Blacklick Township

BLACKLICK TOWNSHIP

Blacklick Township was organized October 10, 1850, with territory taken from Cambria and Jackson Townships. Its western boundary is part of the western boundary of Cambria County. The Township takes its name from Blacklick Creek. The name Blacklick probably had its origin in the fact that salt licks were found where there were outcroppings of coal. A part of Blacklick Township was organized as Nanty Glo Borough in 1918.

The first settlement in what is now Blacklick Township was that a Belsano founded in 1830 and named for a town in Italy. Among the early settlers we find the following names: Reed, Hite, Duncan, Empfield, Edwards and Makin.  The early mail delivery to Belsano was from Seward.

Bethel was the site of the first church in the area founded by Rev. Williams in 1833. The name is of biblical origin and selected by the early settlers. Bethel was a Welsh settlement founded by people who abandoned their first settlements in the area at Beulah. Mail service was through the post office named Pindelton. Among the early settlers at Bethel we find the following names: Enoch Reese, Thomas Davies, Isaac Mahan, Isaac Wissinger, Jeff Rowland, and John Jones. Sawmills were operated by John Jones and Enoch Reese.

The village of Twin Rocks was established in 1875 and takes its name from two almost identical rocks found near the big bend in Blacklick Creek. In extending the railroad from Ebensburg to Vintondale in 1893-94 the original twin rocks were dislodged and eventually cut into building stone. It is reported that the stones were used in building the Rockville Bridge across the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg. The community was also known as Big Bend and Expedite. The former name originated with the curve in Blacklick Creek, and the second because it was the name of the post office established in 1896. In 1894 the first car of coal was taken from the Wagner Mine in Twin Rocks.

Ivision was settled about the year 1860 and was a scene of much lumbering activity. The first lumber mill was owned and operated by James Bracken. Early settlers included Michael Stiles, Andrew Marsh, Joseph Hines, Abe Longenecker and others. Mail was delivered from the Strongstown post office three times each week.

Cardiff was build on land owned by Ellsworth Rowland when the development of coal lands was begun in 1901. Its name was taken from the name of a city in Wales. Mail was delivered from the Pindleton post office. Other villages in the Township were Eleanor, Bracken, Mudtown, Red Mill, and White Mill.

In August 1892 it was reported that Mr. Charles McFadden, a railroad contractor, was tunnelling for coal in Ferguson Hill near Twin Rocks. Following that date and the completion of the railroad in 1894, Blacklick Township became a leading producer of bituminous coal.

Township history provided by Clark Creery

Some great links:

Blacklick Home page include Nanty Glo and Vintondale

CEMETERIES