USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Greensburg > History of Greensburg (Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania) and Greensburg schools > Part 1
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1800
SS
Class
Book
1
Copyright N.º.
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
Borough Centennial Souvenir
GREENSBURG
ILLUSTRATED
SELV .. ). OPY. 1059.
1
1785-CHOSEN AS THE COUNTYSEAT. INCORPORATED AS A BOROUGH 1;99.
HISTORY
-OF -- MAK 24% 1899
GREENSBURG (WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA )
AND
GREENSBURG SCHOOLS.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY LOCAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
COPYRIGHTED 1899.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY VOGLE & WINSHEIMER, GREENSBURG, PA.
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ALLEY 168
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18%
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/3/
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/11
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SCHOOL HOUSE LOT
16%
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10 g
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OTTERMAN
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CHURCH
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13 ALLEY $ 15
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$ 7
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THIRD
STREET
PLAN OF EARLY GREENSBURG.
WY0 COPIES REC IVED.
28585
FRONT
wrights
MA3 24 1899
c-
Rami tap of
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109
115
STREET
185186
ALLEY
192 173 /4 /13
NEW ALEX
TURNPIKE
154 111 197 185199 200 201 232003
ALLLY
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COURT
HOUSE
39 .
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BACK
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4- To MT. P.
YARD
5
GREENSBURG
-AND-
GREENSBURG SCHOOLS.
BY B. F. VOGLE.
G REENSBURG was named in honor of that valiant and illus- trious Revolutionary soldier, General Nathaniel Greene. Many of the patriots from Westmore- land, in the war for Independence, were under his command and shared with him the trials and triumphs of Monmouth, Brandywine, German- town, Princeton, Trenton and the fateful Southern campaign.
Before and for some months after it was determined upon as the county- seat, this locality was called Newtown. As it embraced only a few log huts, at that time, one would, on first thought, conclude that the name was intended to represent what the place hoped to be rather than what it then was. There is good reason to believe, how- ever, that Christopher Truby origin- ally designated the little cluster of
MAJ. GEN. NATHANIEL GREENE.
cabins Newtown. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the site of Greens- burg. Truby emigrated to this vi- cinity as early as 1771, two years be- fore the organization of Westmore- land county. He came here from Bucks county, Penn'a. Newtown, still a flourishing village, for many years prior to 1812, was the seat of justice of that (Bucks) county. It was likewise the headquarters of Gen- erals Washington and Greene, in 1776, while the American army was guarding the Delaware river. Doubt- less, it was in fond recollection of his native county that Col. Truby con- ferred upon his new home in the western country, as this section was then known, the old name.
Careful research has developed very nearly the exact time when the change was made from Newtown to Greens-
burg. In a certificate of a number of the Justices of the Peace of Westmoreland county, (published elsewhere in this volume), bearing date of August 10, 1786, they allude to a Court House and prison having been erected "at Newtown." An Act of Assembly, passed September 19, 1786, pertaining to election districts, refers to "Greensburg, otherwise New-
1
BANK & TRUST BUILDING. Corner of Main und East Otterman Streets.
town." In still another legislative measure, enacted Decem- ber 27, 1786, relating to the Trustees for locating the seat of justice, mention is made of "the place now called Greens- burg, in the Township of Hempfield." It will thus be seen that the change of the name from Newtown to Greensburg was made between the middle of August and the middle of September. 1786, and the latter recognized by the General Assembly as the only name before the close of that year.
Gen. Nathaniel Greene died near Savannah, Ga., on June 19, 1786. Because of the slow method by which news was transmitted at that carly period, it is quite likely that the melancholy intelligence did not reach the western country for fully two months thereafter. Touched by the untimely death of this distinguished patriot and gallant commander, (he was only forty-four years of age), it was very natural and highly creditable to the citizens and soldiers of West- moreland, that they offered loving tribute to his memory by giving the new countyseat his name.
1
Locating the Seat of Justice.
Greensburg, like nearly all county towns, came into being amid the sharp rivalry or strife of con- tending interests. At the time Westmoreland county was established, February 26, 1773, the house of
[2]
Robert Hanna, at the settlement subsequently known as Hannastown, was designated as the place of holding the elec- tions and courts "until a Court House shall be built for said county." Messrs. Robert Hanna, George Wilson, Samuel Sloan, Joseph Irwin and John Caveat, or any three of them,
ZIMMERMAN HOUSE, CONDUCTED BY S. ALWINE, JR. Corner Main and West Second Streets
were named and empowered to purchase land in some con- venient place, in trust, and thereupon to erect a Court House and prison; provided, that the sum to be expended did not ex- ceed £1,00.
"Robert Hanna's house," as specifically named in the Act creating the county, was located on the road es- tablished by Gen. John Forbes, in the expedition against Fort Duquesne, in 1758. Hanna, with other pioneers, settled there (at Hannastown) some years before the formation of the county. Trav- elers were entertained at Hanna's house, and, in 1773, that little settlement was the most important point between Fort Ligonier and Fort Pitt. Both before and after that place was selected for hold- ing the courts, until a countyseat should be def- initely decided upon, many influential men urged that Pittsburg be chosen, temporarily and per- manently, as the seat of justice. In 1773 Hannas- town and Pittsburg were of about the same im- portance and proportions. Although a majority of the Trustees, on one occasion, made a recom- mendation in favor of Hannastown for the county- seat, the opposition was sufficiently strong and active to prevent sanction on the part of the authorities and cause delay.
Border troubles and the Revolutionary war like- wise intervened with the effect of still further re- tarding decisive action. The burning of Hannas-
[3]
town by the Indians in July, 1782, was fol- lowed by renewed agitation for a change of
RESIDENCE OF MR. S. P. BROWN. North Main Street.
the place of holding the courts. A supplemental Act of Assembly, accord- ingly, was passed on March 22, 1784, setting forth that, whereas, the Trus- tees appointed by the law establishing the county had not complied with the powers given them, John Irwin, Benjamin Davis, Charles Campbell, James Pollock and Joseph Wilkins, or any three of them, were authorized and empowered to perform the duties recited in the Act of February 26, 1773.
Divided in the choice of a location, and members being firm in their pref- erences, the second board of Trustees was displaced by still another Act of the General Assembly, bearing date of September 13, 1785. At this stage of the contest the advocates of Pittsburg appear to have lost weight with the legislative powers. The rivalry then was almost entirely between the resi- dents north and those south of the Forbes road. The new statute stated that-
"Whereas, the seat of justice of Westmoreland hath not heretofore been established by law, for want of which the inhabitants labor under great inconveniences, ~ * ~ it shall and may be lawful for Benjamin Davis, Michael Rongh, John Shields, John Pomroy and Hugh Martin, of the county of Westmoreland, or any three of them, to purchase and take assurance in the name of the Commonwealth. of a piece of land, in trust for the use of the inhabitants of Westmoreland county: Provided said piece of land be not situated further east than the nine-mile run. nor further west than Bushy run, further north than Loyalhanna, nor further south than five miles south of the old Pennsylvania road leading to Pittsburg; on which piece of ground said Commissioners shall erect a Court House and prison, sufficient to accommodate the public service of the said county."
It was further directed that the sum to be raised for purchasing the ground and erecting the Court House and prison should not exceed £1.000. In the meantime a new road was proposed, and, in fact, already in use, be- tween Fort Ligonier and Pittsburg, by way of Newtown (Greensburg). It was claimed, and rightly so, that this would be more direct than the Forbes or old Pennsylvania road. Of the new Trustees Benjamin Davis resided in Rostraver township. Michael Rugh in Hempfield, Hugh Martin in Mt. Pleasant, John Shields in Salem and John Pomroy in Derry township. It will thus be seen that three of the Trustees lived south of the Forbes road,
[4 ]
and that that part of Westmoreland, in and about Pittsburg, had no representative on the board. Within five weeks after being empowered, the Trustees viewed the territory pre- scribed by the General Assembly. A meeting was held by them at Hannastown on November 1 and 2, but no conclusion was reached. Another meeting took place in the second week of December, at Newtown (Greensburg), and that
RESIDENCE OF MR. A. S. ACKERMAN. Corner Vannear Avenne and Second Street.
locality determined npon for the seat of justice. Messrs. Shields and Pomroy, advocates of Hannastown, dissented, and thereafter did not act with the other Trustees. Messrs. Davis, Rugh and Martin, constituting a majority of the board, however, on December 10, entered into an agreement with Christopher Truby and William Jack, to which Ludwig Otterman subsequently became a party, for the purchase of two acres of land on which to erect public buildings. Al- though the details of the agreement were somewhat changed two days later, that date, viz: December 10, 1785, may be accepted as the exact or official time of the selection of Greensburg as the countyseat of Westmoreland.
First Court House and Jail at Greensburg.
No time was lost by the majority of the Trustees in begin- ning work on the public buildings. Philip Hartman was engaged, within a few days after the agreement for the pur- chase of the ground was concluded, to construct the founda- tion for the prison. Two months later, in February, 1786, one Anthony Altman entered into a compact to erect the Court House, the work being prosecuted under the direct supervision of Trustee Michael Rugh. Both the Court House and jail were embraced in one building, which was composed of logs and heavy boards or plank. The prison was in the rear part of the modest temple of justice and walled for a distance both below and above ground with stone. More than ordinary effort was made in pushing the
[5]
enterprise. By the end of June the public building or build- ings, located on the same site as the present Court House, were completed and ready for occupancy. A formal report to that effect was made by the Trustees to the court, at the ensuing July Term, held at Hannastown. Taking cogni- zance of the same, the annexed certificate was formulated
FIRST COURT HOUSE AND JAIL AT GREENSBURG. Erected 1786.
and signed by the Justices of the Peace named, who were likewise Judges of the Court of Common Pleas:
JUSTICES' CERTIFICATE.
We, the subscribers, Justices of the Peace, in and for the county of Westmoreland, upon receiving a written report from the Trustees of said county, informing us that a new Court House and prison was erected in Newtown, and that a number of other convenient buildings were also erected and open for entertainment. found that we were warranted hy law in adjourning our courts to the said town; aud be- ing desirons as soon as possible, to take leave of the many inconven- iences and difficulties which atteud our situation at Hanna's town, as well as to avoid the cost for rent for a very uncomfortable house, iu which we held our courts, we did, therefore, accordingly adjourn to i the said town. And we do certify that we found a very comfortable, convenient Court House and prisou, included in one commodious building, together with a number of large commodious houses, open for public entertainment, in which we enjoyed great satisfaction dur- ing our residence at court. We do further give it as our opinion that the situation is good, aud possessed of every natural advantage that can contribute to the comfort and convenience of an inland town; that it is as nearly centrical to the body of the people as any spot that cau be found possessed of the same advantages; that it lies in direct course between Ligonier and Pittsburgh, and will admit of the straitest and best road between those two places; that its situation is in the centre of the finest and wealthiest settlement in this western country, and cannot fail of being supplied with the greatest abundance, upon the most reasonable terms; in short, we think the said Trustees have done themselves honor in their choice and proceeding through the whole of this business. Given under our hands the 10th of August, 1786.
HUGH MARTIN, RICHARD WILLIAMS, JOHN MILLER, ALEXANDER MITCHELL,
GEORGE WALLACE, WILLIAM JACK, CHRISTOPHER TRUBY, GEORGE BAIRD.
It was not until January, 1787, however, that the first regular Quarter Sessions term of court was held in the new:
16]
Court House at Greensburg. The following gentlemen en- joyed the distinction of serving as jurors on that notable occasion:
Grand Jurors-David Duncan, James Carnahan, John Carnahan, John Sloan, Abraham Fulton, Charles Baird, William Best, Nathaniel McBrier, Joseph Mann, James Fulton, William Mann, Charles Johns- ton, Jacob Huffman, Samuel Sinclair, John Craig,
RESIDENCE OF MRS. ADA B. M'CULLOGH. Corner West Otterman Street and Harrison Avenue.
Traverse Jurors-Alexander Craig, John McCready, Peter Cherry, John Giffen, John Buch, Philip Coons, Patrick Campbell, George Swan, Isaac McKendry, Robert McKee, John Anderson, James Wat- terson, Lawrence Irwin.
The term lasted for three days, and the compensation of the "good men and true" was five shillings per day. In its presentment, at that session, the grand jury reported that the jail was insufficient and lacking in security to hold prisoners.
The Trustees Superseded.
Very naturally the selection of Greensburg, as the countyseat, was followed by expressions and manifestations of dissatisfaction from the oppos- ing elements on and north of the Forbes road and about Pittsburg. This culminated in a hostile Act of the General Assembly, passed December 27, 1786. By that measure the powers and authority given to the Trustees to purchase land and erect a Court House and jail were superseded "until the Legislature shall further and otherwise direct." Moreover, the Trustees were enjoined and requir- ed to exhibit their accounts, with proper vouchers, of all expenditures made by them, to William Moore, Charles Campbell, and James Bryson, who were authorized to pass upon said accounts and vouchers, which were also to be laid before the Justices and grand jury of the Court of Quarter
[7]
Sessions. William Moore, of the auditing commission, was a resident of Rostraver
MI CHELA
BUSINESS BUILDING, OWNED BY MR. H. P. EICHER. Main Street.
township; Charles Campbell, of Wheatfield township, (subsequently embrac- ed in Indiana county); and James Bryson, of Pittsburg, making a majority from the unfriendly localities.
Some conception of the feeling prevailing, in the conflict over the location of the seat of justice, may be formed from a few extracts from communica- tions to the Pittsburg Gazette, at that time the only journal published within the far-reaching borders of Westmoreland county. "A Friend of His Country," in a letter from Brush Creek, which was presented in the Gazette of October 26, 1786, among other things, said:
"It is well known that the establishment of our present seat of justice was not a basty, rash or inconsiderate piece of business. Almost sixteen years elapsed since it first claimed the attention of government: it has been deliberately considered and cautionsly conducted: the sense of the people have been generally and repeatedly known by peti- tion, remonstrance, etc., and in consequence thereof no less than four different Acts of the Legislature have been passed to effect and complete its establishment. When we reflect upon the many evils which have resulted from the want of such establishment, I think we rather ought to congratulate ourselves on the event, and rest perfectly satisfied that it is at last fixed anywhere nearly centrical to the body of the people."
H. H. Brackenridge, a resident of Pittsburg, and one of the Representa- tives in the Legislature from Westmoreland, in an epistle bearing date of Philadelphia, December 16, 1786, produced in the Gazette of January 6, 1787, observed:
"A bill is published superseding the powers of the Trustees for building a Court House and jail in Greensburg. The object is to prevent any further expenditure of public money in public buildings at that place, inasmuch as the Court House and jail already erected are sufficient, at least, for a number of years. This appeared to us. the Repre- sentatives from Westmoreland, to be sufficient for the present. It must remain with future time to determine whether the seat of justice shali be removed or a new county erected on the Kiskiminetas. The last. I believe, will be deemed most eligible."
In the issue of the Gazette of February 10, 1787, the following appeared from the pen of "A Friend of Westmoreland:"
"We find by Mr. Brackenridge's late publication that the seat of justice in this county yet remains an object of envy in our Legislature, as . A bill is published superseding tbe
[8]
WESTMORELAND COUNTY HOME.
powers of the Trustees for building a Court Honse and jail in Greensburg.' I wonder when we shall see an end of the cavilings on this subject, and the succession of ridiculous laws occasioned thereby! By the first law we find a number of Trustees appointed for erect- ing a Court House and prison. &c. By the second law we find their proceeding rejected, though perfectly legal, and the former repeal- ed. and another set of Trustees appointed, with more extensive and conclusive powers. A third law approves and confirms their pro- ceedings, and a fourth law supersedes their powersin the midst of the duty assigned them: and, to carry the farce a little further, I think the fifth law onght to amount to the total annihilation of the county."
Cost of the First Court House and Jail.
In conformity with the requirements of the Act of December 27, 1786, the Trustees submitted their accounts, with vouchers. The items were arranged in the following order by the auditors:
€ s. d
No. 1. Cash paid Peter Conch for shingle wood ... 7 6
2. Christian Myer 105 lbs. of iron at 8 pence per lh. . 3 10 0 32. Hugh Martin amount as Trustee. 5 10 0
3. Jacob Rngh for hauling boards and stones .. 4 76 33. Joha Pumroy's amount as Trustce .... 6 00 0
4. JJacob Rugh for hauling 160 feet of boards . 0 60
5. Philip Hartman for underpinning and stopping the cracks of pluistering the gaol.
13 10 0
6. Martin Short for attending innsons at the publick buildings ... 1 63
7. Christopher Truby. Esq .. for boards and plank for building Court House. ... 7 18 9
8. Ferdinand Phinizy for a stove for pub- lick use ... 14 00 0
9. Anthony Altman for his services in building the Court House .. 60 00 0
10 Conrad Hawk for services donc at the publick buildings ..
11 Ludwiek Oderman for lath, &e.
12 Michael Traby for lath. &c., for pub- lick buildings.
2 16 9
8 6S
11.
13. Thomas Williams for 2000 feet of boards Johannas Silveys for blacksmith work. 8 16 2 Peter Rugh for hauling timber and 15 2 50 stones.
16. Samuel Sloane for a lock for the gaol door ..
0 46
17. William Stewart for making a pipe and door for a stove ..
18. Daniel Williams for lime.
19. Patrick Campbell for 114 lbs. nails at 11 pence lb
6 12 0
21. Joseph Cook for 52} lbs iron for the publiek use 1 15 0
22. Daniel Dorney for making sashes for windows, tables and benches for the Court House ..
3 12 S
23. Philip Altman for making a floor in the Court House ...
2 19 5
0 18 0 1787
1 20
26. Michael Rugh, 81 panes of glass furnish- ed tor the Court House & pence per pane .. 4 18 0
27. Robert McConnell for 76 1bs. iron at 8 pence por lb. .
2 10 8
28. Ludwick Custard for lime for the Court llouse .. 1 12 0
29. Benjamin Davis amt. as a Trustee for the county of Westmoreland .. 21 00 0
30. Michael Rugh amount as dilto. 8 17 6
Michael Ragh superintending the
31. building of the Court House .. . 22 00 0
31. John Shields' amount as Trustee 0 10 0 1785 Oct. 20. To 5 days viewing the limit of
Total .£189 8 7
Annexed is the account of Michael Rugh against the County of Westmore-
land for his service in the capacity of a Trustee:
£ s. d
1785 Oct. 90. To 3 days viewing the limit of
ground pointed out by Aet of As- sembly .. .. 1 10 0
Nov. 22. To 1 day at meeting at Hanna's Town in order to conclude about the countyseut ... 0 10 0
Dec. To 4 days when the countyseat was concluded on by the Trustees and agreeing with a man to build the 1786 prison .. 2 00 0
Feb. To 3 days employing a man to build the Court House and giving orders to the Commissioners to lay the fax for defraying the Publick Buildings. . 1 10 0
April 8. To l day viewing and giving orders for hauling stones for to underpin raul .. 0 10 0
July Term To I day making report to the Court the Publick Buildings were ready for them ... 0 10 0
Oct. Term To 1 day attending to laying out publick lots and i day selling said lots and 7-6 paid for crier lo sell the lots .... 1 76
May 31. To 2 days sitting with the gentle- men appointed by Act of Assembly for that purpose. 1 00
£ 8 17 G
Subjoined is the account of Benjamin Davis as Trustee appointed by Act of Assembly:
£ s. d.
ground pointed out by Assembly .. 2 10 0
Nov. 2. To 2 days at a meeting at Hannah's Town in order to conelnde about the countyseat. 1 00 0
Dce. To 6 days when the countyseat was concluded on by the Trustees and engaging a maa to build tbe
Prison 3 00 0
[ 10 ]
3 15 0
1 10 0
1 17 6 1 10 0
20. Adam Bandhiefer for carrying the be- fore-mentioned nails and a kegy.
1 16 0
21. Johannas Saltmmnn for quarrying stones 25 Michacl Truby for plank to floor the guol .
1786 Feb. To 4 days engineering and drawing articles with a man to build the Court House and giving orders to the Commissioners for to lay the tax for to defray expenses of the Publick Buildings .. .... 2 00 0
April 8. To 2 days viewing and preparing and giving orders for hauling stones for to underpin the gaol ... 1 00 0 July Term To 3 days making report to the Court that the Publick Building was ready for them .. 1 10 0
Oct. Term To 3 days attending the laying of lots on the Publick Ground and
1787 draughing the same for their use. 4 10 0
May 31. To 3 days sitting with the gentle- men appointed by Act of Assembly 1 10 0
June 29. 1 00 0 To 1 day at another settlement ..... 1784 Dr. for acting in conjunction with the former Trustees. 1 10 0
€ 21 00 0
Below is the account of Michael Rugh for superintending the building of the Court House:
£s d.
To 1 day when cutting wood for the prison. ... 0 10 0
1 day laying the foundation ... 0 10 0
5 days hauling the logs ... 2 10 0
1 day imploying the Masons and materials 0 10 0
1 day getting lime 0 10 0
To 3 days attending the Commissioners getting orders at different times ..
1 10 0
1 day providing the shingle trees
0 10 0
3 days providing the iron for the hinges, etc ..
1 10 0
1 day providing nails ..
1 day imploying a Joiner for to make Tables and Window Sashes
0 10 0
11 days attending on the Treasurer to receive money. 0 10 0 5 10 0
2 days getting the Collector for to get money ...
1 00 0
I day providing stones.
0 10 0
1 day laying the floors
0 10 0
2 days getting boards.
1 00 0
4 days getting the hands for hauling logs and hoards 2 00 0
4 days settling with the workmen. 2 00 0
£22 00 0
In its report the auditing commission surcharged the Trustees, for various reasons, with £65 .. 14 .. 4. The accounts and exceptions were laid before the court and grand jury on July 12, 1787, but the Trustees permitted the proceeding to pass without protest or being present.
Superseding Act Repealed,
Much complaint was made by the inhabitants in and about Pittsburg of the long distance they were compelled to travel to conrt, both at Hannas- town and Greensburg. The active opposition, in various forms, of such men as Brackenridge and
PROPERTIES OF MRS. ROSE A. BLYTHE.
Maple Avenue.
[ 11 ]
Brison (residents of Pittsburg) to the action of the Trustees, in the selection of Greensburg as the countyseat, and the erection of public buildings there, it is believed, had for its main purpose the paving of the way for a new county. Such a result followed on September 24, 1788, when Allegheny county was organized. The territory for the same was set off from Westmoreland.
RESIDENCE OF MR. CHARLES H. FOGG. North Main Street.
In less than five months thereafter. February 14, 1789, the superseding Aet was repealed and the Trustees directed to proceed in the matter of providing a substantial and perm- anent Court House and prison. It was recognized in the pre- amble to the repealing Act that the log and plank structure was merely intended for temporary purposes, and that only about one-fifth of the sum originally levied for the express purpose of the purchase of ground and construc- tion of public buildings, viz: €1,000, had been ex- pended. The remainder was available for the pro- posed new and more pretensious buildings now au- thorized.
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