New Bethlehem History & Heritage

Redbank Valley Public LibraryNov 6, 2026 · 2:20 pm Eastern

Read full post

The Redbank Valley Public Library would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone in our amazing community who supported our recent Fall Book and Bake Sale.

Whether you donated items, or stopped by to shop and enjoy some sweet treats, your support helped make the event a huge success.

Thanks to the support of our community and patrons, we raised valuable funds that will go directly toward enhancing library programs and services. We are grateful for your generosity, enthusiasm and community spirit.

Planning ahead, the library is currently accepting donations of gently used books for our Spring Book Sale. We welcome recent best sellers; fiction/nonfiction, children and teen books; classic titles in excellent condition; DVD's, Blu-rays and audiobooks in original packaging; and books/items of historical interest. Please limit donations to two bags or boxes at a time.

Photo from Redbank Valley Public Library

Redbank Valley Historical SocietyOct 29, 2026 · 8:31 am Eastern

Read full post

Photo from Redbank Valley Historical Society

Redbank Valley Historical SocietyOct 24, 2026 · 11:30 am Eastern

Read full post

Redbank Valley Historical SocietyOct 15, 2026 · 3:06 pm Eastern

Read full post

Redbank Valley Historical SocietyOct 13, 2026 · 10:25 pm Eastern

🎬 LOCAL HISTORY ON THE BIG SCREEN! 🌲

PHOTOS: The Redbank Valley Historical Society’s October 12 program in New Bethlehem featured Cecil B. DeMille’s Unconquered, starring Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard, exploring its filming connections to Cook Forest, Clear Creek State Park and the local Kuhns brothers! 🏛️🐎

📸 Photos courtesy of Liz Harmon of T…

Read full post

Redbank Valley Historical SocietyOct 9, 2026 · 6:16 am Eastern

Read full post

Original sources and publication dates are shown. Continue below for the full local history, images, community names and source credits.

MOMENTS THAT SHAPED THE VALLEY

From mills and railroads to a living heritage.

A few milestones to begin exploring. Follow each source to learn more; this is a starting point, not the valley’s complete history.

1815 Milling shapes Gumtown

Henry Nolf’s sawmill helped establish the creek-side settlement later known as New Bethlehem.

Local history account
1840 A post office and a new name

The post office brought the name New Bethlehem, distinguishing this community from Bethlehem in eastern Pennsylvania.

Local history account
March 1853 New Bethlehem becomes a borough

Incorporation opened a new chapter for the growing Clarion County community.

Local history account
March 1873 Rail connections transform the valley

Grading of the Low Grade corridor was completed, opening the way for rail connections between valley industries and wider markets.

Rail-corridor history
April 1886 A town recorded street by street

Sanborn’s fire-insurance maps preserve a detailed view of New Bethlehem’s buildings and businesses.

Explore the original map
July 1996 Flood and recovery

Major flooding became a defining memory for New Bethlehem residents and businesses.

Borough history
November 5, 2007 The last train through town

The corridor’s final train removed rails and ties, bringing its railway chapter to a close.

Rail-corridor history
June 25, 2010 A new future for the corridor

Allegheny Valley Land Trust acquired the corridor, working with local volunteers toward a public trail.

Rail-to-trail history
2014 Pennsylvania’s first Trail of the Year

The state recognized Redbank Valley Trails for volunteer effort, scenery and regional connections.

Official DCNR recognition
February 18, 2020 Local stewardship moves forward

Ownership of the trail corridor transferred to the Redbank Valley Trails Association, continuing a new chapter in the valley’s heritage.

Trail ownership history

HELP THE NEXT GENERATION DISCOVER THE VALLEY

Be part of what we remember next.

Join a conversation, explore membership, share a question or ask how your time and support could help preserve local history. Contact the Society before bringing artifacts or making collection arrangements.

Membership & volunteering Support preservation Follow the Society on Facebook Contact / plan a visit

Explore the valley’s history.

An aerial view of downtown New Bethlehem and the surrounding Redbank Valley — New Bethlehem from above · TechReady Professionals photo archive

A CREEK. A CROSSROADS. A COMMUNITY.

A valley connected by work, place and people.

Along Redbank Creek, lumber and milling helped a settlement called Gumtown grow into New Bethlehem. Rail connections later linked the valley’s industries and neighborhoods to a wider world. Today, the former rail corridor offers another way to explore that shared landscape.

New Bethlehem is in southern Clarion County; South Bethlehem is a separate borough across the creek in Armstrong County. Together with surrounding villages and townships, they hold many distinct stories—not just one town’s history.

Look for industrial footprints along the valley: the Saint Charles brick plant, coke ovens near New Bethlehem and Hawthorn’s pottery chimney. Peanut butter manufacturing also became part of New Bethlehem’s story, linking local enterprise with a nationally known product.

PRESERVING THE PAST. INVITING YOU IN.

Meet the Redbank Valley Historical Society.

About the Society

The Society is a local nonprofit dedicated to researching and preserving the area’s history and genealogy. Its center collects artifacts and family-history materials, presents rotating exhibits and educational programs, and welcomes people who want to help keep the valley’s heritage accessible.

See local history up close.

Explore artifacts, rotating exhibits and programs. Ask the Society about current events and visiting arrangements.

Explore the Society’s website

Follow a family’s story.

Ask about genealogy resources, local publications and ways to explore the people behind familiar names and places.

Ask a history or genealogy question

Make preservation personal.

Bring your curiosity and skills. Discuss membership, archival research, museum work, community events or student involvement.

Find a way to get involved

Society information: official About page · official Contact page. Programs and arrangements may change.

LOOK CLOSER

A place remembered in pictures.

Historic photographs, maps and local views offer different windows into the valley. Captions identify the known period and source.

Historic stereoscopic photograph of Main Street in New Bethlehem — **Main Street, photographed by J. C. Barnes; exact date not established.** The New York Public Library, Robert N. Dennis Collection; via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain in the United States. Photograph record and rights

April 1886 fire-insurance map showing buildings and streets in New Bethlehem — **New Bethlehem mapped in April 1886.** Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. Public domain. Explore the original map

Floodwater along East Broad Street in New Bethlehem in July 1996 — **East Broad Street during the July 1996 flood.** Hamaxides / Wikimedia Commons. Photograph source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shown without creative alteration; resized for display.

New Bethlehem town view from the TechReady Professionals photo archive — **A local view from the TechReady Professionals photo archive.** Existing RedbankValley.org image; archival view, not a current-condition report.

MANY COMMUNITIES. ONE SHARED HERITAGE.

There is more to the story around every bend.

Explore the people, industries, schools, churches and everyday lives that connect New Bethlehem with the surrounding Redbank Valley communities.

New Bethlehem
South Bethlehem
Hawthorn
Distant
Cottage Hill
Fairmount City
Alcola
Mayport
Oak Ridge
Truittsburg
Seminole
Widnoon
Rockville
Saint Charles
Climax
Curllsville
Putneyville
Leatherwood
Shannondale
Lawsonham
Porter Township
Madison Township
Redbank Township
Mahoning Township

These names include boroughs, villages, historical places and townships—not 24 separate incorporated towns. Clarion and Armstrong counties each have a Redbank Township; Madison and Mahoning here refer to Armstrong County townships. The Society and each organization define their own geographic scope.

Ask the Society where to begin your local research

Sources, image credits & historical notes

This page is an introduction to local heritage, not a substitute for archival research. Dates and summaries link to the relevant official organization, local-government account or library record. Historic place names and township boundaries need careful interpretation.

Redbank Valley Historical Society — mission, programs, membership and current center information.
New Bethlehem Borough — local history and community context.
Redbank Renaissance local history account — early settlement, industry and community institutions.
Redbank Valley Trails Association — railroad and trail-corridor milestones.
Pennsylvania DCNR — 2014 Trail of the Year recognition.
Library of Congress and New York Public Library — historical maps and photographs.
Pennsylvania municipality directory — county and township distinctions.
Community history discussion group on Facebook — an additional discussion link from this page’s earlier resources; Facebook access rules apply.

Image credits appear with each picture. Historical images are not current-condition reports. No generated image is presented as historical evidence.