Frenchtown, Pennsylvania Explained

Official Name:Frenchtown, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Unincorporated settlement
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania
Pushpin Label:Frenchtown
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Crawford
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:East Mead
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:1411
Coordinates:41.6119°N -80.0217°W
Area Code:814
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1175231[1]

Frenchtown is an unincorporated community in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in East Mead Township on Pennsylvania Route 27, east of Meadville.

Settlement history

The settlement's first white settler was Alex Moultrip (or Moulthrop),[2] a Revolutionary War soldier who, before 1800, had been given the land for his military service. He cleared land and built a cabin, but left after about a year.[3] Beriah Battles came to the area in 1800, and the settlement became known as Moultrip. David Moulthrop purchased land from Battles in 1814.[2]

The land came into the possession of the Holland Land Company, and Harm Jan Huidekoper was the land agent. Huidekoper advertised the land in Europe. Shortly after 1820 Catholic families from eastern France and Switzerland immigrated to the settlement, which later became known as Frenchtown.[3]

Frenchtown's church buildings

A wooden church was built in 1838, and in 1862 it was expanded and remodeled. In 1886 work was begun on the current church. The parishioners started their own brick factory, and they felled local trees to obtain lumber. The brick church was completed in 1888.[3]

Post office

A post office was established in 1869, but was discontinued in 1901.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  2. Seely, Frederick F. & Helmreich, Jonathan E., Place Names of Crawford County (Third Edition), page 15, Crawford County Historical Society, 1998
  3. Poux, Paul, French, Swiss Immigrants Settled Frenchtown, The Meadville Tribune (Meadville, PA), May 12, 1988, page 13-D