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 Cloey Anderson
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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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
Name: Marlene J. Ford
Date: 10/05/2011 Message: Helen Ford McCarthy died in 1923. She was buried in Hill Grove Cemetery. How can I find the exact date of her death? Headstone only has year on it.
Name: Patricia Dixon Filoni
Date: 06/17/2011 Message:
Nice site. Now know more.
Will attend Crossing event
on Sat. Did'nt know about
the park.
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.
