PRINTER'S NO. 2354
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
541
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY WARD, BISHOP, BAKER, DONATUCCI, THOMAS, COHEN,
BENNINGHOFF, READSHAW, HENNESSEY, VEREB, MILLARD, KNOWLES,
METZGAR, HEFFLEY, DiGIROLAMO, DRISCOLL, KIRKLAND, QUIGLEY,
ROSS, CAUSER, MAJOR, SCHWEYER, PICKETT, R. BROWN, McNEILL,
BIZZARRO, HAHN, HICKERNELL, MARSICO, DUSH, SONNEY,
CALTAGIRONE, ROZZI, MILNE, GROVE, MAHONEY, O'NEILL, KIM,
WHEELAND, YOUNGBLOOD, PAYNE, McGINNIS, GILLEN, GINGRICH,
NEILSON, GABLER, BRADFORD AND WATSON, OCTOBER 15, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 15, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Borough of
Williamsburg, Blair County.
WHEREAS, The Borough of Williamsburg, the oldest borough in
Blair County, was founded in 1790 and incorporated in 1827; and
WHEREAS, The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania
granted a patent to George Reynolds for the unsettled territory
surrounding Big Spring in the Juniata Valley in 1789; and
WHEREAS, Drawn to that land from the Conococheague Valley,
Jacob Ake built a pine log home for his family after acquiring
hundreds of acres along the Frankstown branch of the Juniata
River; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ake established a settlement known as Aketown in
1790, donating plots for churches and cemeteries and otherwise
conveying plots for housing; and
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WHEREAS, The settlement, renamed Williamsburg in honor of Mr.
Ake's son, included 34 houses by 1810; and
WHEREAS, From 1832 through 1875, the Pennsylvania Main Line
Canal spurred further growth in the borough; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Railroad branch line from
Hollidaysburg, built in the 1870s, provided passenger service
through 1933 and freight service through 1982; and
WHEREAS, Paper manufacturing accelerated industrial
development in the early 20th century; and
WHEREAS, The Blair County Children's Home, a child welfare
facility established in association with the Children's Aid
Society, operated for the benefit of children in need from 1902
through 1975; and
WHEREAS, The Williamsburg Historic District, a part of the
borough featuring commercial and residential sites, schools and
churches, has been listed on the National Register of Historic
Places since 1995; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
225th anniversary of the Borough of Williamsburg, Blair County.
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