AVOCA TIME LINE

(PLEASANT VALLEY)

1837 Albert McAlpine built a factory to construct kegs, cigar boxes and measures.

1854 Albert McAlpine's factory destroyed by fire.

1869 Number One School constructed on Main Street.

1870 Langcliffe Presbyterian Church erected.

1870 Brown's colliery producing coal.

1871 J.H Swoyer established a store.

1871 Full Gospel Congregation began meeting at the home of John Hastie on Main Street.

1871 May 24 Pleasant Valley Borough incorporated. Originally part of Pittston Township.

1871 Martin Reap, considered the borough's first merchant built his store.

1871 Pleasant Valley Post Office established. Joseph McMillan Post Master. Named Marr Post Office after Chief Clerk Joseph H. Marr from the office of the United States Postmaster General.

1871 Nay Aug Lodge No. 784 I.O.O.F. instituted on December 19.

1872 Albert McAlpine's factory blew up.

1872 Ontario Colliery producing coal.

1872 Father Matthew Silver Cornet Band organized.

1873 Hillside ( Dry Bread Breaker ) Colliery producing coal.

1873 Number Two School constructed on Packer Street.

1873 Number Three School constructed on Plane Street.

1873 James Maloney established a general merchandise store.

1873 Daily mail route established from Old Forge.

1874 McAlpine & Son add pails and powder kegs to the business.

1874 Heidelberg colliery producing coal.

1874 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church erected.

1876 Marr Lodge NO.1,131 I.O.G.T. instituted on April 28.

1876 Knights of Honor formed November 23.

1876 Father Matthew T.B.A. first meeting on October 26.

1876 John King established a general merchandise store.

1877 St. John's Primitive Methodist Church erected.

1878 Bethel Methodist Church erected.

1879 Father Matthew Cadets Auxiliary organized.

1879 Emmet Guard organized June.

1879 Company E, 9th Regiment, P.S.M. organized, uniformed, and armed.

1887 Avoca Hose Company chartered as Avoca Hose Company of Pleasant Valley.

1889 Residents petition to change the name of the post office to Pleasant Valley. There request was rejected because of another town with that name. The petitioners returned with a request to change the name to Avoca.

1889 Langcliffe Colliery producing coal.

1880 The population is reported as 1,914.

1890 Pleasant Valley census was 3,300.

1900 Avoca census was 3,487.

1907 First National Bank of Avoca opens.

1909 St Peter & Paul's parish formed.

1920 Avoca census was 4,950.

1926 Avoca High School completed.

1931 Avoca American Legion Post formed, named the McPhillips-Widdall Post.

1932 New St Peter & Paul's church erected.

1940 Avoca Airport under construction.

1941 Full Gospel Chapel dedicated.

1946 Veterans of Foreign Wars "VFW" chartered.

1950 Avoca Little league organized.

1962 Avoca merged with Duryea, Dupont, Pittston Township, Hughestown, Yatesville, and Jenkins Township to form the Northeast School District.

1969 Northeast merged with Pittston City School District to form Pittston Area School District.