Early Telegraph Historical Marker in Mt. Joy

Over the past 11 years we've been following the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Trail all through our great state and documenting them on the blog. Millions of people walk or drive by these markers every year and never give them a second thought. They're a great source of historic information and we're trying to bring some much needed attention to them.

While following the Historical Marker Trail through Lancaster County we found the Early Telegraph historical marker located on West Main Street in Mt. Joy. It's a half-mile west of Snyder Road. You can pull off to the side of the road but be careful. There's not a big pull-off area, so be be quick when grabbing your photograph for your waymarking records.

The marker states the following:

First commercial telegraph line in the U.S. ran along this railroad right-of-way. Completed from Lancaster to Harrisburg, 1845. The first message, "Why don't you write, you rascals?", was received, Jan. 8, 1846.

By: 1947 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

If you're interested in following the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Trail and/or interested in waymarking them you can find additional information in our Historical Markers section right here on the Pennsylvania and Beyond Travel Blog.