Portersville has Long History

• May 31, 2006

     

BY LUGENE HUDSON LHUDSON@NCNEWSONLINE.COM

For a small place, there's a lot of action going on. And if you do a little research and coax the proper people, you'll discover an overflowing cornucopia of historical information on Portersville in Butler County. Population -- about 680. Route 19, also known as Perry Highway, is the ebb and flow from which motorists travel north and south. Businesses radiate from the highway and spill into Route 488. Once a dirt road, Route 19 was widened in 1936. The highly-trafficked road is undoubtedly an important component of Muddy Creek Township and has seen a string of merchants come and go since the early 1800s. This community was surveyed into town lots in 1825 and named Stewartsville in honor of a son of the first white settler of the township. A year later, the post office was established and the name was changed to Portersville in honor of Gov. David Porter. Some chronicles note a cabinet shop opened in 1814. Other sources say the first storekeeper was Robert Craig, who started a business in 1829. Then it just kept rolling along as a wagon and furniture factory started about 1830, becoming ultimately the first steam power plant in the western part of the county. The local hotel originally was called the Oliver House. It burned in 1874 and another hotel was built. The William Humphrey and Son General Store dates to about 1868. As the town grew, hardware and drug stores, banks and mercantile establishments erupted. The Portersville Creamery Co. was organized in 1894. A Presbyterian church originated here as early as 1814 and there were also "secret" societies. Through 187 years and plenty of changes, Portersville has still maintained its sense of community.