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Home:Easy to Surf Directory:Southern Stretch: Cressona
Borough’s growth, name came from railroad days
Cressona, named after John Chapman Cresson, an engineer and railroad executive, was part of North Manheim Township until the borough was established in 1857.

The Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven railroads played a vital role in Cressona’s growth as a borough. In 1872, a race track was erected and horse racing became a popular attraction.

The borough today is home to one of the county’s largest industries, Alcoa Engineered Products. The site of the plant is the former Schuylkill County fairgrounds. The facility was originally constructed during World War II for the U.S. Government and leased to Alcoa for the manufacture of aluminum alloy, extruded for the U.S. Government from April 1943 to October 1944, the plant was later utilized by the Defense Department.

The first house in Cressona is still standing, on Walnut Street.

Population: 1,635  Founded: 1857

Points of interest

  • The Cressona Community Celebration is held on the last weekend in August.
  • The borough operates a community pool on Graeff Street.
  • The borough has a community brochure with a full-color map and listings of important historical and community sites.

Government
Seven-member board council.
Mayor: Charles Frederick Jr.
Members: Robert Barr, president; Kathleen Butz, vice president; Lyle Frehafer, James K. Johns, Doris Runkle, Rev. Nelson Reppert; Joshua Meade

Municipal Address and Phone Number
68 S. Sillyman St.
Cressona, PA 17929
Phone: 570-385-2933
Fax: 570-385-5577

Office Hours
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closed 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Regular Meeting Time
7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.

Part of the Blue Mountain School District
DISTRICT OFFICE:
685 Red Dale Road, Orwigsburg, Pa 17961
Phone: 570-366-0515
Fax: 570-366-0838
Superintendent: William H. Hall

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 3055

HIGH SCHOOL:
1076 W. Market, Schuylkill Haven, Pa 17972
Phone: 570-366-0511
Fax: 570-366-1965
Principal: James F. Orwig

MIDDLE SCHOOL:
685 Red Dale Road, Orwigsburg, Pa 17961
Phone: 570-366-0546
Fax: 570-366-2513
Principal: William J. Toomey Jr.

BLUE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY, CRESSONA:
45 Wilder Street, Cressona, Pa 17929
Phone: 570-385-5580
Fax: 570-385-7206
Principal: Patricia A. LaPlaca

BLUE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY EAST:
675 Red Dale Road, Orwigsburg, Pa 17961
Phone: 570-366-1065
Fax: 570-366-1797
Principal: Jeffrey S. Zweibel

BLUE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY WEST:
1383 Long Run Road, Friedensburg, Pa 17933
Phone: 570-739-4461
Fax: 570-739-4822
Principal: Linda K. Cheripka

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS: Joseph A. Martin, president; Samuel J. Deibert, treasurer; Theodore H. Heffner, Vicki H. Hill, Gary D. Hitzemann, Matthew G. Kelly, G. Patrick O'Hara, Sallie A. Geary Sandler, Susan M. Thompson

BOARD MEETING DATE/TIME: 8 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month, except otherwise published in the school calendar.
Map of Cressona