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TO BE ANNOUNCED
Col Crawford Statue
Col Crawford Statue

Col Crawford Statue at The Carnagie Free Library in Connellsville.

the Plaque States: IN MEMORY OF COLONEL WILLIAM CRAWFORD BORN IN BERKELEY COUNTY, VIRGINIA, IN 1732

FRIEND OF WASHINGTON-PIONEER-PATRIOT. THIS MONUMENT IS SITUATED 1260 YARDS S. 69° E. 16' OF THE SPOT WHERE HE BUILT HIS LOG CABIN IN 1765 ON THE WEST BANK OF THE YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER, AT THE HISTORIC STEWART'S CROSSINGS.

HE FIRST VISITED THE REGION WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS IN 1758, AS AN OFFICER IN THE EXPEDITION OF GENERAL FORBES AGAINST FORT DUQUESNE. AS COLONEL OF THE SEVENTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT, HE CROSSED THE DELAWARE WITH WASHINGTON IN 1777, AND SHARED IN THE VICTORY AT TRENTON. FIGHTING IN DEFENSE OF THE FRONTIER, AS COMMANDER OF THE SANDUSKY EXPEDITION, HE WAS CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS AND BURNED AT THE STAKE NEAR CRAWFORDSVILLE, OHIO, JUNE, 11,1782,

ERECTED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION THE CITY OF CONNELLSVILLE, AND GRATEFUL CITIZENS 1917. 

 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.

   

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1st CITY IN FAYETTE COUNTY, PA

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


Phone: (724) 628-5344 (K. Hechler)


Email: CHS@connellsvillehistoricalsociety.com

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The Gibson House Christmas Gift Shop  

Saturday, December 7th, 2024 @11am

At the Gibson House 217 West Patterson Avenue Connellsville

The Gibson House Christmas Gift Shop Will Be Open Saturday December 7th at 11am For Connellsville Christmas
The Gibson House will be decorated for Christmas
Light Refreshments will be available

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