1777-1900      1901-1950      1950s-today

Pennsylvania was already 130 years old when the history of Hughesville began with the arrival of 1816, of Jeptha Hughes, who laid out the new town and named it after himself.

Early Hughesville residents signaled their resolve to graduate from settlement to full-fledged town by opening a log-cabin school in 1818. Two years later Paul Wiley established the tiny frontier community’s first tavern.

The year 1820 also say the establishment of Hughesville’s first church. Methodists first worshipped in the log school house, but built a proper church in 1844.

A Post Office was established in 1827, and the first postmaster, Theodore Wells, became the first storekeeper in 1830. A Doctor, John W. Paele, was among the first settlers, arriving in 1828.

The town was incorporated in 1852 with Enos Hawley listed as the first burgess. It was also in these Pre-Civil War days that Hughesville’s first dentist, Peter Rishel, began his first practice in 1853.

Hughesville's First Train Station - Wiliamsport & North Branch Railroad

After the Civil War, Hughesville share in Lycoming County’s era of prosperity that was based on the logging industry. One well-to-do lumberman, James Laird built a factory, Hughesville’s first, in 1869. Laird was also the founder of the town’s first Lutheran Church and organized its Sunday School in 1850.

In 1929 there were still three furniture factories operating in Hughesville, but as the logging activity slowed, so did related industries and the last furniture manufacturing plant in Hughesville was destroyed by fire approximately 20 years ago.

Today many of Hughesville’s estimated 2,250 residents commute to jobs in nearby towns as there are just two factories within the Hughesville borough limits: The Pennsylvania Folding Box, Co., which employs 20 workers and Moran Industries.

For many residents of North-Central PA, Hughesville is best known as the site of the Lycoming County Fair, held annually at the fairgrounds at the south edge of the borough.

To learn more visit the time line pages - 1777-1900      1901-1950      1950s-today