ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET
The history of
Washington County, PA, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and
factual data in this NEW 33 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily
from three hard-to-find books: the 1843 edition of Historical Collections
of the State of Pennsylvania by Sherman Day, An Illustrated History
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by William Egle, M.D., and
Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State, a WPA project published
in 1940. The spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided on 60# paper, with
the print enlarged for easier reading. A clear vinyl sheet has been added
to protect the front cover.
The communities mentioned include: Amity,
Bentleysville (Bentleyville), Brownsville, Beallsville, Burgetstown, California,
Canonsburg (Canonsburgh), Claysville, Donora, Eldersville, Florence, Fredericktown,
Greenfield, Hillsborough, Millsboro, Monessen, Monongahela (Williamsport,
Monongahela City), Mt. Pleasant, North Charleroi, Washington (formerly Catfish),
West Alexander (West Alexandria), West Brownsville, and West Middleborough,
The Day and Egle
histories cover the early development of this area, while excerpts from the
WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting
historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities.
There is occasionally some duplication of material, but often with a different
slant or emphasis.
Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: County
terrain and geological traits; Early Settlers; Sheep Raising and Woollen Manufactories;
Murder of Indians resulting in Lord Dunmore’s War; Recollection of Washington
County Massacre of 1782 and the Defenders of Jacob Wolf’s Fort; Unsuccessful
Attack on Rice’s Fort in 1782 with the names of the Defenders; Adventures
of Abraham Rice; Detailed Description of a Frontier Wedding; Washington and
Jefferson College, Canonsburgh Academy, and other Educational Institutions;
Scarcity of Clothing and Difficulties in Obtaining Supplies; the County’s
Role in the Whiskey Rebellion; Tar and Feathering Tax Agents; “Tom the Tinker”;
Theft of a Cow Bell; and other interesting
bits of history and trivia.
ILLUSTRATIONS
include Washington (full page), Washington College, Jefferson College, Washington
and Jefferson College, South-Western College.
