The late 18^th and early 19^th century in America saw the great effort to connect the east coast across the Allegheny Mountains to the fertile Ohio River Valley. The competition between the area eastern financial centers of New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore was intense. Fearing the success of New York State’s Erie Canal, in 1834 Pennsylvania opened a “Main Line of Public Works” – made up of a series of canals, inclined planes, and railroads – linking Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The area we know today along the Main Line was part of this great achievement.

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