Except for a stone house, all the original buildings on Front Street were of log. Later buildings, even large ones, were frame. Consequently, they burned with awesome regularity. A devastating fire on June 30, 1876 destroyed more than 20 buildings, some businesses and some homes, and caused a loss of upwards of $75,000 as reported in Linn's History of Centre and Clinton Counties, 1883. At that time, coal, lumber, and clay had brought prosperity to town, and many new and larger buildings were constructed.

At its height, downtown Philipsburg was a significant transportation hub, and according to a list compiled by A.O. Curtis, it was home to 15 hotels. The abundance of hotels stemmed from the junction of the New York Central Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Many travelers, especially traveling salesmen, would stop in Philipsburg while awaiting a train to their ultimate destination. In 1904 alone, the Centre & Clearfield Street Railway Co., locally known as “the trolley,” reported carrying more than 1 million passengers for the year. The trolley ran between Philipsburg and Winburne.