How did Vestal get its name?

The common explanation is that Vestal was named by Robert Harpur, a professor of Greek and Latin after whom Harpur College was named. Vesta was a Roman goddess of the fire and its hearth, and Vestal was the name of the virgins who kept the sacred fires burning in the temple. 

Unfortunately, documentation to support the naming by Harpur has never been found and census records do not list a family named Vestal residing in the Town of Union at the time the name “Vestal” was used. Although we now have one family living in the township with the surname Vestal, to date our name remains a mystery. 

When was Vestal established?

The area South of the Susquehanna River, known today as Vestal, was formed from the Town of Union in 1823. 

How did African Road get its name?

Originally called Hotaling Road, African Road was named for the African American families who owned farms at the top of the hill.

How did Powderhouse Road get it's name?

Powderhouse Road is named for the brick powder houses, used to store black powder, that were built into the hillside near the intersection with Jutland Road.  The road was formerly known as the Vestal Center- Binghamton Road and Sugar Creek Road.

In what year was Vestal's first football stadium dedicated?

The first stadium, Veteran's Memorial field, was dedicated to the Veterans who served in World War II on Friday, October 5, 1951.