Welcome to Historic Marietta

where yesterday meets today

In colonial days, Marietta was a Susquehanna River 
crossing known as "Anderson's Ferry".  The town
prospered as a result of flourishing river commerce 
on the Pennsylvania Canal (built in 1825-1830) and 
the Pennsylvania Railroad (built in the early 1850's). 
Marietta became a lumbering and iron smelting center 
- an earthy mix of rich ironmasters, hard-working 
lumbermen, skilled artisans, educational academics, 
religious revivals and brawling rivermen. 

In the first half of the 20th century, Marietta suffered 
economic doldrums due to dwindling river-related 
industries.  The town's early grandeur had produced 
many handsome Federal and Victorian homes and the 
hard times of the early 1900's meant that residents 
could not afford to "modernize" them.  Untouched, 
these homes were highly desirable for restoration. 

Hurricane Agnes blew into Marietta in June of 1972. 
Along with the winds and high water came federal 
disaster relief money.  With 45% of the town declared 
a National Historic District, Marietta has become a 
recognized center for restoration.

The grandeur of Marietta's past is awaiting your discovery.

  1727   Wilkins property sold to The Rev. James Anderson, whose 
             son, James, subsequently establishes a ferry. 

  1733   George Stewart's son inherits land which he sells to David 
             Cook in 1748 
 
  1803   David Cook's son lays out town of New Haven (east end of  
             Marietta). 
 
  1804   James Anderson IV lays out town of Waterford (west end 
             of Marietta). 
 
  1812   Anderson and Cook procure charter and name the town 
             Marietta. 
 
  1813   John Pedan, James Mehaffey, and James Duffy purchase 
              land west of Anderson's, lay out lots in what is known as 
              Irishtown. 
 
  1814   Jacob Grosh purchases and lays out lots now the 
             easternmost four blocks of town. 
 
  1816   Market House erected on square; Union Meeting House 
              construction on public burying ground authorized. 
 
  1817-  Economic crisis checks town expansion; 
  1825-   recovery slow until Pennsylvania Canal built 
  1830    from 1825-30.  Planing mills, lumber yards, carpentry 
              shops vie with taverns as backbone of local economy. 
 
  1847   Borough erects Town Hall at Walnut and Waterford 
             Streets. 
 
c.1850   Iron smelting leaves indelible mark on town with as many 
              as six furnaces, as well as rolling mills, in borough.  Vital 
              remnants of iron industry are homes of ironmasters, still 
              serving as residences. 
 
  1861-  Marietta raise five companies of soldiers for Union Army. 
 
  1865   Women knit and bake bread in support.  River banks 
               fortified in 1863 as Confederate Army invades York. 
 
  1863   First National Bank of Marietta becomes first chartered 
             bank  in  Lancaster  County  and  twenty-fifth  in United States. 
 
  1876   Marietta celebrates U.S. Centennial.  First issue of The  
             Marietta Times published on Thanksgiving; continues until  
              early 1960s. 
 
c.1880   Mansions in Marietta are sites of lavish entertaining, 
               hosting Presidents Grant and Cleveland, Supreme 
              Court justices, and railroad presidents. 
 
  1882    Dr. H. M. Alexander founds what is now Wyeth 
              Laboratories, the first commercial biological laboratory 
               in the U.S.; produces more vaccine than all other such 
               establishments in U.S. by 1984. 
 
  1893   Columbia and Donegal Electric Railway runs its first car 
              from Columbia to Marietta through Chiques Hill Park. 
 
  1917-  Marietta again sends men to serve their country, 
  1918    including Lt. Benjamin Heistand, in whose memory 
              the Marietta Community House is dedicated. 
 
  1972   Floods from Hurricane Agnes devastate the town,  but 
             spark restoration efforts. 
 
  1978   The United States places a portion of the town on the 
             National Register of Historic Places, calling it a well 
             preserved example of a mid-19th-century town. 
 
  1984   The Marietta Historic District Extension is dedicated, 
             making  48% of the town now part of  the National