Chapter 30
Section 30 of A Guidebook of Art, Architecture, and Historic Interests in Pennsylvania, edited by Margareta R. Schimbeau. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Tatiana Cicilla. Green County. Formed February 9, 1796.
Named for General Nathaniel Green. Surface, fertile valleys, hills, and rolling uplands making a region of natural beauty, well-watered from the tributaries of the Monongahela River and Wheeling Creek. There are still a number of covered wooden bridges throughout the county, from 50 to 100 years old. A very old double bridge crosses Ten Mile Creek, one mile east of Waynesburg. Formerly an old forge and furnace were on this creek.
Many Indian village sites that were occupied long before the advent of the Whites are here. Their age is indicated by large old trees growing on their mounds. Three distinct forms of ancient burial are found here, showing that three waves of population swept over this land before the coming of the Europeans. The two principal Indian mounds now in the county are at Crows Mills. Two great Indian trails cross the southern part of the state, the Warrior Branch passing through this county to the Ohio River.
A chain of forts crossed Green County ending at Fort Zane, now Wheeling. Three are especially well known. Fort Ryerson and Blockhouse at western end of county. Fort Jackson west of Waynesburg and Fort Girard on Whiteley Creek. Seven miles west of Greensboro, the birthplace of Robert J. Burdett and his eminent sister, Mary G. Burdett.
The earliest glassworks were established by Albert Gallatin on the Monongahela in 1785. They were the forerunner of the vast business at Pittsburgh and vicinity. First settlers were Scotch-Irish, chief industries, agriculture and the mining of bituminous coal. The Pittsburgh vein of rich depth and highest coking value and three other veins almost as rich, namely the Waynesburg, Freeport and Maple Town. Oil and gas production is very valuable.
There are a number of gas pumping stations within the county. The Philadelphia Gas Company has one at Brave, said to be the largest in the world. Near Brave is Jolly Town, with a monument to Jesse Taylor, first Green County soldier to fall in the Civil War. County seat, Waynesburg, population 3,332, laid out in 1796, named for General Anthony Wayne, who with his troops proved most successful in ridding this section of the Indians.
A chain of parks with formal gardening goes through the center of the town, divided by streets. In the center of one is the soldier's monument, erected in 1899. Waynesburg College, empowered by the legislature to confer honorary degrees, faces College Park. Portrait of Dr. A.B. Miller, a former president, is an alumni hall. Courthouse, colonial with cupola, surmounted by wooden statue of General Green, was erected in 1852.
Brick, painted gray, has six lofty Corinthian columns supporting the front porch, jail on the same ground. First Methodist Church, Romanesque, Cleveland Stone, has memorial windows. The public schools are liberally provided with the Elson photogravures, reproductions of great masterpieces, mostly in sepia. Five miles southeast of Waynesburg is Gordon Ridge. Nettle Hill, 16 miles southwest, both notable places of particularly beautiful scenery.
Carmichael's, originally New Lisbon, one of the oldest towns, beautifully located, has Green Academy, incorporated 1810. Senator Albert Cummins was born near here. End of section 30. Thank you for watching.
