Mount Union, Huntingdon County Pennsylvania

It was at one time the world's largest producer of refractory material.

Mount Union

Mount Union was largely influenced by industry. It was at one time the world's largest producer of refractory material (silica brick), with three plants – General Refractories, United States Refractories, and Harbison Walker. The refractory business in Mount Union lasted from 1899 to about 1972, with limited production into the early 1990s. Other industries included two tanneries, a tanning extract plant, coal yards, an explosives and munitions plant (Aetna), and foundry and machine shops.

Mount Union was the northern terminus for the narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad, connecting to the Main Line of the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad (now Norfolk Southern). The EBT maintained a large dual-gauge yard and coal cleaning plant in Mount Union and supplied coal to the Refractory plants. The EBT ceased operations in 1956 but the track is still in place and owned by the railroad. From 1998 to 2010, the Mount Union Connecting Railroad attempted to reactivate the EBT main track through Mount Union and rehabilitated it, but only a couple cars were serviced and none moved over the EBT trackage.

Today the culturally significant Thousand Steps of the Standing Stone Trail are located in the Jacks Narrows about 2 miles west of the town along U.S. Route 22. The annual Creation Festival is hosted locally (since 1984), drawing thousands of visitors in late June. Mount Union is the site of the PA Lions Beacon Lodge Camp, a summer camp for people with visual impairments and special needs, founded by Carl Shoemaker in 1948.

Mount Union, PA

The pictures are of Mount Union Borough and Surrounding Area

The pictures featured below are mostly from the Jackson Township Historical Preservation. They so graciously allowed the Huntingdon County History & Heritage Roundtable permission to use their collections.

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Aerial View of Brick Town pre 1960
American Legion Parade 1940's
Aughwick Rod and Gun Club
Corner of Jefferson and Shirley Streets
Crum Building on Jefferson Street
J.D. Flood Company Delivering Furniture 1910
Dinky Bridge
Destruction of Dinky Bridge 1936 Flood
Mt. Union Business District
Drug Store
East Broad Top Train in Mount Union
Explosive Plant in Mount Union 1908
Acme Grocery Store Shirley Street
G.W. Radle Store Mount Union> </div> <div class= Harbison Walker Brick Company
Harbison-Walker Refactory Workers 1945
Harbison-Walker Refractory Workers 1945
Horse Drawn Fire Vehicle pre 1903
Ice Skating on the Juniata in Mount Union
J E Everett Grocery 1910
Meloni Bar in Mount Union
Mount Union Times Printers and Publishers
Mount Union Railroad Tie Yard 1950s
Old Mount Union High School
Parade in Mount Union 1920s
Pennsylvaina Avenue Mount Union 1945
Pennsylvania Railroad Creosoting Plant in Mount Union
Pennsylvania Railroad Depot Mount Union 1900s
Pennsylvania Railroad Station Mount Union 1908
Planing Mill Mount Union 1936 Flood
Shapiro Movie Theater 1941
Shapiro Furniture Warehoouse
Shirley Street 1960s
Shirley Street Mount Union 1930s
Shirley Street Mount Union 1920s
Sons of Veterans Group on Jefferson Street
Saint Patrick Day Flood 1936
Stricklers Store and Gas Station 1950s
Mount Union Street Scene 1907
Mount Union Train Wreck February 1917
Train Wreck February 1917 Mount Union