---In the years 1795-96, Henry Philips, head of the firm of Philips Brothers' of Manchester, England, purchased a large tract of land on the western slope of the Allegheny Mountains, from Robert Morris, Thomas Billington and others. Some reports say it was bought at auction on the streets of Philadelphia at two cents an acre.

---The town was originally named Moshannontown - Moshannon is derived from an Indian word meaning "dark water" - and was founded in 1797. In 1809 the name was changed to Philipsburg in honor of the owner of the land.

---The first mining lamp for use in underground mining was patented by Gill Manufacturing Co. of Philipsburg. This lamp used a wick and oil to illuminate the area underground.

---St. Paul's Episcopal church in Philipsburg was the first church in the world to be lighted by electricity. It consisted of one large arc light, which later was removed because it made too much noise and people could not hear the service. This is on record at the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia.

---In 1821, Mr. Philips built a screw factory for the manufacture of blunt metal screws. This was the first screw mill in the United States. The mill was run by steam and waterpower, the fuel used was hardwood charcoal. The screws were made from wire, prepared by "rolling and wire drawing apparatus" from iron manufactured at the nearby forge. The screw mill was in operation until 1836, when the forge was destroyed by fire. The mill was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1859.

---The first deliberately staged train wreck for silent movies was filmed in
Philipsburg on the "Alley Popper" train line by the Lubin Film Company on December 8, 1914. One of the first motion pictures to use the scene was the "Valley of Lost Hope" but the wreck scene appeared in many movies.

---The Electric Light Plant of Philipsburg was the second electric light plant in the state of Pennsylvania.

---Two doctors, McGirk and Richards, of Philipsburg, performed the first operation for appendicitis. The surgery was for an injury to the area. It was not until1886 that appendicitis was recognized.

---The first machineless permanent wave procedure was invented by a Philipsburg barber named Fred M. Winkel.

---In a recent archaeology study (2000) completed near the Moshannon Creek opposite the area of the Harbor Inn, it was discovered that not only were the Indians here in 1813 there is also evidence that they were present 3000 years ago.

---In the process of completion is the restoration of the Simler Tavern, which is the oldest, standing original structure in Philipsburg. This building was constructed some time during the years 1800-1807, and was constructed by John Henry Simler, one of the 12 original settlers of Philipsburg.