Welcome to the Connellsville Area Historical Society

NEW HOURS

The Gibson House is generally open Saturdays from 9 until 4.

Other days and times are by advance appointment. Wednesdays are preferred.

Open Saturday, December 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays hours will resume in January.

December Events

Saturday, December 2 - Gibson House Open House 

Join us from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm as part of IT’S A CONNELLSVILLE CHRISTMAS. The
house at 217 West Patterson Avenue is decorated for the Christmas Season.

There will be:
Tours of the Gibson House
A Christmas Musical Recital by Sarah and Hannah Hoffman on piano and violin at 12:00 noon
Connellsville gifts: Books, Ornaments, T-shirts. Post cards, etc. Christmas gifts for family and friends
Light refreshments
Special prices on the Centennial History of Connellsville (reprint of 1906 original) and the History of Fayette County         by Ellis (reprint of 1882 original, fully indexed)
 

Announcing the Fall, 2023 Pride in Connellsville Area Poster and Poetry Contest Winners

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 are invited to a reception where they present their projects, receive their cash prizes, 
and enjoy refreshments. This reception, which also serves as the Connellsville Area Historical Society's
November meeting, will take place on November 15, 2023 at 6:30 pm, at the Connellsville Presbyterian Church. 
Students will be photographed for the Daily Courier, and the winning projects will appear in the winter
issue of the Connellsville Crossroads magazine.

    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. 

Colonel William Crawford