Thomas Ferguson, who, in 1791, bought 321 acres of land for 300 pounds in gold and silver coins, is credited with founding Pine Grove Mills. In 1800, he dammed Slab Cabin Run and built the first of the mills that would eventually give the town its name. According to local tradition, a grove of pine trees separating two of the early mills along the run, provided the rest of the name.
John Patton Jr., son of Centre Furnace ironmaster Col. John Patton, laid out the town of Pattonville at the east end of Pine Grove Mills in 1815 and the entire village went by Pattonville for a time. That's how the area is designated on Pomeroy's 1874 Atlas.
The post office, founded in 1809, was continually known as the Pine Grove Mills post office, however, and the town eventually reverted to the original name.
Ferguson Township, formed in 1801, was named for Thomas Ferguson, an early settler who operated a mill in the Village of Pine Grove Mills at the base of Tussey Mountain. In the early nineteenth century, a number of other small settlements were established, including Gatesburg, an iron ore producing center; Pattonville, which later merged with Pine Grove Mills; Rock Springs, settled by David Mitchell in 1812 and Richard Bailey's Baileyville.
OurTown and Our Club
Pine Grove Mills:
Ferguson Township:
Our club was founded November 1949, Chartered January 1950. It was sponsored by the State College Lions Club. Our first President was the late Brooks Corl. The club first met at the Ferguson Township School.
In 1953 our club purchased the land that is now the Lions Community Park in Pine Grove Mills. There is a meeting hall, two picnic shelters, a Little League baseball field and food concession stand.
As beneficiaries of Melvin Jones legacy and others; we follow their example by improving our community through various events. Our club is involved with supporting other various charities like the American Cancer Society, Beacon Camp for the blind, Boy Scout troop 44, Leader Dog program, Meals-on-Wheels, Habitat for Humanity.
We also donate our time and energies to support and sponsor activities like blood drives to benefit the American Red Cross and collecting eye glasses.
Ferguson Township Lions Club:
