From the early days--when Perryville was known as Lower Ferry and John Rodgers hosted George Washington and other Founding Fathers in his tavern on the bank of the Susquehanna River--to the present, Perryville has seen boom and bust, war and peace, and triumph and tragedy. The Susquehanna and the Chesapeake Bay have always shaped the growth of the town, providing jobs, transportation, food, and recreation. By the 1860s, the emergence of the railroads as a dominant commercial force ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity for Perryville. A new commercial and industrial base emerged in the 19th century. Spurred by the proximity of the river and the railroads, this brought good jobs and decent wages to the town. Images of America: Perryville illustrates a century of progress through vintage images, documenting the citizens of Perryville and the town they lived in.
