Editing Emmaus, Pennsylvania (section)

===19th century===
From its founding in 1759 until 1830, the settlement's name was spelled "Emmaus." From 1830 until 1938, however, the community used the [[Pennsylvania Dutch language|Pennsylvania Dutch]] spelling of the name, "Emaus," with a [[Macron (diacritic)|macron line]] above the "m" to indicate a double letter. As English began emerging as the prevalent language in Pennsylvania, however, the line often was often omitted, leading to confusion about the correct spelling. In 1938, the local [[Rotary International|Rotary Club]] circulated petitions in support of changing the spelling to "Emmaus," and its spelling was changed to match the English version of the Bible's [[King James Version]]. Despite the 1938 spelling change, a major borough thoroughfare, Emaus Avenue, continues to retain the pre-1938 spelling.

Emmaus and the metropolitan [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] area contributed considerable numbers of volunteers to the [[Union Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. Volunteers from the region comprised roughly 70 percent of the [[47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment]], which mobilized after the [[Battle of Fort Sumter|fall of Fort Sumter]] to [[Confederate States Army|Confederate forces]] in April 1861, and engaged Confederate forces in the [[Lower seaboard theater of the American Civil War|Lower seaboard theater]] in 
southern states through the Civil War's conclusion. On June 7, 1930, in recognition of the 47th Regiment's contributions to the preservation of the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] and Emmaus veterans who later served in the [[Spanish-American War]] and [[World War II]], Emmaus erected the Emaus Honor Roll, using the borough's initial spelling, in a mini-park between 3rd and 4th Streets in their honor.<ref>[https://47thpennsylvaniavolunteers.com/known-resting-places/regimental-memorials-by-city-47th-pennsylvania-volunteers/emaus-honor-roll/ Emaus Honor Roll], 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers website</ref>

[[Iron ore]] was discovered in and near Emmaus in the 19th century. Beginning in 1850, the Donaldson Iron Company in Emmaus mined and processed iron ore and manufactured [[cast iron]] pipes and other iron-related products. In 1859, [[Reading Company]] constructed railroad lines through Emmaus, which are still functioning. The same year, the town was incorporated as a borough. In 1869, the town's first [[blast furnace]] opened. Iron ore production fueled the town's growth through the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. During the 19th century, Emmaus was also a center of [[silk]] and [[cigar]] manufacturing.