Titusville

Local History - Hopewell Valley - Hopewell Boro - Pennington Boro - Titusville & Washington Crossing

Joseph Titus purchased 300 acres of land along the Delaware River about 1750. This property contained stands of forest timber and several streams. Mills were created on both sides of Fiddlers Creek, and an empire was born. Generations of the Titus family carried on these business ventures, while purchasing more land, operating stores and ultimately selling river front lots.
 
One hundred years after that original purchase, Titusville was the busiest place in Hopewell Valley. River traffic had been supplying lumber and coal to the growing cities downstream for years. Then, in 1834 the D&R Canal opened, and by 1851 the first railroad arrived.
 
Titusville hosted river raftsmen, canal boatsmen, and travelers of every description. As homes were built, blacksmiths, wheelwrights and general stores opened. Churches were erected, hotels started operations and the village expanded ever so slightly.
 
All the while the community took great pride in the historic Revolutionary War events that had taken place nearby. A park honoring those historic efforts would open in 1927.
 
The growth in Titusville was limited by its physical location and the large tracts of land surrounding it that were held by farmers. Those who did own homes along the narrow strip of land bounded by the river and canal, took great pride in them. Today visitors are fortunate to experience Titusville much as it was in the past. Beautifully preserved old homes, neatly manicured lawns and sweeping views of the Delaware River.