Historical Sketch of Greene County

Posted by on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on Historical Sketch of Greene County Greene County lies in the southwestern corner of the state. Its many hills, the distinguishing feature of the countryside, grow more pronounced as one travels from the eastern to the western areas. The old Washington Waynes­burg Railroad, traveling through the hills, was famous for its 178 sharp turns, each of which jolted the passengers. There were some who took the trip just for the roller...
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History is Alive and Well in Beaver County

Posted by on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on History is Alive and Well in Beaver County On June 6, 1824, the steamboat Ploughboy with the first contingent of Harmony Society members came around the bend in the river at Legionville; the skipper gave a cannon salute. After dropping anchor, the passengers disembarked and made camp. The following day, Father Rapp, leader of the Harmonists, wrote to the remaining members at New Harmony: “I consider this place the most healthful in...
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The Whiskey Boys Versus the Watermelon Army

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on The Whiskey Boys Versus the Watermelon Army When the issue of balancing the budget by raising taxes reared its ugly head recently, the nation once again saw the contro­versy and bitterness the sub­ject ignites. On Capitol Hill familiar questions were fiercely debated. Who should close the revenue gap, the wealthy or the working class? Should taxes be increased on ciga­rettes, gasoline, or liquor? Nearly two hundred years ago the Congress...
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The Tax Collector of Bower Hill

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on The Tax Collector of Bower Hill Gen. John Neville was an aristocrat in every sense of the word. He possessed wealth, power, and prestige, but in 1794 many of his western Pennsylvania neighbors would have prefer­red to see him dead. They believed he had betrayed them when he accepted the position of inspector in charge of col­lecting the new tax on whiskey. As the fledgling nation faced a severe economic crisis resulting from...
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Executive Director’s Message

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Executive Director’s Message This year’s observance of Pennsylvania Archaeology Week, October 9-17, calls attention to the rich and diverse heritage of Native Americans. It also gives us an opportunity to recognize the unique research and invaluable preservation efforts undertaken by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). The PHMC has earned a national reputation for its pioneering efforts in...
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Malcolm Parcell, The Master of Moon Lorn

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Malcolm Parcell, The Master of Moon Lorn Fame has not forgotten Malcolm Parcell, undeniably one of Pennsylvania’s – and America’s – foremost portrait painters of the twentieth century. Although the reclu­sive artist died at the age of ninety-one in March 1987 at his enchanting rural retreat in Washington County, he is still spoken of with affection and reverence as “the grand old man of western...
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The Covered Bridges of Pennsylvania: A Guide

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on The Covered Bridges of Pennsylvania: A Guide The Covered Bridges of Pennsylvania: A Guide by Susan M. Zacher Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1994 (134 pages, paper, $9.95) Pennsylvania has many types of historic structures scattered throughout its sixty-seven counties, but it’s doubtful if any are as cher­ished and admired as the covered bridge. No matter the season, enthusiasts­ – often joined by photogra­phers...
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Lost and Found

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Lost and Found Lost Crossing Ten Mile Creek, southeast of Amity in Washington County, the Bailey Covered Bridge was erected by Bailey Brothers in 1889. The bridge has often been cited as a fine example of the Burr arch truss style, designed by Theodore Burr of Torringford, Connecticut, which enabled the spanning of wider streams and rivers. The Bailey Covered Bridge was destroyed by arson in July 1994 when a...
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Bookshelf

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Bookshelf Stoneware of Southwestern Pennsylvania by Phil Schaltenbrand University of Pittsburgh Press, 1996 (216 pages, paper, $22.95) A greatly expanded version of the author’s Old Pots (1978), Stoneware of Southwestern Pennsylvania describes the salt-glazed stoneware industry that once flourished in the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Valleys and contains much new information about the remarkable...
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Bookshelf

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Bookshelf Coal and Coke in Pennsylvania by Carmen DiCiccio Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1996 (223 pages, paper, 16.95) Coal and Coke in Pennsylvania began in 1991 as a written guide for the nomination of soft coal operations and coke extractive facilities in western Pennsylvania to the National Register of Historic Places. During the project, diverse sources were consulted, including...
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