there were several elementary schools throughout Old Forge serving each section of town, such as Central, Lawrenceville, Moosic Road, Sussex, Sibley, and Rendham. The high school was located on South Main Street (the site of the recently closed Eckerd's), which housed grades 9-12. A separate building in the rear of the main high school served as another elementary school and a gymnasium. This structure was destroyed by fire in the late 1950s.
In 1956, it was decided that all schools should be consolidated into one large building. Many feel that it was the building of a new school that saved Old Forge from the growing trend of jointures that was taking place throughout the area in the 1960s and 1970s. Groundbreaking began on July 21,1956 at the current site located on Marion Street. The new school opened for the 1960-1961 school year and is still in use to this day, receiving major renovations during the 1990s. All the old schools have since been demolished.
[edit] Sports
The Old Forge Blue Devils have a long, rich history in the area of sports. During the 1950s and 1960s, Old Forge dominated the area in football and basketball, winning several league championships and conference titles. The school has been to the state championship game twice and has won both times. In 1932 Old Forge beat St. Vincent High from Erie 24-19 for the state basketball championship. At the time, schools were not divided by class, thus there was only one state champion in the whole state. Sixty years later in 1992, Old Forge won the Class ""AA" state championship in baseball by beating Ridgeway 15-5.
Old Forge has had a long standing rival with neighboring town Taylor that goes back to 1939 when Old Forge beat the Taylor Trojans 2-0 in the first meeting of the two teams on the football field. Thus began the "Old Forge-Taylor Football Rivalry". A tradition began in 1940 of the two teams meeting on Thanksgiving Day. This continued until 1974. The rivalry was on hiatus from 1986 until 2000, when the two teams met renewing the heated rivalry between the two neighboring towns.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,798 people, 746 households, and 2,457 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,546.9 per square mile (984.6/km²). There were 3,981 housing units at an average density of 1,152.4 per square mile (445.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.01% White, 0.16% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.
There were 3,746 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,090, and the median income for a family was $46,152. Males had a median income of $34,159 versus $22,887 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,228. 6.6% of the population and 4.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.0% are under the age of 18 and 12.0% are 65 or older.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Scranton Times Archives
- ^ Old Forge Historical Society
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