Welcome to the Connellsville Area Historical Society
Gibson House Museum and Archive HOURS:
The Gibson House is generally open Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Other days and times are by advance appointment. Wednesdays are preferred.
Open Saturdays, May 11 and 18, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Have a research question? Please email our archivist at CAHSarchive@gmail.com
Connellsville Area Historical Society Announcements
May Meeting
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 6:00 P.M.
This meeting will be held at the Balsley Pavilion next to Colonel Crawford's cabin near the intersection of North 7th Street and Torrance Avenue on the West side of Connellsville. Weather permitting, our program will celebrate Connellsville High School and the fifty-four Broadway musicals presented over the years.
If you were involved in any of the musicals, either on stage, in the orchestra pit, or behind the scenes, come and join us. Share your stories of how being involved in the musicals has affected your life. Answer questions that those who weren’t in the musicals may have to ask. We have many of the programs from the musicals available to be viewed.
Please join us to celebrate one of the most amazing activities that the Connellsville School System has ever sponsored over the years. For participants and audiences, musicals have been a magical experience. Connellsville does a super job each and every year.
Please let us know if you are planning to attend as a former participant.
CALLING
NANCY
WILLIAMS
Does anyone know NANCY WILLIAMS? WE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING INQUIRY 11/2 from her:
Looking for father of Mahala Hatfield Nicholson (1831-1906.)
Mahala’s husband was Benjamin F. Nicholson, married in 1853. They have been mentioned as being in Bullskin and Connellsville. Some say her father was William, which is on her death certificate (mother’s name blank.) But by far most researchers say her father was Elias and her mother, Rosanna. Thank you for any assistance you can provide, Nancy
NANCY, YOUR EMAIL IS BROKEN. RETURN ADDRESS DOES NOT WORK. We have information for you if and when you see this.
The purpose of this contest is to develop an interest in local history in students in grades 4-9.
Students research an aspect of Connellsville Area history and then create a poem or poster
illustrating that topic. Contest instructions and rules are provided to each public and private school in
the district.
Winners were invited to a reception where they presented their projects, received their cash prizes,
and enjoyed refreshments. This reception, which also serves as the Connellsville Area Historical Society's
November meeting, took place on November 15, 2023 at 6:30 pm, at the Connellsville Presbyterian Church.
Students were photographed for the Daily Courier, and the winning projects appeared in the winter
issue of the Connellsville Crossroads magazine.
COL. WILLIAM CRAWFORD'S CABIN AT YOUGH RIVER PARK
Col. William Crawford, outstanding local pioneer leader, was born in Virginia in 1732, the same year as his good friend, George Washington. He came to this area in 1758, as an officer of the army of Gen. John Forbes as it marched westward in the second attempt to capture Fort Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio River. Colonel Crawford was so impressed with the area, he decided to return once the Indian hostilities died down.
He and his half-brother, Hugh Stephenson, came over the mountains in 1765 on horseback and decided once they reached the second crossing of the Youghiogheny River, at what was known as Stewart's Crossings, now Connellsville, that this was where he would bring his family to live. He purchased 376 1/4 acres of meadow land in the bend of the river and took his family into the cabin in 1766. Col. Crawford's name for his residence was originally "Spring Garden" but was widely known as "Crawford's Place" by the locals. He also had a Spring House on his property, which was torn down in June of 1905.
The Crawford family: the Colonel, his wife Hannah and their four children lived a very active life on the frontier. The Crawford family was known for its hospitality. Included among the visitors were George Washington and Lord Dunsmore, the Governor of Virginia. In fact, George Washington taught Crawford the art of surveying when they were young men. Col. Crawford surveyed and purchased land in the local area (Perryopolis) for George Washington.
Colonel Crawford recruited soldiers for the Revolutionary War from his home on the banks of the Youghiogheny River. These soldiers saw action in the battles of Long Island, Trenton and Princeton.
Col. Crawford was with an expedition in 1782 to put down the hostile Indian tribes in what is now Ohio. He got separated from his army and was captured by Delaware Indians. He died a horrible death when he was burned at the stake in Upper Sandusky, Ohio on June 11, 1782.
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We will have an open house and a yard sale at the Gibson house:
217 West Patterson Avenue, Connellsville. 15425 Come see what we have to offer!
THE HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE STREETCARS SOLD OUT
Monday April 29th from 5:30pm-7pm
Historical Society Member Ed Demuth will host a history of Connellsville street cars.
at the Connellsville Canteen Reservations are $10 per person
RSVP 724-603-2093
The Unexpected Life of Sareh B. Cochran SOLD OUT
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 @ 1:00pm (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)
Saturday June 29th: OPENING CEREMONY: 11:00AM
CROSSING: 1:00PM
Sunday June 30th OPENING: 12:00PM
CROSSING: 1:00PM
●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.
Name: Ken & Linda Parkany
Date: 04/05/2011 Message: Thank you for preserving your city's history. Will have to visit personally as we're doing genealogy on Linda's family. 1900 census found her grandmother living there, age 3, one of ten kids and father employed as a 'day laborer'. We have many questions needing answered.
Name: colette secrest
Date: 10/16/2010 Message: hello. my name is colette secrest and i would like to join your mailing list because i love history and such. thank you.
Name: Lcpl Sherwood J.R
Date: 09/13/2009 Message: I grew up in connnellsville. Spent 20 years of my life there. While i was there i must admit i thought i hated it. But once i got out and have had a chance to see the world i realize we have a very special little city. There is nothing like it i've been too. I do miss it dearly but im sure im partial do to the fact that i grew up there. It's nice to get a little more history of our city. It would be nice if they would go more indepth in CAHS on the history of Connellsville. Can't wait to move back and maybe see some more history made.... Semper Fi
Name: Victoria Riste-Dillon
Date: 08/21/2009 Message: Iam the gggranddaughter of Catherine Freed Garver on one side and John and Sarah Sherrick Rist on the other. I would love to hear from anyone that knows the lines. I would like to find John Rist's dad who we think was John Rist married to Christina Strickler. Could have been married before. Thanks, Vikki
Name: Diana Mansberry
Date: 07/14/2009 Message: Just looking around to see Family History
Name: rhonda laughlin
Date: 07/02/2009 Message: looking for registration form for 5k
Name: Michael Quinn
Date: 03/06/2009 Message: Very impressive site. I grew up in Connellsville (West Side) but have lived here in Northern Virginia for 30+ years.
Enjoyed the site.
Name: George John Prinkey
Date: 02/21/2009 Message: I am looking for information on the Prinkey family who are from Connellsville. Particularly George W. Prinkey who was living there in 1910 with his wife Loretta. In 1910 he was living under the name of Means.
Name: lmcswain@btes.tv
Date: 10/17/2008 Message: I am a descendant of swain family. old cyrus swain farm, etc. will share info with anyone searching that name there or Mt. Pleasant
Name: Nancy Soisson-Glista
Date: 10/07/2008 Message: Looking for any history of the Wm. R. Soisson family line. I'd love to hear from lost cousins that knew my grandfather. He died in 1974 and I only remember meeting him one time.