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.
SOCIETY OFFICERS
The Current Officers and Board of Directors are as follows:
OFFICERS
President Karen Hechler
1st Vice-President Debbie Mullaney
2nd Vice President OPEN
Recording Secretary OPEN
Corresponding Secretary Karen Hechler
Treasurer Ralph Prinkey
Membership Darcy Gates
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
William "Bill" Sechler
Benjamin Hoffman
Glenna Hughes
Harry Porter (Emeritus)
Other positions that were not elected in April, 2024 but are functioning now.
●Professional Archivist - Sarah Reedy
●Media Committee – Ben Hoffman
●Correspondence Committee – Karen Hechler
●Newletter – Pastor Ralph Prinkey, Karen Hechler
●Living Historians – Ben Hoffman
●Genealogy – Susan Lewis
●Maintenance - Bill Sechler, Debby Mullaney, Ben Hoffman
MEMBERSHIP
Society membership is open to all who have an interest in Connellsville and local area history.
Yearly dues are payable in April at the annual meeting.
Dues are payable in person at a member meeting, or by mail via check or money order made payable to:
CONNELLSVILLE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
217 WEST PATTERSON AVENUE
CONNELLSVILLE, PA 15425
Dues are as follows:
$15.00 - Individual per year
$25.00 - Family dues including children under 18 yrs. of age.
$50.00 - Business per year
$150.00 - Lifetime membership for anyone over 55 yrs. old
Click on the above "MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION" link to open a new PDF window and print the application.
MAINTAIN THE CONNELLSVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Any successful organization needs the efforts and talents of its membership to maintain a high
excellence in the community that it serves. Most of the work cannot fall on the shoulders of just a few members, or they soon get weary of the many jobs. There is much talent in the membership of the Connellsville Area Historical Society. Perhaps no one has ever asked you to participate, and you feel that your skills are not appreciated. Perhaps, you are engaged fully into an organization that you value very much, and your time is limited. We all set our priorities, But, if you see anything in the following list that appeals to you, please contact me at 724-628-5344 or khistory@zoominternet.net. Here goes, if I have missed your interest also let me know.
1. Cleaning is always a need. The Gibson House gets dusty and dirty just like your own home. Dusting, sweeping, mopping, bathroom, counter tops, windows (inside), etc.
2. Writing articles for the newsletter. It comes out 2 times a year, spring and fall. The articles should have something to do with the Society or the history of Connellsville. You may have pictures of an insight into some special aspect of Connellsville history that should be shared with our readers.
3. Helping find informative history related programs for July, September, and October. June is our Covered Dish Picnic, August is our Corn Roast, November is the Pride in Connellsville Area reception.
4. Selling items that we have to the public on Saturday which is the day that we are open to the public. We have no place to set up a display of our items in town. We need the revenue that they will provide.
5. Cleaning the inside of our display cases and changing displays for the public to see our collections.
6. Providing refreshments for our meetings. We also need cookies for our Christmas Open House during It's a Connellsville Christmas.
7. There is lawn work to do. Planting in the spring, pulling weeds, maintaining plants, Taking care of removing leaves, keeping the back area free of snow so that people can enter.
8. Or if you are unable to do any of the above, perhaps you will help with the expense of
keeping our treasures, the Gibson House and the Col. Crawford Site, available to the public
and maintaining these structures. It is very costly to pay all the expenses of maintaining and
insuring what the Connellsville Historical Society owns.
We don't want people to say like they have in the past. "Why did you allow the B&O Station to be torn down?" Like we could have stopped that! But we do own the Gibson House and the Crawford site, and we are responsible to maintain this prime Connellsville history. This option is open to all.
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Name: Nan Siegmund
Date: 01/04/2025 Message: I am the Great Granddaughter of Samuel Levy and Martha Osten/Osetzky Levy. Samuel owned a general store on the Main Street in the late 1800's / early 1900's and moved to Brooklyn with his family. The original Levy family name was Newberg / Neiberg (Polish) and we are researching our genealogy.
Name: Shawn Jefferds (O'Neal)
Date: 05/20/2024 Message: My mothers' family was from Connellsville.
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.
