Marion Center, Pennsylvania
| Marion Center, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
| Borough | |
 Location of Marion Center in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. |
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 Marion Center, Pennsylvania
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| Coordinates: 40°46′11″N 79°02′57″W / 40.76972°N 79.04917°WCoordinates: 40°46′11″N 79°02′57″W / 40.76972°N 79.04917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Indiana |
| Settled | 1841 |
| Incorporated | 1869 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| • Mayor | Frank Pennington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2) |
| • Land | 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,283 ft (391 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 451 |
| • Estimate (2016) | 430 |
| • Density | 578.73/sq mi (223.42/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Zip code | 15759 |
| Area code(s) | 724 |
| FIPS code | 42-47472 |
Marion Center is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 451 at the 2010 census.
The village was laid out by John Park in 1841 and named Marion after the Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion. The Indiana Register first advertised lots for sale on September 1, 1841. Marion became incorporated as a borough in June 1869. The post office used a name distinct from the town (Brady Post Office) until December 26, 1890 when both were changed to Marion Center.
In 1885, New York banker Adrien Iselin purchased the Buffalo, Rochester, and Pittsburgh Railway. A branch near the Jefferson-Indiana County Line (Indiana Junction) led south into Indiana County ending at Vintondale. The tracks from Jefferson County into Indiana County were first laid near Juneau in October 1902. Trains ran through Marion Center by April 1903. The first passenger train stopped at Marion Center on May 3, 1904. The last train, the Hoodlbug, left on June 10, 1950.
Marion Center had a vibrant community life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Two hotels were erected on Main Street in the 19th century. Hotel Marion, built in 1879 by Alexander Adams, had 15 rooms and was three stories tall. It burned in the 1920s. The second hotel, Mahoning House, at the corner of Main and Manor Streets, occupied the site of the former general store operated by McLaughlin, Kinter, and Company. Horatio Simons converted it to a hotel on June 1, 1904. It was torn down in the 1930s to make way for Harry Black's service station. A dentist office (operated by Dr. L. N. Park) and a pharmacy (operated by William Griffith) were located on Main Street near the store of H. P. Wetzel (located at Craig and Main Streets). By 1887, Wetzel had built a store measuring 20- by 40 feet (12 m). He later added an additional 40 feet (12 m) to the store. He was succeeded by Frank Wetzel who operated a grocery store on the site until the 1940s.
A summer normal school operated in the borough in the early 20th century. Joseph Weaver instructed students during the approximately 12-week course. Passing the superintendent's exam upon completion of the program licensed one to teach in the county's common schools. The first school in Marion Center, a log building on North Manor Street, burned in 1834. Its first teacher was William Work. A second school was built on the same site in 1848. A third building was erected in the 1860s. The North Manor Street site became home to the area's high school (1916–1929). It was torn down in the late 2000s to make way for a public park (named after famous local artist, Linton Park).
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