Tracy Searight

Salem Township and Delmont (Images of America) Tracy Searight

As early as 1885, Salem Townships supply of coal attracted companies to build mines and coal patch towns. In 1916, Slickville was the last coal patch town built in Salem Township. When the demand for soft coal declined, the companies abandoned the mines, leaving the towns to survive on their own. Delmont, originally known as Salem Crossroads or New Salem, is one of the oldest boroughs in Westmoreland County. Formed around a spring that was eventually piped to a watering trough that still remains, Delmont boasted a busy stagecoach route and was one of the main stagecoach stops on the Northern Turnpike. The arrival of the railroad left little need for stagecoaches, but Delmont continued to survive. In 1993, the Pennsylvania Turnpike 66 opened just south of Delmont in Salem Township, bringing promise to a community once disappointed by Northern Turnpikes decline. Salem Township and Delmont provides a glimpse into the rich history of these communities.