Lehighton, nestled along the banks of the Lehigh River, boasts a rich history dating back to its origins as the Moravian mission of "Gnadenhuetten" in 1746. Tragically, this settlement met its demise in the Gnadenhutten Massacre of 1755.  By 1794, the land that would become Lehighton was owned by Jacob Weiss and William Henry. They meticulously laid out streets, alleys, and a central square, birthing the village of Lehighton.  Officially incorporated as a borough in 1866, Lehighton swiftly rose as an industrial powerhouse during the industrial revolution. Fueled by the abundant water power of the Lehigh River and the emergence of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Lehighton rapidly transformed into a center of commerce and innovation. Amidst the town's bustling streets, the air resonated with the hum of machinery from silk and lace mills, as well as the activities of businesses like the Lehigh Stove Works, Obert's Packing House, and the Central Carriage Work. These enterprises weren't solely driven by profit; rather, they played a pivotal role in shaping Lehighton's economy and solidifying its reputation as a hub for progress and industry. 

A Brief History of Lehighton, PA

Courtesy of Lehighton Area Heritage Alliance

Over 280 years ago, Count Von Nicholas Zinzendorf from Herrnhut, Germany, then head of the Moravian Church decided that the picturesque hills along the Lehigh River would be an excellent site for a Moravian mission.  In 1746, the Moravians established Gnadenhutten, meaning "huts of grace”, as the first settlement north of the Blue Mountain and the first in what is now Carbon County.  

As the western-most settlement in the Pennsylvania wilderness at the time, the peaceful missionaries endured disease, cold, and the uncertainty of the French and Indian War (1754-1763).  In November 1755, provoked by the French, hostile Indians carried out a vicious raid on the settlement, burning it to the ground.  Only three of the Moravian missionaries survived.  The 11 who perished were buried in "God's Acre," located above where the mission house stood at the southern end of today's Lehighton Cemetery (near 4th & Alum Sts.).  

The original site was abandoned and in January 1756, Benjamin Franklin arrived at New Gnadenhutten, today's Weissport, and had his men, members of the Pennsylvania colonial militia, construct a fort he named Fort Allen in honor of his friend Judge William Allen. The well, which was constructed inside the fort that same year, still remains at that site today. The fort proved to hinder attacks, but outrageous Indian attacks continued in the surrounding area for decades, including the massacre of the Hoeth family in Big Creek Valley.  As late as 1780, an entire family was abducted from the Gilbert farm in Mahoning Valley and forced to walk to the city of Quebec in Canada.  

In 1784, Colonel Jacob Weiss visited this area and purchased 700 acres of land including that on which Weissport and part of Lehighton now stand along with the land between today's Parryville and the village of Long Run. Colonel Weiss eventually constructed his home near the site of Fort Allen. The village that developed here was first called Weiss's Mill but was later changed to Weissport.

By 1794, all the land that is now part of Lehighton was owned by Colonel Weiss and Wlliam Henry, a gunsmith from Nazareth. The future borough of Lehighton was part of Bucks County until 1752 when Northampton County was created. It remained with Northampton County until 1843 when Carbon County was established. 

A bridge connecting Lehighton with Weissport was constructed in 1804 over the Lehigh River.  The growth of both Weissport and Lehighton was slow, but the Lehigh Canal constructed in Weissport in 1828-1829, gave the area its true start. Then in 1835, Lehighton became a railroad town when the Beaver Meadows Railroad constructed a track from Beaver Meadows to Parryville.  This railroad bed was later used by the Lehigh Valley Railroad (LVRR) which quickly expanded its service from Mauch Chunk to Easton. Followed in 1864, by the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad, later the Central Railroad of New Jersey, with its line through Lehighton to Easton.  

On January 2, 1866, 120 years after the mission was established at Gnaden Huetten, the Borough of Lehighton was incorporated.  John Lentz, an LVRR executive, was selected as the first burgess.  Francis Weiss, son of Colonel Weiss, surveyed and laid out the original town plan with two central community parks and four main streets running north to south (Bank, Lehigh, Northampton, and Pine; now First, Second, Third, and Fourth Sts.).  The long-gone original mission site near today’s Lehighton Cemetery (4th St.), and then fairgrounds, was the far edge of the new town.

In the early 1860s, the LVRR established its repair yard and shops at Packerton.  Almost all of the railroad employees lived in Lehighton, so as the railroad continued to grow, Lehighton rapidly transformed into a thriving center of commerce and innovation. The town’s streets bustled with industrial, retail, and civic activities.  The downtown was an idyllic retail shopping center anchored by Bright’s Department Store and even an electric trolley line.  Lehighton was touted as “one of Pennsylvania's five debt free communities” with its municipal-owned power, light, and water, two railroads, improved highways, and airport facilities.  Businesses such as the Lehigh Stove Works, Obert's Packing House, Baer Silk Mill, Central Carriage Works, and a plethora of garment factories helped continue the prosperity.  Favorite town pastimes included church socials, Graver’s Bathing Casino, The Great Lehighton Fair, autoraces, soapbox derbies, football, baseball, and concerts by the town’s numerous community bands. 

This economic boom lasted until the 1960s, when almost all of the railroad operations came to an end.  As developments like “the four-lane” (Route 248), Beltzville Dam, Carbon Plaza Mall, and the PA Turnpike transformed the area, people began to relocate into the surrounding townships of East Penn, Mahoning, and Franklin.  Pride for our community still runs deep as we recognize the need to preserve the natural beauty of this area that first attracted Count Von Zinzendorf and the Moravians to these picturesque hills along the Lehigh River.