The Freeport Area Library was organized by Freeport College Club members in 1937. The first librarian was Mr. Paul Ruffner followed by:
The site of the first library was the basement of the present day PNC Bank. After many moves, the library now has a permanent home at 428 Market Street.
The Freeport Area Library is a community supported library serving Freeport, Buffalo Twp., South Buffalo Twp. and outlying areas.
The library is continuing to grow and hopes to serve the community for many more years to come.
- Ms. Phyllis Brothers
- Miss Mame McCurdy
- Mrs. Ethel Bowden
- Miss Mary Brenneman
- Miss Carol Hooks
- Mrs. Pamela Eberle
The site of the first library was the basement of the present day PNC Bank. After many moves, the library now has a permanent home at 428 Market Street.
The Freeport Area Library is a community supported library serving Freeport, Buffalo Twp., South Buffalo Twp. and outlying areas.
The library is continuing to grow and hopes to serve the community for many more years to come.
History of Freeport, Pennsylvania
The town of Freeport was incorporated into a borough by the act of April 8, 1833, which prescribed its boundaries thus: Beginning at a chestnut on the band of the Allegheny river.
It was provided by the same act that all voters of what is now South Buffalo Township residing below a line beginning at Walker's ferry on the Allegheny River and extending thence to the Armstrong and Butler line should vote at general elections at Freeport, which was made a separate election district, the elections to be held in the schoolhouse. The first election was directed be held on the first Friday of May 1833, and Benjamin King and Dr. J.B. Williamson, or either of them, were to publish and superintend it, and the annual borough elections were to be held on the first Monday of May thereafter, until, by act of March 1840, it was changed to the second Friday of March, and is now, under the new constitution, on the second Friday of February.
At the first borough election, May 3, 1833, Jacob Weaver was elected burgess; James McCall, assistant burgess; Andrew Early, James Milligan, William Moorhead, William Painter, David Putney and Henry Weaver, town councilmen; David McCall, high constable; John Drum, street commissioner; James Ralston and Joseph Shoop, overseers of the poor; Jacob Alter, assessor; William Painter and James Ralston, assistant assessors.
The first meeting of the burgess and town council was held May 10, when William W. Gibson was appointed clerk. At the meeting, May 31, the council determined the dimensions of each square to be 333 feet and 3 inches, including the alleys, the width of the sidewalks 8 feet, increased to 10 feet by ordinance of May 29, 1868, but directed at a meeting held on the 1st to remain at the old width until repairs should be made. The valuation of property in the borough in 1833 was $48,078, and the rate per cent of tax thereon was six mills. According to the charter it could not exceed one and a half per cent in any one year. The amount of tax collected that year, was $192.31.
At a meeting of council, held June 7, ordinances were passed prohibiting the following and providing the following penalties for any violators:
These ordinances, although passed then, were not recorded, were recognized by the burgess and were subsequently repassed.
It was provided by the same act that all voters of what is now South Buffalo Township residing below a line beginning at Walker's ferry on the Allegheny River and extending thence to the Armstrong and Butler line should vote at general elections at Freeport, which was made a separate election district, the elections to be held in the schoolhouse. The first election was directed be held on the first Friday of May 1833, and Benjamin King and Dr. J.B. Williamson, or either of them, were to publish and superintend it, and the annual borough elections were to be held on the first Monday of May thereafter, until, by act of March 1840, it was changed to the second Friday of March, and is now, under the new constitution, on the second Friday of February.
At the first borough election, May 3, 1833, Jacob Weaver was elected burgess; James McCall, assistant burgess; Andrew Early, James Milligan, William Moorhead, William Painter, David Putney and Henry Weaver, town councilmen; David McCall, high constable; John Drum, street commissioner; James Ralston and Joseph Shoop, overseers of the poor; Jacob Alter, assessor; William Painter and James Ralston, assistant assessors.
The first meeting of the burgess and town council was held May 10, when William W. Gibson was appointed clerk. At the meeting, May 31, the council determined the dimensions of each square to be 333 feet and 3 inches, including the alleys, the width of the sidewalks 8 feet, increased to 10 feet by ordinance of May 29, 1868, but directed at a meeting held on the 1st to remain at the old width until repairs should be made. The valuation of property in the borough in 1833 was $48,078, and the rate per cent of tax thereon was six mills. According to the charter it could not exceed one and a half per cent in any one year. The amount of tax collected that year, was $192.31.
At a meeting of council, held June 7, ordinances were passed prohibiting the following and providing the following penalties for any violators:
- Public bathing, swimming, or washing in the river and canal nude from sunrise & 1:30P.M--$1
- Running or driving horses and carriages and other vehicles at a faster trait or a slow trot -- $5
- Firing guns within the borough limits -- $1
- Obstruction of any of the lanes, streets, or alleys -- $10
- Swine running, large -- $.25
- Riding or driving horses on pavements -- $1
- Providing for grading streets and sidewalks by an assessment of 1/2 cent on the dollar of the valuation of the property in the borough.
These ordinances, although passed then, were not recorded, were recognized by the burgess and were subsequently repassed.
