Early History
Galeton
Incorporated on September 7, 1896 was formerly named Pike Mills. The name of the post
office was changed on December 30, 1885, and named in honor of the Gale family who had
opened a tannery there in 1880.
The first settler, John Ives, settled here soon after 1810. He had very
little company until about 1830 when several families settled on Pine Creek and up the
West Branch Valley. As in most of the county, early development was slow. After 1860,
lumbermen pushed across the county line in search of white pine logs. The first log drive
on Pone Creek took place during the early years of the Civil War. The tannery in 1880 and
the Clinton sawmill in 1884, spurred industrial growth. Also the Addison & Northern
Pennsylvania Railroad reached Galeton in 1883.
Mr. Clinton sold his mill to the Goodyears in 1895. The mill was completely
rebuilt and the headquarters for the Goodyear Enterprises moved from Austin to Galeton.
They also constructed shops for their railroad called Buffalo & Susquehanna at
Galeton. The Schwarzenbach Brewing Company moved from Germania to Galeton in 1902 to be
near the railroad. Potter County was dry but the brewery prospered.
In 1910, the Census listed Galeton with 4,027 people. This was the only town
in the county to ever have over 4,000 people.
The West Branch Valley still has several industries which have replaced those
established before the turn of the century. Today Galeton is noted for recreation
facilities. It can be said that Galeton is the doorway to "God's Country".