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BRIEF HISTORY OF
DURYEA BOROUGH
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Forty
original settlers arrived from Connecticut
on February 8, 1769 and set up temporary
cabins near the junction of the Lackawanna
River and Susquehanna River. One of the
first settlers was Zebulon Marcy for which
Marcy Township got its name. Marcy Township
was the original name of the area known as
Duryea Borough. He built the first log cabin
in 1770 on the west side of the present Main
Street of Duryea not far from the Old Forge
line. |
Image
Source (www.duryeapa.com) |
As more
settlers located in the area, the
development of mining caused the citizenry
to petition for township status. Marcy
Township was founded in 1880 with a
population of 1159. A canvas of the township
in 1894 noted a population of 2396 and 475
dwellings in a 400 acre settlement. Duryea
Borough grew in population and listed 1306
taxables and 1005 registered voters in 1901.
Duryea Borough was incorporated on May 28,
1901. Doctor J.A. Burlington was elected as
the first burgess, now known as mayor.
Duryea Borough was named in honor of Hiram
Duryea, a Civil War general and owner of
extensive tracts of land in sections of the
country. He was a prominent figure in the
starch industry, a coal operator and an
official of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad. It was the practice of
this railroad to name its section stops
after officials of the line, hence the name
of Duryea.
Farming
was the principal occupation in the earliest
days. Pioneer settlers found many portions
of the land suitable for raising food that
they needed for existence. Shortly after,
mining would become the area’s greatest
source of prosperity, along with silk mills
and stone quarries.
Today,
Duryea Borough has a population of
approximately 4634 residents and consists of
about 14.45 miles of road. The borough is
located in Luzerne County, 10 miles
northeast of Wilkes-Barre and 2 miles north
of Pittston. Duryea Borough held a
centennial celebration in 2001.
If you want to share your Pre 1960 pictures
or documents contact Mike Lizonitz at
570-655-8336 or Bernie Stiroh at
973-838-7126. |
