Founded in 1850,
Tyrone originally was called
“Eagleville,” then
“Shorbsville,” and then “Tyrone
City.” On July 27, 1857, the boundary lines ran
from Main St. (Pennsylvania Ave.) to Juniata St.
(10th St.) to Cameron Ave. to Dallas St. (14th
St.).
Because of its geographical
location at the juncture of the Little Juniata River
and the Bald Eagle Creek, and between the Allegheny
and Brush Mountains (see map),
Tyrone became a railroad town rather than an iron
industrial town. However, two other industries have
been — and will continue to be —
important to the growth and development of Tyrone.
They are the paper mill and agriculture.
In 1975, the U.S. Rt.
220 Bypass (now Interstate 99) replaced many of the
homes in East Tyrone as well as the Wilson Chemical
Buildings. Pennsylvania Ave. ran from the railroad
station in the south to Westvaco lines in the north.
The wye tracks connected the Bald Eagle Valley
Railroad with the main line of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. With the decrease in train business, the
depot was demolished in 1968.
The Athletic Park (now the
site of the Industrial Park) was a focal point for
recreation from 1910 to 1945. Reservoir Park
continues as a free, popular public resort with
picnic tables, swings, and rides for children along
with a band shell for concerts. Its lake once
provided ice for home refrigeration, but now the
young people use it for fishing in trout season.