Saint Mathias Church, Today

Saint Mathias was founded as a Slovak parish in 1903. The origin of the parish can be traced to the rise of Slovak immigration to Natrona.

In 1904, construction of Saint Mathias Church began. The completed church was dedicated on June 19, 1904.

In 1992, Saint Mathias was merged with St. Joseph and Saint Ladislaus to form a new parish, which was named Saint Joseph.

Saint Mathias Church remains open and serves the new parish.

St. Ladislaus Church, 1932

Polish families were among the original settlers in Natrona in the 1850's.

St. Ladislaus was founded in 1893 as a Polish parish.

The congregation soon outgrew the original church. In 1903, work was begun on a new church.

The cornerstone was laid early in 1904 and the completed church was dedicated on August 21,1904.

Penn Salt Historic District - River Boundary

Penn Salt Historic District - Railroad Track / Canal Boundary

On the National Register of Historic Places is an 8 acre site of mid-19th century company houses built by Penn Salt Manufacturing Company.

The houses are Greek and Gothic Revival style situated on flat land between the Allegheny River and a steep hillside in Harrison Township.

This historic district is bounded by railroad tracks, following the path of the former Pennsylvania Canal and by vacant land along the river.

Economy and practicality guided the erection of the Penn Salt houses.

This Historic District is a unified nineteenth century housing district built by one company for its workers. The numerous identical and similar buildings, densely packed between the river and railroad beside the former work site, provide an enduring image of an early western Pennsylvania company town.

Site of River Walk Project

"The River Walk" will be built along Veteran's Way on the banks of the beautiful Allegheny River.

Site of the new Natrona Playground / Community Park

Natrona residents look forward to the spring of 2008 for the groundbreaking for their new playground/park.

The facility will be completed late summer and have: playground equipment geared to specific ages, two basketball courts, pavilion for community events, band shell and garden with seating area for adults.

The entrance will include artistic displays showing the industrial and cultural heritage of the area.

Hours of work by volunteers in fund raising efforts and cooperation with local, county and state officials will make this possible.

WELCOME - Thank you for visiting us

The following pictures show a bit of Natrona’s heritage and some of its hopes for the future.

Enjoy your stay and come back soon.