Delmont Sign
This is the official website of the Borough of Delmont, Pennsylvania.
Hello and welcome to the Borough of Delmont, in the County of Westmoreland, in the State of Pennsylvania.
Delmont, is a small town with a long history and some of the friendliest people you would ever meet.
Look around and appreciate the past!
Delmont’s History
What was once a small village nestled in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania has developed into a bustling community with a tremendous history. While the official incorporation of the town took place in 1833, its history dates back to post-Revolutionary war. Eleven years after the formation of Westmoreland County, William Wilson received 300 acres in Salem Township. Upon his death in 1796, his family inherited the farm. On the land, Thomas Wilson a son measured out 48 lots to form a crossroads town. The lots were sold to the public at an auction two days before Christmas in 1814. In 1833, Salem Crossroads was incorporated into an area of commerce and industry.
In 1871, the Postmaster, Zachariah Zimmerman Suggested a change of the name for Salem Crossroads, because of several other communities in Pennsylvania bearing “Salem “ as part of their name, mail miss-deliveries had occurred. The New Name Delmont is of French origin. “Dale” meaning valley and “Mont” meaning Hill—Valley in the Hills or Delmont.
There has been a lot of time that’s gone by since then, Salem Crossroads has had it share of up and downs. A major Stagecoach Stop back in the 1820’s with trades such as tanners, tavern keepers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, inn keepers and merchants, helped the town prosper. The railroad bypassing the town, after the end of the Civil War left the town in a decline, but during that time Salem changed very little and due to many of the town’s family staying and raising more generations of residents, Delmont survived. You will find many of the historic buildings and landmarks still exist and Delmont historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places. If you stop by the Borough building, you can pick up a Walking Tour map of Historic Delmont. There you can also pick up a copy of “A Valley in the Hills” By Bob Cupp, which is great look at Delmont over the pass 200 years. You will still see many of those early Family names throughout town also.
Back in the 70’s The Salem Crossroads Historical Restoration Society planed to select various portions of the town to be restored as a working, open-air museum depicting the commercial and cultural aspects of the community during the period of its former prosperity, 1830-1870. You can read more about the Society’s plans at this link
The plans didn’t come through, but that is not to say that sometime in the future that these plans couldn’t be dusted off, changed to meet some of today’s needs and this vision for parts of Delmont as a Historical museum can become a reality.
With the opening of Toll Route 66 “Amos K. Hutchinson”, in the past few years, Delmont has seen a revaluation in businesses intended for the traveler, just like back in the stagecoach days and this will bring even more to Delmont in the years to come.
Future Plans
Plans are underway to see if we could bring the Salem Crossroads Historical Restoration Society back,. If you were part of this Society or would like to be part of it going forward, please contact the Mayor at 724-468-4422 ext #5 or by E-mail, gll_sanchez@yahoo.com
Also if you are looking for a great place for your business, come and take a look at the Borough of Delmont. Local Businesses, if you would like to be on our web site, please send your information to gll_sanchez@yahoo.com
Thanks to Angel Brownwell for her “A Walking Tour of Historic Delmont” Some portions of her publication were used here.