Sweetser history

The land which formed the original plat of Sweetser had been entered in the District Land Office in Fort Wayne, Indiana on May 22, 1848 by Samuel Blinn.

The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St Louis Railroad was built through the area in 1867.

Around 1869, a half-mile long switch was built to haul wood to a train refueling station.

The original plat of town of Sweetser was entered on October 14, 1871 by Lanford Prater, John Hubert, James H. Vinson, Urich Mars and H.B. Bragg with the Grant County Recorder's office.

When Sweetser died in December 1881, he bequeathed to both Wakefield and Saco a substantial amount of money.

When natural gas was struck around Sweetser in 1885, the town was ready for development.

The Friermood Tile Factory was started in 1888 and was located at the end of Walnut Street.

The Brickner Window Glass Company, established in 1893, attracted many people not only living nearby but from other states to come to work and live here.

In 1901, a new railroad was established in Sweetser, the C & O, which was parallel with the Pensylvania railroad tracks.

In 1926, Main street was first paved through downtown Sweetser.

Angelic cherubs on the cover of the 1928 – 100th anniversary report

The Sweetser Lions Club was started in 1945 and continues to be active today.

In 1957, the Sweetser schools joined together with Richland and Jackson Townships to form Oak Hill School.

In 1980, Sweetser expanded services from residential treatment to community-based services for children and families.

Nationally recognized and accredited, Sweetser was awarded the Margaret Chase Smith Quality Award in 2002, recognizing the organization’s achievement integrating quality improvement throughout an expansive network of care.

In 2006, Sweetser acquired PROTEA Behavioral Health Services, which has operated under the name of Sweetser since that time.

In 2014, Harbor Family Services of Rockland joined Sweetser.