Even local history buffs are learning a thing or two about Girard as the borough works toward National Register of Historic Places designation for its downtown.

The borough will host a public meeting on the initiative Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Girard Borough Building Social Hall, 34 Main St. W.

The borough, in partnership with the nonprofit Downtown Girard Inc., is working to revitalize the town’s Main Street commercial district. National Register listing can help leverage additional funding and additional interest in the town.

A monument, erected in 1865 to those who died in defense of the country, overlooks downtown Girard on Wednesday. Pennsylvania Route 20, looking east, doubles as Main Street through the small, historic town in western Erie County.

Consultants have prepared and submitted Girard’s application for National Register listing to the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board. The board is expected to review the application in June.

If recommended, the application then would be considered as early as July by the National Park Service, which oversees the National Register of Historic Places listing of historic sites worthy of preservation.

Corry’s downtown historic district was added to the National Register on April 11. Lawrence Park, North East and Waterford also have historic districts listed on the National Register.

Girard is known locally for its circus past. The town was the winter home of showman Dan Rice’s nationally known circus before the Civil War. The National Register application includes that history and more.

“The information on the history of Girard is outstanding. I learned so many things,” Girard Borough Manager Rob Stubenbort said. “I knew a great deal about Girard history, but this has details about things like the hat shops, different groceries and restaurants that were here back when.

“It’s just an amazing document, and one of the best reads of a 100-page document I’ve had,” Stubenbort said.

Downtown Girard, looking west, is shown on Wednesday.

Stubenbort’s favorite “new” fact is how Ridge Road, Route 20, got its name.

“I thought it was named for an early family, maybe even ancestors of Tom Ridge,” Stubenbort said. “But it actually got its name from being the second (topographic) ridge from the lake. When it went in, the road was ideal because it was gravel, which means less dust in dry weather and that it doesn’t hold water in wet weather.

“That was fun for me to learn,” Stubenbort said.

The town can use its history to attract new businesses and visitors. Properties included on the National Register also can qualify for state and federal tax credits for preservation and improvements to help get businesses in to generate tax revenues.

Preservation Studios of Buffalo, New York, was hired to prepare Girard’s National Register application.

Dan Rice, who wintered his circus in Girard for about 10 years in the 1850s, appeared in his famous red, white and blue outfit at the Democratic Convention held in New York City in June of 1868. Some claim the the Uncle Sam character was modeled after Rice.

“Girard’s early history, especially the canal and Dan Rice, was really, really interesting for us, too,” said Derek King, a Preservation Studios partner who led the Girard application process. “It was great to learn more about 19th century history we weren’t familiar with, including Dan Rice’s impact on the town and its early development.”

Rice wintered his circus in Girard beginning in 1853. The troupe returned to Girard each fall with a parade to the town from the nearby Erie Extension Canal.