What do Bangor & Pen Argyl have in common with Wales & Cornwall?

 

For the last 33 years, I’ve lived in Palmer Township, PA, and raised 3 children through the Easton Area School District. My husband is also an Easton Area High School graduate. I definitely consider myself an Easton Red Rover fan. Since 2010, I even have an Easton Red Rover license plate on the front of my red vehicle that should probably be replaced but I refuse until it completely falls off!  However, the real truth about me is I am an import to Palmer Township. I am a native of Green Knight territory and a Pen Argylite with Cornish and Welsh roots and my heart will always bleed green.  This year, on October 31, 2026, Bangor Area High School and Pen Argyl Area High School will meet for their 107^th football game. Both of these schools can trace their unique rivalry across the Atlantic.

 Cornwall and Wales was originally home to many native Bangor and Pen Argyl residents.  Bangor had a higher population of Welsh while Pen Argyl had the higher population of Cornish. But how did these two areas of the world come together to create two small towns in Pennsylvania? In 1874, Cornwall and Wales were undergoing a financial depression.  It was during this time that my family and many other Cornish and Welsh families made the difficult decision to leave Cornwall and Wales and head for the slate quarries in Pen Argyl and Bangor, Pennsylvania. Both Bangor and Pen Argyl were founded on the slate industry.  Bangor was incorporated in 1875 and Pen Argyl in 1882. At their closest point, Cornwall and Wales are about 30 to 50 miles apart by water. 

Bangor and Pen Argyl are separated by about 2.9 land miles along PA-512N for a total of about 7 minutes of driving.

Cornwall and Wales are both part of the Celtic Nation. They share a bond of language, shared history, and friendly competition over sports.  Similarly, so do Bangor and Pen Argyl.  Newly arrived immigrants from Cornwall and Wales worked side by side with each other in the slate quarries of both Bangor & Pen Argyl and shared lunches of pasties. 

Traditional pasty can be filled with meats, vegetables, or even fruit. 

Many families from both Bangor and Pen Argyl have connections in both boroughs.  I grew up in a household with a mom from Bangor and a dad from Pen Argyl.  In our family, the Bangor and Pen Argyl football game was the pinnacle of the year.  I distinctly remember one year during my childhood that Pen Argyl lost to Bangor. Many of my family members were from Bangor and I had to endure a lot of ridicule following this particular game.  One of my uncles went as far as to be sure that when I woke up the following morning after the Pen Argyl loss that I was greeted with a pie and a sympathy card. 

 In researching the Pen Argyl Centennial Book titled Ring the Bells for Olde Pen Argyl 1882-1982, I came across this particular story: 

 “Prior to the famous 1937 Bangor-Pen Argyl football game, this appeared in the Express – Up in the Slate Belt they surely take their schoolboy football seriously.  One Pen Argyl rooter writes this space to say that he is willing to wager his home, containing all improvements and a two-car garage, that Pen Argyl will win. The house has electric lights, all improvements, bath and six rooms.  It is located two blocks from the center of town and is near to church and school.  I promise if I lose to vacate two hours after the game. I believe Pen Argyl will outplay Bangor and win the game. But he forgot to tell us who he is. Pen Argyl won 6-0 that year.”

 The week leading up to the Bangor vs Pen Argyl game is filled with bonfires, community dinners, spirit weeks in the schools, and town decorations.  Currently, Pen Argyl leads the series 53-49-4.  This year’s game will be played Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Pen Argyl, PA, at Alumni Stadium at 1:30 pm.