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TO BE ANNOUNCED
 BRADDOCK'S CROSSING 

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
The War for Empire

    France and Great Britain were the two European super powers of the mid 1700s.  Both countries wanted to control as much land in the world as possible.  In North America, the French controlled Canada, and the British were located in the 13 Colonies along the Atlantic coast.

    In 1753, this area along the Youghiogheny River was inhabited by native Americans of the Iroquois, Delaware, and Kanhawhas tribes.  The river made the area particularly attractive to French trappers trading for furs with the Indians.  The English, who had been content to stay east of the Appalachians prior to the 1750s, were now looking for fresh, cheaper land and fur trade also.

    The French attempted to control the rivers and lakes of the interior of North America because they served as natural highways for their fur trade with the natives.

    Our area, here in the Ohio Valley, was claimed by several colonies, Virginia being the most dominant.  In an attempt to determine French involvement in the Ohio Valley, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia sent Major George Washington to find the French and deliver a message for them to leave this British land.  Along with local pioneer, Christopher Gist, Washington traveled through our area in 1753 - 1754.  Washington returned to the area in the spring and summer of 1754, where the incident at Jumonville precipitated the French and Indian War.

    To drive the French out of the Ohio Valley, a British army under the command of Major General Edward Braddock achieved "mission Impossible" and brought a large force of British and colonial troops along with artillery and wagons through the wilderness.

    On the way to Fort Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio, Braddock's army crossed the Youghiogheny River at Stewart's Crossings (Connellsville) on June 29-30, 1755.  The army spent two days here in Connellsville, and on the second day, they baked bread for the last time before the attack on the French.  The attack resulted in a major defeat for the British army.

This historic year of 2024 will be the Connellsville Historical Society's 21st Annual Braddock's Crossing of the Yough Event.

 This year's celebration to be held on Saturday, June 28th , at the Crawford Cabin site.  The event will begin at 11:00 am with an Opening Ceremony.  There will be re-enactors available to interact with and gain knowledge of life here when this was the frontier region of our country.  We will also celebrate 54 years of preserving Connellsville history.  Volunteers are always welcome.

   

Sign Guest Book  View Guest Book 
1st CITY IN FAYETTE COUNTY, PA

CONNELLSVILLE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
217 West Patterson Avenue
Connellsville, PA 15425


Phone: (724) 628-5344 (K. Hechler)

Phone: ‭(724) 603-3691‬ (S. Lewis)


Email: CHS@connellsvillehistoricalsociety.com

Content, including images, displayed on this website is protected by copyright laws. Downloading, republication, retransmission or reproduction of content on this website is strictly prohibited. 


 

DEVOTION TO DUTY

April 8th @5:30-7:00pm

Devotion to Duty is about the men who died in Korea, Vietnam and Middle East wars. Power point program PLUS more about Veteran's Day, the Honor Roll project, etc. Q&A after the program.
Light Meal from 5:30pm- 6 pm.
Program Starts at 6pm
Cost of meal is $10 and is paid to the Canteen.

Reservations made via: Daniel Cocks at the canteen


THE UNEXPECTED LIFE OF SARAH B. COCHRAN

Friday June 28th @5:30pm-9:00pm

Our Most recent addition to the Crossing weekend is a Dinner-Lecture calling attention to a local historical event or person held Friday evening before the week-end event at Crawford’s Cabin site.

This event will require a reservation.
Amount is $35/ per person
DINNER is Included

This year, 2024, will be the third Dinner-Lecture bringing an acknowledged historian to Connellsville as the kick-off event of the annual Braddock’s Crossing week-end.
This year the speaker will be Kimberly Hess, author of A LESSER MORTAL:
THE UNEXPECTED LIFE OF SARAH B. COCHRAN.
Ms. Hess (Author) will share stories of this amazing woman, Sarah B. Cochran, and her great influence on local history


THE 21ST ANNUAL BRADDOCKS CROSSING

June 29th-30th, 2024

(MORE DETAILS TO COME)

●The actual Crossing of the Yough will be held each day @ 1pm (Depending on the condition of the Youghiogheny.)

●(If the river is too high, swift and muddy, we will not attempt to cross.)

●We Will Have A Crossing (Weather Permitting) (More Details To Come)

Saturday June 29th:
OPENING CEREMONY: 11AM

Sunday June 30th
OPENING: 12PM

●Our Guests This Year:
-Tri Town Historical Society
-Redstone Rangers
-Valerie Skinner

-Shawn Baird (Rifleman)
-Julie Rossington
-The Homestead Bath House
-Stone Forge & Tissage
-Dunbar Historical Society

●Refreshments are available on site both days. The Historical Society has historical items for sale. Come to the River Crossing and support the Connellsville Area Historical Society.


Sign the Guest Book
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Name: Kyle Sepp Woods
Date: 02/10/2024
Message: Info on joining


Name: Simpson Jr Raymond R
Date: 02/09/2024
Message: Grew up in Leisenring # 1 ,,, Connellsville is home ,,,,


Name: Gary Overfield
Date: 01/06/2024
Message: Have an interest in Connellsville due to coal and the railroads. Also like the small town feel.


Name: Cheryl Beitzel-Barkey
Date: 01/21/2023
Message: I grew up going to Connellsville every year to visit my Aunt and Uncle, Pauline and Chelsie Eiford. They lived on Rock Ridge Rd. Some of my favorite memories are from Connellsville.


Name: Terry Ellen Ferl
Date: 10/05/2020
Message: The web site for your Society is very interesting and a great source for learning about the area. Congratulations on your upcoming new home, the Gibson House.


Name: Tom Latham
Date: 09/08/2020
Message: Hope someday I can visit the Crawford family cabin. Thank you


Name: Roger Buttermore
Date: 08/06/2019
Message: Looking for more info about Point of Rocks Cemetery and / or "Old Quaker graveyard" (Ellis, p. 393.


Name: Tom of the Yough
Date: 07/30/2019
Message: This is a great site


Name: Joanne Shade
Date: 03/23/2019
Message: Looking for information about Connellsville in 1910.

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