MARS — The borough may not be nearly as old as its planet namesake, but Mars has built a significant history since its establishment.

Once a center for industry in Western Pennsylvania, the community has become a hub for local events.

“This was the main area for a good 15-mile radius,” said John Watson, Mars History and Landmark Society president.

The area was settled by pioneering farmers near Breakneck Creek in the 1790s. Soon after settlement, two grist mills, a general store and a post office were built and the town was given the name “Overbrook.”

The town steadily grew, and in 1877 it saw a spike in homes and business after railroad tracks from the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad were laid through town.

Trains made frequent trips to the area. However, mail that was meant for the Overbrook Post Office often mistakenly went to a railroad stop with the same name.

The confusion led to Overbrook having its name changed.

Name game

Watson said there are various ideas on where the name “Mars” originated.

One suggests it was named after Samuel Marshall, an associate judge in Butler County. Marshall was a key figure in getting a post office in town and was the town’s first postmaster.

His wife also studied astronomy, adding more to the play on words.

It was also suggested the name Marshall was nixed with the realization that there was another town with the same name, so Marshall was shortened to Mars to avoid confusion.

A center for industry

The town saw another spike in economic growth shortly after the railroad’s establishment when the oil boom reached the area in the 1880s. Soon oil wells and derricks were constructed.

Watson said what set Mars apart was it was the first town in the area to get a sewer system and public water.

Citizens then decided to incorporate the borough, which was granted in 1895.

Another set of railroad tracks was laid through town in 1904 on Clay Avenue for an electric street car. The Harmony Shortline was used to carry commuters, freight and farm produce through Mars, Butler and Pittsburgh. More employment also was created as a result.

However, industry declined throughout the 20th century.

With cars becoming a modern mainstay of travel, trains began to decline in popularity. The electric street car ceased operation in 1931.

“Everybody got cars and it just killed the passenger service,” Watson said.

History still lives

Today, Mars has a population of about 1,700. Freight trains still come through town an average of three to four times a day.

The historical society has a collection of everyday items, documents and scale models from decades past. The society also runs a small scale railroad for children and adults to ride on, called the Mars Shortline Railroad.

One staple feature the society has is the Mars Theatre display. It replicates the theater from the 1950s and 1960s. The display has functioning lights, a ticket machine and film reels from back at that time.

Historical society members said they receive donations from residents on a steady basis.

Mars now is trying a new celebration, the planet Mars New Year. Watson said the idea for the celebration stems back to 1999.

“Y2K was going to happen and everything was going to shut down,” he said. “We decided to have a real Earth New Year’s here, and figured we at least would have all our family and friends around if the world came to an end.”

However, the end of the world never came and the town reconvened every New Year’s Eve after that to celebrate until 2013.

Watson said it was Mayor Gregg Hartung’s idea to celebrate New Year’s Day for the planet Mars. A Martian year is equivalent to about 22 months on Earth.

Hartung said the idea to celebrate the Martian New Year came after a meeting with the historical society. After proposing the idea, Hartung contacted NASA about dates and the town was soon given a grant for support by NASA.

“The thing just took a life of its own,” Hartung said.

“We went from an $800 budget to probably over $20,000 now,” Watson said.

The Mars New Year celebration will be June 19 and 20.

Hartung said if successful, he hopes the celebration will continue. After this year, the next Martian New Year will be March 2017.