Borough formerly known as Stuckton celebrating 150 years
Submitted photo<br> A view of McClure in its early years is included in the book, ‘Discovering the History of McClure Borough and West Beaver Township, Snyder County,’ written for the borough’s upcoming sesquicentennial.
Submitted photo<br> The McClure Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee includes, from left, front, Kathy Rarich, Missy Moyer, Denise Boonie, Louella Ritter and Bonnie Jones; back, Gerry Botdrof, Andrew Erb, Tim Moyer, Andrew Benner, Edwin Weader and Janet Walter.
Submitted photo<br> A view of McClure in its early years is included in the book, ‘Discovering the History of McClure Borough and West Beaver Township, Snyder County,’ written for the borough’s upcoming sesquicentennial.
Submitted photo<br> The McClure Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee includes, from left, front, Kathy Rarich, Missy Moyer, Denise Boonie, Louella Ritter and Bonnie Jones; back, Gerry Botdrof, Andrew Erb, Tim Moyer, Andrew Benner, Edwin Weader and Janet Walter.
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McCLURE -- It has been 150 years since the Snyder County town of Stuckton between Beaver Springs and Lewistown became known as McClure.
A week of celebrations will commemorate that time in 1867. Events will be held July 19 to 23 during the Fireman's Festival at Cold Springs Grove in McClure.
Free rides and a queen/princess contest at 6 p.m. are some of the opportunities on opening night, July 19.
Andrew Benner is the chairman of the committee that has been working for seven years to honor the existence of McClure. Funds were raised through the new tradition of the "Kettle Drop" on New Year's Eve in McClure.
There may be some confusion to folks as to when McClure became a borough.
Though McClure was named in 1867 as a town, it was 99 years later it became the borough of McClure.
"The committee wanted to fill in the gap from 1967 and any information that might have been missed in the McClure Centennial book that was printed in 1967. We also included West Beaver Township in the book. The book took almost six years to complete. The committee knew if we didn't get a lot of the information it would be lost forever," Benner said.
The committee compiled all of the information as a group, and Benner wrote the book. It is entitled, "Discovering the History of McClure Borough and West Beaver Township, Snyder County," and will be available at the celebration. Only 450 copies were made, so Benner advises folks to get theirs as soon as possible. The book is 645 pages and costs $45. They will be available a couple weeks before the event as well.
One of the most important items of significance in the book is how McClure got its name. Benner said following the Civil War in 1867, a train passenger on the Sunbury-Lewistown Railroad noted his distaste for the name of Stockton. He suggested the name be changed to his own last name in return of paper from his company for the entire town for a year.
The man was Col. Alexander McClure. It is recorded that Abraham Holshue talked to others in the town, who agreed to the name.
A few town members received the paper, Benner said, and later the town realized McClure may not have cared about the town after all.
"In 1905, he wrote a letter to A. W. Aurand, then-owner of the Plain Dealer, where McClure wrote in part, 'I was very much gratified at receiving the first number of the Plain Dealer issued in the little town which bears my name. How it came to get that name I never knew for I had no part in baptizing the location. I presume that it arose from the fact that I actively engaged in the construction of the railroad between the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers,'" Benner wrote.