Duncannon maps from 1888 donated to borough reveal industrial past

A set of century old maps became the unexpected centerpiece of Duncannon Borough Council’s Nov. 18 meeting.

The maps — three 1888 prints of Duncannon, donated by Ed Chism Jr. — were given to the borough in memory of the late Susan Long, teacher and community figure. Mayor Rick Knepp shared the story of how the maps were discovered during estate work and recognized their value as a record of the borough’s industrial past, including the once thriving nail factory that helped shape Duncannon’s identity.

“It’s part of our history,” Knepp said, noting that the entrepreneurial spirit behind the factory remains embedded in the borough.

The maps’ detail includes labeled stables in alleys and historic infrastructure long since changed or vanished.

The council meeting had opened with a moment of