The History of Homer City
| The history of Homer City goes back to the mid 1700's when six
Indian nations conveyed to the proprietaries of Pennsylvania all
their lands within the province. The land was very attractive -
wooded hills, well watered, many meadows with green grass and abundant
game. However, the Delawares and Shawnees did not consent to the
treaty and were loath to give up their hunting grounds. When settlers
came to this locality from Cumberland and Franklin Counties, many
were driven away by angered Indians.
After the breaking out of the Revolutionary War in 1775, the Indians became more hostile, and what settlers were left were compelled to flee. Another treaty with the Indians was made in 1784, and in 1788 Andrew Allison, James Simpson and John White erected a block house on Cherry Run. The settlers continued to be bothered by Indians until after the victory of General Anthony Wayne at Fallen Timbers in 1794. The residents here at this time were mostly Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, many of whom worshiped at the Bethel Church, organized about 1790. The village of Homer City was laid out in 1854 by William Wilson, who named it after the ancient Greek poet, Homer. The land the town was situated on was formed from two parcels; one patented in the name of John Allison, and the other John and William Cummins. Soon after securing his land, John Allison built a gristmill on Yellow Creek, near the end of what was Maple Street and now is the Floodway Park. The dam on Yellow Creek that held water to furnish power for this mill was nearer Main Street than other dams erected across the stream since that time. When the first mill wore out, another was constructed about 1850 on the east side on Twolick Creek. An "up and down" sawmill was operated on Twolick, just below where the second gristmill was built, by a man named Simpson. The old covered bridge over Twolick at Main Street was built in 1855. It was the second at that place. The present steel one was constructed in 1903. The first bridge over Yellow Creek was built in 1835. The third bridge was a covered wooden one, replaced later by an iron one. In 1910 the present steel girder bridge was built.
All houses of this and until a much later period were built of logs. The stone house on the McGee farm, now owned by John Bonya, was erected in 1823 by John Ross. The first store was established by John Mullen in 1832 and was on the east side of Main Street near TwoLick (now Main and Indiana Streets). The second merchant was Hugh Devers who not long after establishment of the Mullen store proceeded to sell goods and buy country produce which he wagoned to Pittsburgh. His store was on Main Street where the bank now stands.
The first house after the survey of the town was built by Isaac Killen, the second blacksmith. Mr. Wilson then built a frame building used as a tavern by Matthew Kerr, the first carpenter. The Indiana Branch if the Pennsylvania Railroad to the village was completed in 1855. The Homer Station was located on the north side of what is now West Elm Street, and David Boyd was the first agent for the company. In 1850, Mr. Boyd built a brick home nearby, now owned by Gordon Clark, which became a "station " of the Underground Railroad system by which slaves were aided on their way to freedom. Later, in 1872, Mr. Boyd was elected first burgess of Homer City.
The first church to be erected was the Methodist Episcopal. Successive churches were the United Presbyterian, Presbyterian and Lutheran. The first blacksmith in the town was Willson McDonnell, followed by Isaac Killen. The first and only tailor was Daniel Myers, while the first shoemaker was John Decker. A tannery and saddler's shop was established by Johnson and Stewart. Later the Homer City Hotel, owned by Mrs. J.C. Cribbs, was erected by John Devers in 1878-79. The forks of the Twolick and Yellow Creek were the important rivers Indiana County and made Homer City a logical choice for the county seat. Had it not been for the extraordinary overtures of Mr. George Clymer, no doubt that situation would have been chosen. The first school in the area was built in 1798 on the McMullen farm. Children went to school one or two months a year. The first school in Homer City was built in 1885 along Ridge Avenue, a one-room building to which a second room was soon added. Today Homer City Borough is one of three large Boroughs on Indiana County. The Major employer is FMC Corporation, a multinational corporation in Homer City with its material handling equipment division located here. This plant manufactures equipment used by the food handling and other industries that have production line capabilities. The proposed Indiana to Homer City Pedestrian and Bike Trail Project provides a vital link in a County and regional trail system by intersecting with the Borough's Floodway Park. This trail will provide a non-motorized alternative transportation corridor to the various businesses and industries located along this trail that once was the old Pennsylvania Railroad route. Homer City Borough is situated six miles from Indiana and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 40 miles from Greensburg, 25 miles form Johnstown, and about 60 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. Although the population of the Borough is only 1,809(1990 Census), the Borough continues to be a very affordable place to live and to raise a family, with stores that provide the basic goods and services to its residents. |
