Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER
(Front row, left) Pictured are Suzanne Adelsberger, Borough Councilwoman Susan Cozby, Borough Councilwoman Heidi Traxler, U.S. Rep. John Joyce, Borough Mayor John Wagner, Borough Council Manager Caitlin Noland, (from back row, left) Paul Emile Perrot, Borough Council Vice President Eric Rhodes, Borough Council President Doug Kepner, Chairperson Rick Bodenschatz and Borough Councilman Dave Kauffman.

LEWISTOWN — U.S. Rep. John Joyce awarded the Borough of the Juniata Terrace with the official certificate declaring the location a Historical District on the National Registry for Historical Places at a special ceremony held Wednesday afternoon at the Alliance Church.

“The importance of this is not lost on me. I’ve just returned from Normandy in France for the 88th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, and there was a reenactment of those individuals who parachuted in. And, as I saw those reenactors landing into the fields just beyond where I was standing, I thought 80 years ago, I wonder how many of those parachutes were made in Mifflin County? How many of the hands of the citizens right here have turned the tide and allowed freedom to occur. It is with great pride that I come to you today and honor this community and these homes in Juniata Terrace. I honor the borough for preserving the history not just today but years to come,” said Joyce.

The Borough of Juniata Terrace was approved as a historic district at the state level in February.

From there, the State Historic Preservation Office sent the nomination to the National Park Service for federal historic recognition. On May 17, the office received word that the U.S. Department of Interior approved their application to be listed in the National Registry for Historical Places.

“The borough has been working toward this designation for two years,” said Borough Manager Caitlin Noland.

In the 1900’s, the Courtaulds Company of England began manufacturing Rayon at three plants built in the U.S., including one in Lewistown. These plants were known as the American Viscose. By 1928, the plant had 5,000 workers in Lewistown and caused a need for more homes to house workers.

In May 1922,, the Viscose plant acquired the 150 Acre farm owned by Dr. Henry Sweigart to build a large industrial village named the Juniata Terrace.

The Ballinger & Perrot firm of Philadelphia designed the three American Viscose plants. Perrot eventually went his own way, but the American Viscose respected his work so much that they asked him to design the Juniata Terrace community.

The Borough of Juniata Terrace was born on Jan. 1, 1967.

“The original architect, Emile Perrot had a distinguished career, going on to design significant buildings for Universities. And, the first school he ever designed was the Juniata Terrace Elementary,” said Mayor John Wagner.

The Mayor of the Borough of Juniata Terrace accepted the certificate Wednesday on behalf of the Borough Council of Juniata Terrace and thanked all the people at the preservation office including Melissa Barrett, National Register reviewer; Elizabeth Rairigh, division manager for preservation services and Jennifer Thompson, National Register supervisor.

Others recognized included Borough Historian Rick Bodenschatz, who assisted the borough in compiling the history of Juniata Terrace. Also, Ruth Jones was recognized for being the longest living resident of Juniata Terrace.

“The Juniata Terrace has survived the great depression, major wars, its sale by the American Viscose and its closing after the flood in ’72 and the major fire in 2014. Today, it flourishes for one reason, its residents,” said Eric Rhodes, vice president of the Borough Council of Juniata Terrace.

Nathan Aker, representative for Sen. Judy Ward; Emily Price, representative for State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff; and Commissioners Kevin Kodish and Noah Wise were also in attendance.

Lastly, the grandchildren of Perrot were in attendance, Suzanne Adelsberger and Paul Perrot.