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A Brief History of New Morgan Borough


1715 - At a conference in Philadelphia, local Indians voluntarily abandon land in the Conestoga Valley, a portion of which included the area of land now known as New Morgan Borough.

1718 - Warrants were issued to William Davies and other Welshmen, all from St. Davids in Radnor Township.

1729 - Lancaster County was formed out of Chester County.

1752 - Berks County was formed out of Lancaster County, much larger then its present configuration (see map on “about us” page).

1791 - Located just north of the Borough boundary on the east side of Route 10, Joanna Furnace, a cold blast iron furnace, was started by Samuel Potts, Thomas Rutter III, Thomas May and Thomas Bull.  The furnace was named after Potts’ wife Joanna Holland Potts and was a substantial contributor to the economy of the day.

1811 - Berks County receives its final shape along with adjoining counties.

1898 - After the death of Levi Heber Smith, the last Ironmaker at Joanna, the furnace blew out and was never again operated.

1948 - The first instance of an ore discovery from an airborne magnetometer survey locates iron ore at what is now New Morgan.

1949 - Bethlehem Steel starts a quiet purchase of land in the area and sends a first drill rig.  The area becomes known as Grace Mines named after Eugene C. Grace the at that time Chairman of Bethlehem Steel.

1958 - Mine productions start. [click here for story]

1970 - Employment peaks at Grace Mines to 1,100 workers.

1977 - Mine closes due to depressed economic conditions combined with the cost of operations of underground mining. Soon after Bethlehem Steel starts selling its holdings, the majority of which go to Morgantown Properties.

1988 - Properties were consolidated and New Morgan Borough is officially incorporated May 10, 1988.
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