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.
Gibson House open on:
October 2024: 5, 12, 19, 26
November 2024: 2, 9, 16, 23
Have a research question? Please email our archivist at CAHSarchive@gmail.com
Connellsville Area Historical Society Announcements
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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November Meeting Of the Connellsville area Historical Society
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 @6:30pm
At the Connellsville Presbyterian Church
The PRIDE IN CONNELLSVILLE AREA POETRY AND POSTER CONTEST
Fall, 2024
The Pride in Connellsville Area Poster and Poetry Contest was created for the Connellsville Area Historical Society by Mrs. Deborah Mullaney.
The history of this contest dates back approximately 30 years.
The purpose of the contest is to develop an interest in local history by having the children in grades 4-9 research an aspect of Connellsville Area history, and then create a poem or poster illustrating that chapter in our local history.
Instructions for the contest are taken to each public and private school within our district with the rules for the contest.
Winners are awarded cash prizes and are invited to a reception where they present their projects, receive their prizes, and enjoy refreshments. This event is held as our November meeting, November 13, 2024 at 6:30 pm, of the Connellsville Historical Society.
The reception has been held for years in the Connellsville Presbyterian Church.
Students are honored with their pictures in the Daily Courier, and the winning projects are given a two page spread in the winter issue of Connellsville Crossroads magazine.
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.
Name: Janet L. Mancini
Date: 10/01/2008 Message: I am doing research on The Children's Home my twin brother John and I were placed in 1957. My birth mother placed us there and died within a few days. We were 4 years old. 11 months later we were adopted into a good home. I have many photos and archives from the home on 141 Oakland Avenue, Uniontown, PA. The first home opened on Highland Ave in 1916. The second in 1917.
The 141 Oakland Ave Home closed in July 1958. Anyone interested please contact the Connellsville Historical society.
Name: jean custer
Date: 09/16/2008 Message: looking for cross's who lived in your town
Name: Brian L. Cypher
Date: 06/21/2008 Message: A first class endeavor, keep up the good work.
Name: JERRY ASSAD
Date: 06/19/2008 Message: I SENT A MESSAGE ON THE SITE. SORRY
Name: Jim Robbins
Date: 06/05/2008 Message: I am researching the Robbins family that lived in Fayette county in the 19th/20th centuries. Visited Uniontown last year and plan to visit Connellsville in 2008
Name: joel abramson
Date: 05/06/2008 Message: Thank you for sharing Connelsville history. My Grandmother lived at 604- 8th Street. Many of the postcards she was sent were simply mailed to Sara Rubin, Connelsville with no address and naturally no zip card. I even did an oil painting of a scene that looked like Pittsburgh Street, that was given to the Cadison's of Punxatawny. 55joelsart@comcast.net
Name: Donna (McClain) Colucci
Date: 03/26/2008 Message: Hi, I was born in Connellsville in 1946. My grandmother owned and operated a general store on So. Pittsburgh St. in So. Connellsville for many years. Her name was Olive Lee, she was known to all the children in the neighborhood as Mrs. Lee. They came daily with their 5 or 10 cents to pick out penny candy from her window display case.
