The Cloverleaf Planned by Pennbot at McClure

  Welcome to another installment to Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History as we slowly enter springtime and thaw out from a long winter.


  A half a dozen months ago, I received a head's up and, in a real sense, a wake up call from one Mr. Jay Stern. He hurriedly explained that there was a meeting in Uniontown where those with actual information were invited to present their take on possible historical implication on their planned road work in the next few years between Scottdale and Mt. Pleasant. You can find a mention of it here, but the PennDOT website page with regional offices is found on this link.

   I can imagine some are thinking this Histbuffer just can't seem to leave this area alone! But there is a method and a reason to the madness, if you will. As you can attest by the date of emails below, this doesn't appear an urgent issue time-wise, yet it needs to be addressed. Eventually in later emails Mr. Stern outlined a cogent summation of just what is going on in the planning process to the point he would not mind my referencing his words giving a good added perspective on the whole situation for visitors to the blog without which the story is incomplete for our purposes.

   The Uniontown meeting for PennDOT's presumed plans for District 12 near the northeastern border of Fayette and Westmoreland counties took place on the evening of Aug. 29 of 2015.


  Pertinent Emails

 Below are portions of our email correspondence.

 From Jay Stern:

   Hi Al,

I just ran across a media release from PennDOT about their plans to reconstruct the Rt.119/Kingman and Crossroads Roads interchange.  They’re having an open house and plans display for the proposed reconstruction on August 27th. Besides their ill-advised idea to eliminate turns at the interchange, they state “Anyone with knowledge of historic resources in the project area should attend this meeting.”  I think they mean you.  If you go, I’ll see you there.  I’ll be the guy vigorously and relentlessly opposing the turn restrictions.

   I hope it is alright to mention Jay's interest as I so value his involvement and expertise with being so aware of all this going on!:

   Been here for almost 40 years, ever since I graduated college.  You wanted some of my history.  I'm a pharmacist and owned Burns Drug until I sold it to Rite Aid and CVS several years ago.  I can trace my family in this area to the 1700s... He then explained much of his fascinating historical background which won't be recounted here.


 In response, I wrote the following to Mr. Stern:

  Jay:

  Hi there. While I truly appreciate the heads up on the PennDOT plans and your impression of my regional underpinnings, unfortunately I doubt I will be able to make it tonight. I agree with your efforts about opposing the turn restrictions and you sure have my blessings if that is any consolation.
  From recent research I've done and from certain authors like Norman Baker, it should be basically understood that Braddock's Road traversed over Rt. 119 while heading southerly from Walnut Hill while  the Turkey Foot Road was likely routed toward Dexter from either the Woodale Spaugy Mill, or a branch from what became the Pleasant Valley Country Club. The point is, as you are probably aware, great care should be taken in rearranging these roads in an unnecessary manner for historical purposes, as well as change for changes sake. I am a bit skeptical they will reconsider their decisions from our regional perspective. Best of luck!

  Please, let me know briefly what took place, if you can.

  Kind Regards,

   ~  Al


   This got the ball rolling and we continued corresponding for some time. Jay next wrote with a sure fire compliment perhaps hesitantly accepted:

    I hope you don't mind if I give them your name as a historian and the preeminent local expert on the paths of 18th century roads in the area (live with it!)  I'll definitely let you know what happens.

  Later communications included:

The point is, as you are probably aware, great care should be taken in rearranging these roads in an unnecessary manner for historical purposes, as well as change for changes sake. I am a bit skeptical they will reconsider their decisions from our regional perspective. Best of luck!


  He then told me of his observations of the meeting:

  There was an absolutely great turnout and I had a problem parking close.  The PennDOT plan is to build a new exchange bridging over 119 north of the current exchange (for over $80 million) and closing the current exchange.  I told the engineers giving the presentation that the problem would be eliminated by installing a $80 thousand dollar red light camera at the intersection with appropriate signage.  Being construction engineers, my proposal was poo-pooed, but it was obvious they never thought of it.

I talked to the PennDOT archaeologist who attended the meeting.  He never heard of the Turkey Foot Road (!) and the fact that it crossed Rt. 119 there.  I gave him the address of your website and email address.  I hope you don't mind.  He wants to correspond with you and said he would contact you.  Just in case, his name is Ryan Rowles and email is ryrowles@pa.gov  - and he said another person in his department you should talk with is David Anthony who is the PennDOT poobah of Historical Structures at davanthony@pa.gov

Please keep me updated with your correspondence with them.  Thanks.

  While I find it a sad situation the archaeologist had never heard of the Turkey Foot Road, hopefully he knows more of the Braddock Road and is willing to learn. I did later have contact with Penn dot. I believe I also received email correspondence with Mr. Anthony (please correct me if I am mistaken), but was not contacted by the archaeologist in question unfortunately. I was informed the organization would indeed be soon checking with my blog and the historical info ad research documented there was a priority. We'll have to wait and see if they are in any way influenced by these communications. Only time will tell.

   Since Jay Stern was so helpful in this endeavor and with communicating the facts with my website, I would like to allow more of am insight into how this came about. He also was cooperative in informing me of the entire situation as he understood it:

     Jay Stern:

     PennDOT’s plans are to make a new interchange 1/3 mile north of the Crossroads light, constructing a bridge over 119 for it, and then building an access road west of 119 travelling north and south to Kingview Road and the old Williamshouse plant.  The Crossroads and McClure interchanges would then be completely eliminated and the traffic lights removed.  The new interchange would look a lot like the 119/31 interchange at Mt. Pleasant.  Looking at Google Maps and estimating, I would put it just north of Galley’s Auto on Richey Road/Mt. Pleasant Road, and using the hillsides on either side of Rt. 119 as the bridge base.  I think this places the project area right in the bullseye of the Turkey Foot and Braddock Roads.  Our historical heritage, along with the exorbitant price (now $35M according to the articles in the Trib & Courier), is why I'm still concerned... added to the fact that this doesn't take a great deal of time or effort.

I sent Ryan Rowles a followup email Thursday evening giving him all your contact info, but as yet, I haven’t received a reply... I unfortunately also didn’t cc the Historical Structures guy.  I’ll wait a couple of days and then send him another if I don’t hear anything.  I’m kinda surprised, because he seemed genuinely interested.  I also gave him a personal business card with all my contact info.  I’d suggest both you and Mr. Dietle also contact them, considering the historical aspects of the target area and your knowledge of it.  I also implied you may have some questions for them - a PennDOT roads archaeologist and a PennDOT historical structures expert on a possible 18th century bridge crossing Jacob's Creek at Dexter comes to mind, for one.

    There you have it from a concerned American and informed local resident. If only more people were this protective of our rights and willing to voice their feelings on issues and concerned with policies affecting us in many ways.

   As can be seen, what a debt of gratitude is owed for Mr. Stern's timely and focused concerns and the informational explanation he uniquely took the time to pass on to Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History. *Thanks again for your help, Jay!*


    By the way, if people are not familiar with many of the posts here, Mr. Hann it was, who contacted yours truly, taking my interest into he Turkey Foot and Braddock Roads another step or two along. I had then proceeded to pass this fascinating initial information on to the expert Lannie Dietle, co-author with Mike McKenzie of 'In Search of the Turkey Foot Road'. Jeff Hann had successfully detected and uncovered unknown portions of the Turkey Foot Road over a year and a half ago. I felt privileged to walk a few miles of this route myself in late 2014  and that Jeff Hann and I a few weeks later had the experience of finding part of the TFR route to the north of the Breakneck Road in the company of Lannie Dietle himself. This discovery all led to an article in the Mount Pleasant Journal and I also was pleased to be able to submit an article for the Bullskin Historical Society (this initial submission was then graciously accepted and printed) as well as Mr. Dietle adding an important addendum to his voluminous book in its most recent edition.

     This is a copy of the plans sent to me by Mr. Hann. I should mention that his job is an Upper Tyrone and Bullskin township auditor. Notice the classic cloverleaf pattern proposed for the projected McClure interchange compared to the diamond configuration used on Rt. 819 described later:

                  

The township map of the cloverleaf plan

  From the map above it should be noted, the Kendi Road extension from the Kingview Road which appears to circle the village of McClure on north heading to meet up with Porter Avenue. In my view the Kendi Road work is the more troubling.

     Lannie Dietle, no stranger to this blog, graciously tried to track down some authors and experts concerned with the Braddock Road to question them of this region's Braddock Road route with mixed results. He related info that there may not be a serious problem with the traditional Braddock Road location, which is accepted. He also attempted to contact Norman Baker, author of "The Braddock Expedition..."

     Rough Map Included

 

   With my somewhat limited ability, I drew a schematic map of this region for your convenience. The Barker Map clearly shows the Old Braddock Road route as running through the area of the map below. Whether the schematics are technically accurate or not and staying to the north to Mount Pleasant. I only estimated where the recent Rt. 819 roadwork and the northern part where the projected roadwork will take place as this would of required a larger map format. Hopefully this will help to orient visitors to the region under discussion:

                  

       

    The Route 819 Roadwork

    For a comparative analogy here are included photos of recent roadwork by Penn DOT. Note that this particular road construction for a bypass with alternate exits has taken a large parcel of the last few years.

      

beginning of older roadwork looking north toward McClure

                             
                                     

more Rt. 819 road work looking toward Walmart

                                    

Ramp onto Rt 119 heading north, a real mess

                                     

road closed signs

                                     

the southbound ramps are a bit unusual and sprawling in conception

                         

Penn DOT Scottdale exit work

                                       

Penn Dot machinery

                              

a southbound exit which was (FINALLY) opened to traffic

road signs at McClure-there will be much more in the future!

                                  

Sherrick Run east of Rt 119 road work

                              
    There were the Emma and Bessemer coke ovens nearby to Sherrick Run and possibly the route of alternate historically important roads. As was normal in this region, there existed various mining operations some of which were owned by the Overholts. I personally know of an Overholt gravestone near here. Even more roadwork would surely make further identification of the paths of either the 'TFR or the Old Braddock Road difficult to discern.

    It is to be admitted, even without the additionally planned road construction for the future identification would be a difficulty, but at the least, a definite possibility. (Please do read the link provided and see for yourself the Barker Map route). There is reason to believe the Turkey Foot Road had a branch running just to the northwest, possibly nearer to Sherrick Run, fairly close to the placement of the Old Braddock Road. The last is very different than the known route Braddock took from near Everson on past Prittstown to Hammondville, then heading north and crossing Jacobs Creek and meandering up through Mt. Pleasant.
               

                    This photo is looking toward the west where Cherry Hill is located roughly 2/3 of a mile away. Backed up traffic above - a regular sight.

Sherrick Run north of Iron Bridge

                           

    The Turkey Path Road: A Connecting Link

 The Turkey Path Road to the northwest

                                  
     This photo shows an area very near the nearly finished Rt. 819 road construction where some believe this old back road superseded the route of the modern one through Scottdale and Mt. Pleasant so being the earliest road to Mt. Pleasant. Keep in mind, the dirt road is well placed in a directional manner indicating a route from and to Cherry Hill where it once had a bridge abutment where it meets the 119 four lane today, crossing Sherrick Run on to join the Old 119 road through Pennsville.

    Interestingly the old road itself has been known since time immemorial as the 'Turkey Path Road'. Is this a possible, even presumable, misnomer referring as much or more to a small piece of the Turkey Foot Road itself instigated by George Washington? The consideration lies in this small, apparently insignificant road local tradition claims was in old time used for the driving of turkeys to market.  Speculation only, as the answer is not known at the present.

   Nevertheless, the relation of the two is an intriguing consideration, is it not? In point of fact, this IS the specific area of placement where it is quite possible, and in my view a fairly probable hypothesis, the Turkey Foot Road was laid by Providence Mounts and his men toward Cherry Hill, once called Alice in its mining heyday.

   Not long ago, Lannie Dietle discovered a tract of land near Cherry Hill which places the Turkey Foot Road routing through there while another tract from an old survey clearly proves it led from there to outside Ruffsdale and headed on to Hunker, meeting up with the Braddock Road. A valuable contribution to the matter at hand, and I would hasten to add, to history in general.

   On top of this research, originating from the south, near the Dexter Road is an enigma of what appears to be a stone road and very old bridge without the use of mortar which indeed still exists. It really needs to be seen to be believed! The total significance of my discovery of this structure is yet to be perfectly understood. Well, deriving an approach which may well of ran in two branches in a basic western and then northern direction - one from the old Spaugy Mill in Wooddale, the other from the Country Club area, both in Bullskin Township, the potential of this area and the worry of the proposed roadwork should speak for itself.

    As for the Braddock Road, I've briefly mentioned something related to it and the 'TFR' in a recent post on Various Inquiries at the start of the year immediately under the header 'Some Upcoming Posts For 2016'. To repeat with more detail and flesh this out, there is an old tradition (certainly favored by the rather eccentric Indian artifact collector Dwaine Fuoss) supporting the notion that the colonial regulars of Braddock's Army crossed the Youghiogheny River above Connellsville at Broadford. They most assuredly were on the march to an ignominious defeat at the hands of the French and Indians. That doesn't fault the amazing ancient roadwork of blazing this wondrous trail through a deep wilderness or discount the little known but great enseavor of creating the Turkey Foot Road some years later. Now, supposedly according to these traditions the crossing was not at Stewart's Crossing to the east as is normally understood by most historians. Instead, this route would have taken them through Owensdale and it is said, the group crossed Jacobs Creek at Stauffer's sawmill near the modern bridge that crosses the stream today on Dexter Road. The remnants of the sawmill can still be seen. The road exits Fayette County there and leads to West Overton Village in East Huntingdon Township in Westmoreland County north of Kingview. Interestingly there is another tradition that the Turkey Foot Road also was routed a mile below the Iron Bridge very near the modern bridge as well. Such considerations allows for thoughtful introspection of these possible routes and differing theories.

    For those visitors that are not aware of the depth of my studies, there is more material on the Braddock Road route located on the post, 'The Braddock and Turkey Foot Roads Near Walnut Hill with added Information.'

   While modern roadwork has been an ongoing and often necessary reality since the days of the railroads and even long before those times, a serious caution needs to be raised against modern 'improvements' under circumstances in special instances. I expect this has been better studied in this post. The inquiry of Penn DOT's historian lends some relief as does show their appreciation over historical matters when it comes to the performance of their duties.

   The danger of the possibility of damaging truly historical parts of our momentous past, particularly in this region as I understand it, is compounded by the apparent route of what was termed 'The Old Braddock Road' on the 1857 Barker Map bordering the Upper Tyrone and Bullskin townships and on to the Mt. Pleasant and Hempfield townships. Coincidentally, this place surrounds Iron Bridge which I have done two articles on to date. Here and here. Although the apparent alternate route of the Old BR does appear to be just to the east of Sherrick Run and near to the Pennsville Mt. Pleasant Road, yet the route of the Turkey Foot Road, if indeed it was through this area, as is likely from various descriptions. In my opinion, it is unknown and not shown any map what exact ground was covered in the process. This is a bit too close for comfort to traditional routes of these two important historic roads in our region to take these chances So, it is agreed with knowledgeable citizens such as Jay Stern for a good example and others, 'we' are slowly but surely destroying any further evidence leading to any additional discoveries in the future. The statement might not need to be made, this is a sad indictment of our society.

   Summation

   We have a call out to all those with a quality background in our history specifically and the many members of our community in general who are interested in our local heritage.

   I realize the humble efforts of a lone stand on this issue must be tempered with the practicality of valuable time and resources available which might appear on the surface to leave at a minimum the amount of cooperation issues like these require for many persons and organizations in the Laurel Highlands, far and wide. Such is to be expected to an extent of course. This is hardly an acceptable or proper excuse for the alternative to simply leave things as they are going; pursuing the regular course of events for the sake of constant progress and expensive costs, however the situation seems justified on a superficial note. It is clearly debatable if the construction is even an actual necessity or wanted on a practical level in such an economically strapped community. Do take a closer look.

    The type of situation documented above should, frankly, be nothing less than a Red Flag to those in charge of our commonwealth near us, especially on the state and local levels, to further their fine cooperation and temporarily set aside for a small time the normal operations of the work they do in many arenas to show a deeper interest in these matters.  

   Let's Get Involved in some manner. How does that sound? Take a moment, do your own research before it may be too late to take any action. Decide if this issue is important. Find out what can be done and become more educated about the loss of our historical roots. Decide for yourselves to learn more of the significant amount of substantial gems and features of our landscape that have been already preserved and protected. Please follow the links provided and read up on some of the intriguing discoveries and recent studies that shine a brighter light on the ancient roadways, buildings and personages of our past. You may contact PENN DOT and voice your own concerns, as well as join in with the local historical societies and tourism boards. Give your opinions, undertake meaningful discussions and help garner support.

  As for the historical realities and suppositions I recounted in this article, it was an enjoyable experience and well worth it to go back over much material dealt with in the past few years that although well tread, has shown surprising new research considerations and exciting vistas to connect the past to our present times.

Thank you for your patronage of this blog and the move to conserve more of our unique historical associations in this region !

 Have a blessed and Happy Easter everyone!~ histbuffer

An Update On Iron Bridge and the Great Road

 For the basic history of the location of Iron Bridge originally published back on May 19, 2014, entitled "The Meeting Of The Townships" please click on the link provided.

  Page 249 of the book by Franklin Ellis about Fayette County History quotes a 1788 petition for a road from present-day Connellsville to present-day Iron Bridge: "Road from Zachariah Connell's to Isaac Meason's, on Jacob's Creek."

                                    

A view of the modern bridge over Jacobs Creek from the south bank

  The bulk of information included in the above mentioned article on "Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History" involved the naming of the road, some of my personal observations about growing up nearby, which relates to the trolley and railroad, but the main thrust concentrated upon  the earliest bridge, the original structure envisioned by Judge Finley. Later, I will supplement Mr. Dietle's fresher data, some of which is covered to an extent piecemeal in various recent posts, but not with the systematic and in depth form given below.

  Here I wish to correct, or adjust, one misleading idea presented in that post where I had stated the area of the Great Swamp encompassed the Iron Bridge location with extension into nearby Hammondville to the northeast. How much this enerally included Iron Bridge and beyond the Greenlick area to the south and east, was basically speculation mixed with some experience on my part, largely arrived at from 1939 black and white photos taken from Penn Pilot and traditions of old timers with earlier study of the broader water flow of Jacobs Creek and amount of accumulated swampland. My point is, there was some conjecture involved. The depth and extent of the waterway has clearly dropped a fair degree in my own lifetime, whatever the explanation construed by this fact.

  I would therefore add one plausible concept as an example for the Turkey Foot and Braddock routes diverging from the key area north of Pennsville and not using this sensible route, might refer to a particularly boggy region that, perhaps encumbered those miltary efforts a good deal in discouraging travelers until the undertaking to build the chain bridge. Of course, this hardly can explain the Hammondville route for the Braddock army for an obvious well earned reputation as the main location of the Great Swamp. As Rodney Mosler of Uniontown wrote about a tradition of the 'TFR' traversing over Walnut Hill and crossing Jacobs Creek at Dexter, and Veech who has made statements toward this area for path of this old road, this might reveal a need to avoid this low lying swamp, yet it is reasonable to consider there may remain other more legitimate explanations as to why these routes did not travel directly through what later became known as Pennsville, or the Great Road. The answers are still, ultimately,  unknown at the present day.

  There is a sore need that cannot be overstressed for the renewed discovery of these ancient roadways and their intended directions as to their extremely meaningful place in the formation of the villages and development of the townships of Upper Tyrone, Bullskin, Mt. Pleasant and East Huntingdon, straddling the counties of Fayette and Westmoreland here in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

   Again, all the facts are not fully understood by any means. Consideration could allow for an assertion of the theory of Indian paths diverting from the Catawba Trail as being partly responsible for helping to coose these differing routes on the frontier. More information can be gathered from the post on "The Braddock and Turkey Foot Roads..." with some key conjectures and ideas not all necessarily yet confirmed.

   Next we have the basic information researched, with permission from a corresponding e-mail, presenting definitive clues elucidating solid evidence to establish the Iron Bridge's 'Great Road':


   "The same page 249, (of Ellis' History of Fayette County), mentions a road that seems to have been petitioned for in Westmoreland County before the founding of Fayette county, that was to run from Stewart's crossing to Uniontown, and on to the Cheat river. The Fayette county book isn't clearly written, and seems to be saying that after the Founding of Fayette County, Fayette County ordered the completion of the portion between Uniontown and the waters of the Cheat River. Maybe the road is mentioned in the Westmoreland County history book".

The great road

  "Page 485 of the fourth edition, (from his book, 'In Search Of The Turkey Foot Road'), quotes from an 1802 article about the chain bridge 'near Judge Mason’s, on the great road leading from Uniontown to Greensburg”. This “great road” is interesting to those who study the Turkey Foot Road because it crossed Jacobs Creek between two other early fording sites: The locations where Braddock’s road crossed Jacobs Creek, and the location where Veech indicates the Turkey Foot Road crossed. It is difficult to understand why Braddock’s road swung so far east to cross, or why the Turkey Foot Road swung so far west to cross, when they could have both taken a more direct northerly route, crossing Jacobs Creek at the fording site that was used by the great road before the chain bridge was built. This fording site was at or very near the site of present-day Iron Bridge, Pennsylvania.

The origin of the great road deserves to be studied. Ellis’ 1882 book “History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania” provides a clue in the form of a 1788 petition for a “Road from Zachariah Connell's to Isaac Meason's, on Jacob's Creek.” This is interpreted as being a petition for a road between the present-day sites of Connellsville, where Zachariah Connell once lived, and Iron Bridge, Pennsylvania, which is located across the creek from where Isaac Meason once lived.

The same book also provides another clue, stating:
The first road viewed and laid out by order of the court of Fayette County, in December, 1783, was that from Uniontown to the mouth of Grassy Run, on Cheat River, this being part of a road which had been petitioned for to the Westmoreland County Court (before the erection of Fayette), to run from Stewart’s Crossings (Connellsville), through Uniontown, to the Cheat. It was ordered to be opened, cut, cleared, and bridged, thirty-three feet wide.

A petition was presented to the same court for “a road from Union Town to the Broadford on the River Youghiogheni,”…
Broad Ford is in the immediate environs of Connellsville. Taken together, these 1783 to 1788 petitions call for a new road between Uniontown and Iron Bridge, Pennsylvania. Such a road is shown on the 1792 Reading Howell map, and is interpreted as being the "great road" referred to in the 1802 article. Whether this road was preceded by an earlier path is unknown.
If Veech is right about where the Turkey Foot Road crossed Jacobs Creek, the Turkey Foot Road had to cross over Braddock’s road south of Jacobs Creek, before merging with Braddock’s road in the environs of Mount Pleasant. It seems extremely likely that the place where the two roads crossed would have been very close to where the great road ran through. In other words, the three roads probably formed something roughly akin to a six-point intersection—if not literally, then at least functionally.

If Veech's Dexter-area Jacob's Creek crossing site is accepted as valid, the Turkey Foot Road ran generally west-northwest from Wooddale to Dexter— which may have brought it through somewhere roughly in the vicinity of present-day George’s Trading Post. Braddock’s Road ran north-northeast from the western end of Country Club Road (near present-day George’s Trading Post) to the Hammondville area. The great road ran from somewhere in the general vicinity of the western end of Country Club Road to Iron Bridge. From the approximate location where Braddock’s road and the Turkey Foot Road intersected, the great road was a much more direct route north to Mount Pleasant. As such, it can be thought of as a shortcut to both roads, and may help to explain the eventual obsolescence of both roads in this area. This “shortcut” concept may help to explain a strange annotation on an old document that Al Wilson identified—but until Mr. Wilson publishes his discovery, this Addendum will remain silent on the matter."


 Now, this strange annotation Mr. Dielte specifically refers to in his closing remarks are the odd markings of the 'Old Braddock Road' from the 1757 Westmoreland County Barker Map that deviates from the location near Iron Bridge parallel to the west near Sherrick Run, in a previously unknown course toward the vicinity of Mount Pleasant. For those that haven't read it, here is a link to the whole article that was being awaited, " A Scoop On The Old Braddock Road..." I only hope this was worth the exercise in patience, but this doesn't directly concern the present post. Mr. Dietle has recently stated he "suspects that the route shown on the 1857 map may have been referred to as the “Old Braddock Road” because it served as a shortcut to an earlier section of Braddock’s Road”, while he also observes by way of a letter from Washington to his brother John, there was a fairly severe drought in Pennsylvania in the summer of 1754 during the Braddock campaign. This is clear from his further statement that, "we now found the Great Crossing of the Youghiogany, which may be passed dry-shod", leading to the conclusion Jacobs Creek was not in itself a serious problem as to the choice of fordings, and yet the bivouac near Hammondsville necessarily took some time and effort, keeping in mind, the condition of the swamps was therefore still a serious encumbrance to be overcome.

 While the thoughtful culmination the author has provided above is much appreciated, I want to further broaden the scope with some historical recollections from old newspaper archives. These mostly concern details of the Pennsville to Mt. Pleasant Road, or as somewhat erroneously called 'Old 119', with examples of the danger of the location and the conditions highlighting a handful of tragic deaths that once took place at Iron Bridge.

 

The old PA railroad bridge crossing of Sherrick Run

             NOTE- With the following click-able vintage newspaper articles from the Daily Courier you can read this information for yourselves.

      
  

   The above refers to one of many old time floods, this one was on .Aug. 31, 1888. Whether this suggests the early iron bridge or another that was washed away, it is said they will all be replaced by wooden structures.

  With the swirling backwaters, thick mud and occasional treacherous sink holes, this was indeed, and sometimes can still be a dangerous waterway. I am personally acquainted with a few people who barely survived the swamps on their own. So, do be careful in this region and you should come out fine and dry.

  Below, are articles from The Daily Courier showing forth the accidents and troubles surrounding the old bridges in the past:
           

     The above article is from the year 1919 and claims the submerged vehicle was caught on the old iron bridge which was said to still remain at the bottom of the creek!

     The article below is from the Daily Courier of March 15, 1912:
                             

           

A word about road building

         
         In August of 1919 they finally gave in for a better bridge. If this would seem likely to be the last accident associated with Iron Bridge, think again, because from Jan. 2, 1920 we have the final one I am going to document on this subject:

                        

     A Few Brief Words Of Orientation

     According to the 1758 map from The Gentleman's and London Magazine, Jacobs Creek once went by the earlier name of Terapin Creek. The chain bridge was built in 1802 and replaced after 1833 with a wooden bridge. The iron truss bridge, for which the site is named, was built in 1863, probably a ways to the east of the present bridge. The Mt. Pleasant and Broadford Railroad Station use to be here on the south bank of Jacobs Creek.


   To leave you with something upbeat, here's a newspaper article about this location of an altogether different sort from June 18, 1890 concerning the display and breeding of the famous racehorses of tycoon George A. Hogg, who once owned the surrounding farmland:

                           

                  As always, any comments or responses are welcomed, so let me know if you found this article interesting. A happy beginning to our Summer!

A Scoop on the Old Braddock Road in Westmoreland County

 Pondering The Turkey Foot and Braddock Routes

  Occasionally, I find myself spending an inordinate amount of a day or two around about my cluttered little nook in the sun porch looking at old maps. Any of you get into serious map reading? It is an occupation-slash-hobby that can become very time consuming. Well, I find myself spending a lot of free time staring somewhat blankly at and going back over and over them 'til the wee hours of the night, again and again and pondering... yet again.Then one is required to check the area on the ground to gain a better perspective or little more is to be learned.

  Now, to get right to the point, I noticed something more than remotely unusual on a particular old map. We'll get to that soon and you can decide for yourselves. I had already observed what may well be a 'TFR' (Turkey Foot Road) remnant and where the Braddock Road may well of crossed this antique road at Walnut Hill in Upper Tyrone Township of Fayette County, PA. The decision was made for a future presentation concerning the route of Braddock's Road southeast of Prittstown as well as a projected route from observations of the TFR from Wooddale toward Kingview and Dexter Road to the northwest, consequently, for all intents and purposes, crisscrossing from the other direction. With the notice of this peculiarly marked map, thereby I found myself planning a brand new post, doubly exciting.

  Hopefully, we can make more sense of the whole situation, which as far as I am aware, has never been properly documented. There are quite a few links to help fill the knowledge base of this subject. I add those for that very purpose, and though this may seem a distraction, they are necessary to get the full picture. You can take the time to click these now. On the other hand, if this appears a little too much to grasp at one time, please come back to the site later and check these links after reading the main post when there is more free time.

  A Word On Further Research:

  Once we are brought forward to this update in what I theorize was a 'high ground', fairly direct route of the Turkey Foot Road near Upper Tyrone to Mt. Pleasant and East Huntingdon Township, the plausible insinuation that alternate routes were developed and others partly abandoned, soon there appears a complication in referring to the routes of the Braddock Road and the Turkey Foot Road in this region. One aspect that might be a significant factor is there are indications the 'BR' was used longer and more frequently south of Jumonville and Mt. Braddock as the forerunner of the National Road to Brownsville and thus led to the popular route past the Monongahela river, thereby, as I am led to understand it, the remnants north in Fayette and Westmoreland counties were less used and more quickly abandoned and forgotten. This should be kept in mind. Consequently, we are in need of  fresh documentation in our modern age of this locality. The internet is as good a place as any to be found.  As an example, this has been succinctly noted, although in book form, in "A Hidden History Of The Laurel Highlands", with the observation there is a patchwork research  requiring further investigation in archeological field work. I would enthusiastically echo the suggestion that property deeds are in urgent need of examination to attempt to clarify the more exact routes of these important historic roads.

 Other Influences

  Soon after this, I stumbled upon other info altogether while checking on Norman Baker's dedicated book on the Braddock Road and various historical descriptions. This took place while trying to follow up on research supplemented by the precise author, Lannie Dietle. If you recall, it was he that provided relevant material for the Iron Bridge article last May and earlier in February of 2014, a guest blog post on the Turkey Foot Road and also providing an in depth interview segment in September. A few others chimed in with e-mails and some thoughts of their own as well.

  During our search late last year for an antecedent of the Turkey Foot Road with Jeff Hann, Mr. Dielte made the reassuring statement that, to a point, the idea of the Turkey Foot and Braddock roads crossing in this region is a "plausible theory" of mine. Frankly, this provides me with a hint of being on firmer ground and this cautious researcher's vote of confidence was a real shot in the arm. My friend and colleague, Mr. Dietle, also recently reminded me of Franklin Ellis' book, "History Of Fayette County, Pennsylvania" where there is a reference to a 1788 petition for a 'Road from Zachariah Connell's to Isaac Meason's, on Jacob's Creek'. It appears plausible this was concerned with the 'great road' from Connellsville to Greensburg, later often called the Mount Pleasant road, and rather misnamed 'old 119' traversing what became known as the Iron Bridge and its small community. There was also a 1783 petition. This does add a depth of further perplexity considering why the Braddock and Turkey Foot routes did not travel the more direct route through Pennsville, specifically the Iron Bridge crossing on the Mount Pleasant Road, but would allow for a better explanation as to why the old famous roads were soon abandoned.

   Secondly, I would also like to include a minor, though important contribution of my brother Scott, who helped orient me somewhat early on as to the positioning of the terrain and geography of the region. The truth is, though he doesn't really use the computer and may never see this, a hearty thanks for some credit is due for his input in this area with helping me get a tighter grasp on things.

  Quite possibly, the laborious efforts undertaken in the mid to late eighteenth century by these military men of note to find the best way to cross Jacob's Creek and avoid as much of the old 'Great Swamp' may well of had the effect of creating different usages of three roads through this key place. Added to this is the estimated minor branches of the traditional Indian Catawba Path that is said to run near Rt. 982 in Bullskin township from the Stewart Crossing at Connellsville toward Laurelville. And yet, there is rumored a branch of the Catwaba Path that ran near Everson to the Walnut Hill region followed by George Washington and Edward Braddock's army in the French and Indian War and cut and cleared by them. This hasn't been proven. This much of a claim toward Indian paths still allows some indications within the realm of reason that might of first led to the round about routes being advanced near the townships of Upper Tyrone, East Huntingdon and Bullskin. At the present, the exact details involved in the actual roads through Walnut Hill, Prittstown and on near to Mt. Pleasant are in many ways unknown with only basic reports and descriptions, like Orme's journal and a few maps acknowledging Braddock's traditional route and research on the Turkey Foot Road in Fayette County providing some evidence. Oh, some books have been written and Laycock once fleshed out a good deal of Braddock's route, especially to the south, but much has yet to be decisively understood and proven.

   I will highlight the route bordering these townships below based on this old enigmatic map. Hopefully, Lannie won't mind my referencing here for background purposes his projected route from the best sources and research, courtesy of his book "In Search of the Turkey Foot Road" which adds much knowledge of the 'TFR', mostly further to the southeast of this region. Here pay heed to the northernmost portion of the map:

   What is noteworthy, for this post we are dealing soley with the region a few miles to the NORTH of Iron Bridge and a mile to the southwest.

 The Mystery of the Barker Map's Braddock Road Route


Basic Orientation of the Area

In previous posts attention has been paid to various references to the TFR heading around Iron Bridge one mile to the southwest, therefore constituting a crossing of Jacobs Creek at Dexter in the northeastern tip of Upper Tyrone township. It is an odd situation that the more direct route of the Iron Bridge road was not used, for whatever reason, for the routes of the Braddock or Turkey Foot roads. Here I've included a photo there where the B&O railroad and later the Chessie System tracks can be seen:

   A photo looking east at Dexter:

 So, in essence, I honed in on various maps, and a few choice books, modern and old, whatever I could get my hands on, admittedly obsessed with the subject. I have already done some research in East Huntingdon about the lost toll houses of Route 31 which coincides in a round about way. That investigation produced little in the way of historical satisfaction.

 Here is a look at the old Scottdale Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad bed close to Sherrick Run from Iron Bridge to Turkey Path to the east of West Overton:

old railroad and Sherrick Run, north of Iron Bridge

Iron Bridge from the south and the Jacob's Creek crossing

  This is now a private road following the old rail bed and a likely route of the TFR and possibly an unknown branch of the Braddock Road, which will be shown later by the Barker Map of 1858. The next photo illustrated is looking southward toward Iron Bridge from Turkey Path.

GPS coordinates are 40.117990, -79.554969

               

Location where Turkey Path Road bridged Sherrick Run to the Mt. Pleasant Rd

  Courtesy of Google Maps, the above mapping marks the exact spot close to the old PA railroad spur where the Turkey Path Road was bridged crossing what is known as Sherrick Run to the Mt. Pleasant Road, (sometimes called the Pennsville Road and further to the south, the Richey Road). It is hardly a coincidence the railroad used this old route. Unfortunately, to history buffs like myself, the old bridge has since been removed. The Mt. Pleasant Road use to pass through Connellsville before the Interstate Rt. 119 four lane was built in the 1960's. It now ends near the Greenridge Cemetery where it use to continue into Moyer.

NEWSFLASH: A Very Old Bridge Just Discovered!!!

  Introduction


  Hello, history buffs! YES, a Newsflash is a fair description what is being related below.

  I confess to resembling a bulldog, but only in habit. On the trail, sniffing away, chasing things around. When I am on the scent of unique significant items, there is no let up, hardly time to eat or sleep. And this time, ladies and gentlemen, I struck pay dirt!




A photo of the fallen dressed stones from Jacob's Creek

   Scroll down to see the many photos I captured here near Dexter.

  Not long ago, I made a unique discovery! Just how important over all, remains to be decided. Maybe it's the hand of fate, or I simply got lucky. I do not claim to be knowledgeable on every aspect of the subject, but a very excited amateur historian who happens to run a regional history website. This is a fairly sudden experience, and was hurriedly undertaken, as I desire for my visitors to learn of this remarkable structure first! This is the type of object that has the adrenaline pumping. You will want to read on and understand this for yourselves.

   Coincidentally, I was exploring this area for an upcoming post on Kingview, and the Stauffer family. Now that must wait on a back burner. A similar post was being created in preparation for the West Overton area and the Overholts and H. C. Frick. Having so many irons in the fire proves one thing- I am keeping busy! Further information  constituting the exact meaning of what was found at this place might yet become available as extenuating research, and will be added as need be. I have been deeply concerned with the task of other important posts lately and working much overtime on the job. This is a bit rushed. Any noticeable errors will soon be promptly corrected, warts and all.

    NOTE:
   Whether this was a definite extension of the Turkey Foot Road, hopefully, time will tell, though it appears there is some evidence provided by Jeff Hann that there might of been a R x R spur from the PA railroad to the north running to the south and the Monongehala R x R ran through the area. This is almost precisely where the 'elevated road' is located. The difficulty arises that this is also where it is conjectured the Turkey Foot Road extended into East Huntingdon in Westmoreland County, on its course to Mount Pleasant. This would make gathering further evidence difficult.

    It has also been brought to my attention that this old bridge and elevated path might be considered to be only the old road to McClure and the Diamond Mines, down from the Dexter Mines, and probably nothing more. I relish the chance to put this to rest, and it is constructive for this post that the issue was raised.

     The McClure road led to the trolley station to the north of Jacob's Creek, where I have photos of the remnants of a very different type of bridge that crossed Jacob's Creek, made of concrete on the Iron Bridge article, "The Meeting Of The Townships", and some mentally sharp old timers made recent claims that it was used to go to catch the trolley, or street car there. (The names can be provided, if necessary). I haven't located a definitive map that includes this stone bridge near Dexter. Therefore, I  entertain some doubts of any such theory.

    The stone blocks of this bridge, some of which appear roughly cut, do strengthen the case of it's vintage age. And I have observed the McClure bridge on one map, and as the McClure bridge was clearly still in existence at least by 1939, the year the overhead black and white photo was taken, and, I believe this is on later photos, but must check to be sure. Lastly, these people are in their 80's, so the recollections do substantiate the placement, direction and use of that road and compliments my contrasting view by the age of the photo of the McClure bridge.

     Below is a schematic representation of the above statement (click to enlarge):



McClure road and the street car tracks from a 1902 map

    

 Basic Background and Orientation


   A little background is certainly in order. The Glade Path, or Pike from the east and what became Route 31, with Bouquet's route or Forbes' Road; The National Pike and aligning with much of Route 40; and the Ohio Company's and Braddock's roads, from the southeast were the first roads in our region beyond the confines of the Indian paths.

    With alternate route and branches in key areas, there was also what was termed. the Turkey Foot Road. Now, this was first cut and travelled, most likely by horse packers and traders, and then slowly improved for wagons and coaches starting in the early days of the mid-1700's on through the 1780's, 90's, and as the Ohio Company got involved in intrepid pursuit of road making in a parallel area, changes were made in the branches and routes varying here and there. The term originates from the appearance of a 'turkey foot' at Confluence, on the very border of Somerset County, basically from the south as the crow flies. The Laurel Hill Creek, Casselman River and the Youghiogheny flow through this old place known for it's Indians and the Sloane Ford. (You will find a few photos of this at Confluence I provided in Mr. Dietle's excellent DVD that is included with his book).

   These approximate directions can only be applied as spokes from the general border region of Westmoreland and Fayette counties. Of course, when observing a map from other places and states, you will adjust your position, accordingly.

  Granted, there are more early traditions that survived connected with the Turkey Foot Road due southeast toward Somerset County, with evidence of early Indian trails that were slowly cut and used by the white man for pack horses and eventually cleared for wagon routes.

   More knowledge has also survived concerning many of the Indian and trader towns further north near Pittsburgh and to the north and east toward the Susquehanna, Genesee area, Bedford and Lancaster. Much has been documented in Maryland, near particular and conspicuous places. This is a relatively neglected area in Fayette County; economically and to an extent, historically. There is some reason to conclude this road system was abandoned early with the creation of the 'chain bridge' on what is termed "old Rt. 119". Less tradition remains here compared to the more rural places like Jones Mill and Mill Run, etc., where the Springfield Pike, once known as the Clay or Mud Pike, was one of the main thoroughfares off the mountain to Connellsville.

    As I have been presenting here for a year, Westmoreland, as well as Fayette, have a rich past as proud and influential as most any in the nation, bordering on the gateway to the Northwest generally, and the Ohio Valley more specifically. More investigation is needed to dig down to deeper layers, and this endeavor is worth every effort. The hunting ground of the Seneca and the watery routes to the Mississippi River. A land of boundary disputes, fueled with Scotch moonshine and tempered with the admiring land surveys and excursions of our first President, no less. All this and surrounded by great states as well, Virginia, New York, the mounds of Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland.



1939 overhead photo containing location of structure near Dexter

    It appears likely that a R x R track once ran through the area of the elevated road.

    There is a fair amount of railroad and coke oven historical knowledge available in our region, to the degree that this hasn't been examined as heavily on this site. That may change in time, but I do concentrate on the oldest material I can reach when this appears pertinent. I feel that is partly the case in this situation.


  Recent Posts With LINKS About This Subject

    Instead of unnecessarily repeating myself with material from former posts, (SEO and Google can be a bit unforgiving for doing just that), I will gladly link you up with further information. Visitors will be well advised to check the February guest blog post of the author of "In Search Of The Turkey Foot Road", Lannie Dietle. I have had the privilege to collaborate with him. So much the better, in fact, for here is an exclusive interview on this very website that I also conducted with Mr. Dietle in September. This would be a good start for those who want to learn more of this subject. His website is referred to on these posts as well.

   ALSO, when you can, please check the post I uploaded on October 20, "The Braddock and Turkey Foot Roads", and from October 7, "The Lost Cemetery On The Braddock Road." These two articles will help clue you in for a broader scope of background information leading up to this post. Having said that, I don't envisage myself as any kind of expert on the Braddock and Turkey Foot Roads. Rather, my research encompasses and associates freely to the extent when it is encountered.

    I have made mention recently of this older layer of history. Forgive me if I make any repeated statements again, I'll try not to continually do so in the future, but it is hard to completely avoid. Over the months of combing old and newer books and recent research and such, looking in dim realms catching snatches of this or that, I learned more of many things, branching out into the very paths of comparative history, literal and figurative, to the very places often described here. So, from a minor chronicler of regional hamlets and musty archives, I felt myself transformed into a bit of an Indiana Jones for a day. This was accomplished simply by digging around Jacob's Creek for a few hundred yards. I would add this area near to East Huntingdon was not posted when the photos were taken.



overhead image of the region, courtesy of Google maps

Research and Synopsis


     I want to include a look at the old warrantee surveys for this region of Upper Tyrone township:

 

    Frankly, I never dreamed of bing enabled to make a valuable contibution to the region. One subject earnestly delved into between blog posts, would be humbly, and sometimes closely, studying those that have been there with a broader brush and larger canvas while maintaining a semiautonomous position. Lannie Dietle comes swiftly to mind as the most recent of a long brilliant line, especially when we are talking of precise details and disciplined scholarship. He and his team's excellent and laborious work on this fascinating subject helped guide my instincts on one side, as time went on. I also felt curiosity toward the details of the historical underpinnings of the Braddock Road. The specific function and course have been plotted out in the past in many areas already.

   At the same time, I will be quick to point out, I make a habit not to limit my curiosity because of other influences. Independence can be a lonely thing. One advantage it holds is in keeping a clarity of self reliance necessary to form your own opinions and stand on your own two feet. For instance, I've included recent articles on the Braddock and Turkey Foot Road in October on the website where I struck off on my own a bit. Maybe I am sticking my neck out here farther than is usual.

  Admittedly, my main venue of research had naturally enough retained it's focus on the Westmoreland and Fayette County corridors and townships of this region's great addition to those days of awesome power struggles and stories of the French and Indian War, Pontiac's Rebellion, the Revolutionary days and the Whiskey Insurrection, to the coal and coke days, the railroads and into the 20th Century, and beyond. A natural progression. Nearby, were the expeditions of Trent and Burd, a glimmer of the presence of Daniel Boone; explorations and missions of a young George Washington. On my website are included some of my own ancestral material that is meaningful as it relates to certain aspects of local areas. I will be updating this in upcoming months.

  On the northerly route where the Turkey Foot Road crossed over the Chestnut Ridge, we find less to go on, only in old deeds and vague traces do we find a hint of the path. Nonetheless, we know from Washington's journals and many tidbits of historically significant and valuable writings that the roadways were much built and improved with military guidance with the trader and settler activity.

   Providence Mounts, of whom Mount's Creek was named, was one of the main protagonists associated with the northern branch of this "TFR". He and his name sake lived at Connellsville, in what once Bullskin Township, before the family traveled on and into the Kentucky territory of Daniel Boone and other early pioneers. During the Revolutionary War era he was given charge in this lengthy process by orders of Colonel Morgan, passed down the chain of command from General Nathaniel Greene, as advised by no other than George Washington. So he did much to develop one of the original roads in this broad region of rivers, swamps and mountains. A truly amazing achievement. This led to the successful northern campaigns of Brodhead and Sullivan against the British and Indians. It began at Cumberland as a military supply route, traversing parts of Maryland generally to the northwest and heading northerly into Somerset County and northwest to Fayette County of the State of Pennsylvania, in some ways rivaling the Braddock, or Washington Road and Bouquet's more northerly route of Forbes' Road. The route came through the mountains to Mill Run and Normalville and entering Wooddale via Hawk and Quail antecedents to the northwest. It ended at what was then, Fort Pitt. This road was much used by settlers to these counties, at least until the early years of the nineteenth century when with congressional approval, the National Road was put into effect and created. With the creation of the railroads, these thoroughfares took a back seat for many years until the days of the automobile. The bustling stage coach and wagon stands and noisy taverns saw little traffic and were slowly closed down.

  True, there are a few people of particular importance that weren't immediately filled in on this post. To you, I'm sorry this find had to be sprung it on you in this way. For better or worse, this was certainly meant as a surprise and called for a quick release. I personally am partial to surprises and this is an early Christmas gift!

  Again, the structural photos and location are released publicly because I received such swift responses for the request of experts in the field from The Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission. They have a great site with the state archives and early documents. Also the Fayette County Historical Society. The involvement from those interested parties can be crucial to advancing this research. This is their pony show, and their due, if only they take advantage of it.

    I can surely use all the support I can muster. This is your history folks, and your region!

   Those of you who desire to become more directly a part of this fascinating find by sharing your own interest in this research, by all means, do pass on your stories and local knowledge by writing the above organizations in charge of the history of the state of Pennsylvania. Anyone with more info of this location can also leave a comment here, or you can e-mail me, (you'll find both contact forms below).


Directions And A Hint Of Another Post Soon To Come


  The location of this old structure can be reached from Mt. Pleasant easiest by exiting US Rt. 119 south at the Scottdale exit, turning right on 819, and after a mile, make a left at West Overton on Overton Drive. After passing a stop sign you will cross the old street car track and come to Dexter bridge and the PA railroad with the old saw mill to the right. It is to the left down Jacob's Creek and the tracks for about 100 yards. It is 6.4 miles from Connellsville where from Rt. 119 north, you will take the next exit past the Everson exit to the left at the stop light, up Walnut Hill and down into the Kingview valley, making the next right to Dexter Road. This will lead you to the train tracks and the location is to the right after traversing a small steep hill. The basic coordinates adjusted for online searches are 40.106458, -79.570136.

   With the recent work of Jeff Hann of Bullskin on the area of the TFR up near Quail HIll Road toward the intersection of Spruce Hollow Road and Breakneck Road in Bullskin Township, I too, had the opportunity to walk an historic branch that is surely closely connected with the Turkey Foot Road. Mr. Hann was responsible for bringing this find into the realm of documentation and making contact with the website by e-mail.

    Truly his contribution is such a bonus. And with guidance lent from Lannie Dietle, (who is including the information as an addendum to the fourth edition of his book), will very soon be covered in detail on this website. and hopefully, elsewhere.

    Over the mountains this road was cut from the Normalville area to Hawk Road and on toward the Quail Hill Road area where you find Shultz Lane near the old Smith surveys. Here where there appear to be traces and evidence od the roadbeds were recently visibly discovered, the basic road is estimated from the year 1794. Running on to Shenandoah Road, where my great, great grandfather happened to place his residence, theoretically, it moved through the hilly draw toward the Gault School Road to where the old trace had crossed Mount's Creek at what last went by the moniker of Spaugy's Milll as was the old road name there near where my grandfather lived. The oldest name for this mill was Cathcart's. From there the Turkey Foot Road  meandered on a course to Jacob's Creek, bypassing the Braddock Road to the northeast, yet crossing it for an apparently easier, dryer route and on toward the north and the Mount Pleasant area. This specific research would hardly of been possible without the knowledge given previously of, "In Search Of The Turkey Foot Road' to prod me to make my find a reality.

    I began this specific search while finding extra hours to check this out and the more interesting this became. Here on the borders of these townships, a part of another road that vanished that once traveled down Walnut Hill from the south, and yet another road, wending it's mysterious way up Walnut Hill from the east. This is where I concluded one would of crossed the other before meeting up later. Traditionally, the Turkey Foot Road headed into Westmoreland County on a different route. From a 1939 survey of black and white photos and consulting old maps, there is some substantial traditions on the edge of what was Tyrone township. From the south near Everson and the Bullskin, Upper Tyrone township line, arriving from the Wooddale area, the two routes meet. Here, in what is now such a hamlet that is deceptively normal, was a secret piece of the Braddock Road, and a very likely route of the Turkey Foot Road.

 Fieldwork With A Caution

  So, thank God, I decided to walk through the bramble and thorns of centuries. A player, and no longer just an observer. Taking a closer look at this surprising region of the deep Connellsville Coal Fields, with it's multi-layered historical tapestry marred by much of the very subject it was an historical part of. Too much history! Imagine the irony. To the point that anything beyond the train tracks and strip mines is difficult, nay, practically impossible to fathom.

   Here I believe I got lucky, and at the same time, downright nosy. Impetuously, I simply determined to search out what I could with little thought of what waited hidden. With this discovery, or possibly, re-discovery, though it would be an unpopular decision, I was adamant to not IMMEDIATELY divulge all the details of the exact location UNTIL proper authorities were informed and brought to the knowledge of it. That was the position taken.

   The above is adjusted slightly from what I wrote a few days ago, before gaining some assurances from the proper authorities this will, indeed, be investigated further. As I am satisfied to of gained more interest, I am happy to get this off my chest in revealing the whereabouts of this old stone bridge and wall remnant that lurked under our very feet all along. So very close, but buried for many years. Neglected, lost and unacknowledged.

Here is a cropped 1902 topographical map of the region:

 

      As much as could be ascertained, the old bridge was languishing, completely forgotten, as if caught in a time warp, and had never existed. Though there was some cut stone work in the late 1800's, and depression era, such as the Cunningham bridge remnants near Creek Hills that had concrete abutments, and obvious stone block supports on BOTH sides of Jacob's Creek, this structure certainly has little appearance of modernization connected with it's origins. The angle of the projected crossing is somewhat unique as well. The fording area has a similarity to the Sloan Ford crossing at Confluence in my opinion. But, as I stated, this requires more careful verification, and possibly, excavation.

      So I stepped toward legend and found a bridge to the past. Literally.

 Eureka!




A view of the stone blocks from the northern,Westmoreland side of Jacob's Creek

Close up of a frontal view of the partially cleared, roughly cut stone blocks

      Do you see any hint of mortar or concrete? I do not.


  A Few Speculations

    From our way of peceiving what is valuable, this is better than gold or silver. The old saying is appropriate here, "I was in the right place at the right time."

    This does give you folks a good idea of what might well be right around the bend, and ,as often stated, 'down the road.' Who knows what else can be found? So, keep your eyes wide open and when something looks old and neglected in your neighborhood do try to check it out. The ideas that ran quickly through my head. DO you want to be privy to  my thoughts? I wondered if my parents guided me to this place to finalize a category of old history that had entranced and obsessed me to no end for months and months. Ask anyone that knows me personally at how consumed I was with the varying levels of our local history, and they would be sure to confirm this is no exaggeration. Or, this was simply facilitated by a chance encounter on a small excursion, and that was that. The mysterious moving of what we call chance, fate and luck do occasionally give a more than casual entrance into and out of our lives from a rarefied viewpoint. Regardless of these random musings, I am satisfied in the sense that my late night readings with old books off and on for the archaic space of forty years and collaborative involvement with others of like mind, with the aim of this fairly new website, led indirectly to this investigation.



view of old road and bridge stones from the southeast Fayette side

      I ask, does this have the appearance of a railroad spur? No mortar or concrete here. You can decide.

     One thing I can relate with some confidence, concerns Mr. Rob Doolittle of the CSX in Fayette County, who informed me, in response to my inquiries on the subject, that he has no evidence of B&O involvement with this structure from the property department archives. That research is highly appreciated.

    What Is Here Documented:

     Much might be conjectured and realized over time about the usages of our Jacob's Creek site. What we can document with alacrity and assurance is this: an old partially crumbling, stone bridge exists at the location. The noticeable crossing alignment. The fording area without a hint of stonework. The relatively small size of the blocks used. The lack of observable pylons or stumps as in other places near here. The interfering elements of railroads and mining operations, saw mills and coke ovens. The tight fitting stone wall. The elevated road, possibly from the West Overton area, but likely from the 'Mon' railroad which somehow passed through parts of what contained swampy places. Quite a feat of engineering. And the absence of mortar. It should only require stating this once, all will agree, what the bridge and wall unquestionably are not, are hypotheses, theories, or probabilities. Whatever their exact interpretation in the historical record, they are there to ponder.


A photo of the  stone wall from the east

      Old Historians

      As was prominently claimed for this area of Jacob's Creek, this is presumably very near where Judge Veech said the Turkey Foot Road crossed Jacob's Creek "about a mile below the chain bridge", (Iron Bridge), and a few others made similar claims, are the cut stones of a bygone age, where they were partly uprooted by trees and falling into the stream bed. Franlin Ellis on page 756 of his book, "The History Of Fayette County", when referring to the route of the TFR states, "...it bore to the northwest across Chestnut Ridge to Mountz' Creek, which was crossed at Andrew's, (now Long's mill); then northwest across Bullskin to Jacob's Creek, in Tyrone, intersecting Braddock's Road near the old chain bridge." The coincidence, if you could call it that, is very striking indeed. This must be taken seriously as circumstantial evidence presents itself.

     Though, it is doubtful the elevated road is older than the railroad tracks as this is not the sunken type one would expect, past the B&O, now CSX tracks to the creek named after Captain Jacob's, a Delaware Indian chief, I indicate that this might follow part of the TFR.  On the other side one can see a road continuing toward the northeast, where it seems to lose focus in the undergrowth. As this appears to be part of what was the Monongehala R x R, again, this would seriously damages traces or scars of the old road, projected to run to the northeast and west of the Y pond region where the Southwest railroad crossed Sherrick Run beside what is today the Coal and Coke bridge to Iron Bridge. This does not destroy the idea of former use. The Pennsylvania Railroad apparently leased the West Overton tracks, but as to the particular significance of this in relation to the age of the bridge, I remain skeptical. There is an impressive old stone wall that I am not expert enough to do more than contemplate about it's age and use. It might be a retaining wall. As of now, the function is not known.

The wall of close fitted stone blocks on the Westmoreland side of Jacob's Creek

   

view of cut stones in Jacob's Creek near top of photo

  It is possible many of the bridge stones were removed on the Westmoreland side, if there ever were any in the first place, but this is unconfirmed. Again, it is to be kept in mind the elevated East Huntingdon township road may not be directly connected to the bridge and where it crossed. As near as I could ascertain, the stone bridge road on the Fayette side is, approximately, 20 to 25 yards of stone blocks. This is not a large width or huge blocks usually associated with a railroad which suggests an earlier verson may lie near here or under this bridge.

   The structure may of been used for other purposes, which is always a remote possibility. This could include mining purposes or hauling material. That wouldn't necessarily take away from its being a candidate for earlier historical importance. I noticed no pylons or abutments in the water myself, as stated above.

  Does anyone recognize the type(s), of material you observe here?

A southerly view of the stone blocks from the Fayette side of Jacob's creek 

schematic markings of the elevated bridge angle toward the creek to the right

     Above is a view of the elevation of the stone blocks approaching the creek from the Dexter Road at a southwestern angle, leading toward a northwesterly crossing area

good view of fallen bridge stones

close up of one stone. Some are as large as 32 by 20 inches

slightly newer angle of stone road heading west from Jacob's Creek

    From the trajectory of the stone roadway toward Dexter, the descent to which appears from the south around Penny Hill above the old bridge and to the north. By this observation, the report of the Walnut Hill area, is considerably strengthened, near where the Turkey Foot Road is said to of crossed the Braddock Road which was presumably, laid partially on a branch of the Catwba Path from the Narrows near Connellsville. The circumstantial evidence grows more clear.

    On the photo below this elevated path or road, does not appear to derive directly from the creek bed, but an indeterminate distance to the west. The significance of this oddity, or lack of any, is not yet completely understood. It may inply the fording site, or bridge roadway toward E. Huntingdon is separate from the elevated road. This would further the probability it is a piece of the Monongahela rail track and less indicative of a link to the Turkey Foot Road crossing.

elevated path on Westmoreland side looking east

discarded stone collapse of bridge way from tree roots

view up the railroad tracks to the right of the stones toward McClure



road on north side of Jacob's Creek fading in brush



remains of old logs on Westmoreland side near the waters edge




road bed at an angle on Westmoreland side of creek to the northeast

elevated road looking west toward Dexter

      The road on the East Huntingdon bank of Jacob's Creek travels toward the east from parallel to Jacob's Creek and is not covered in, or made of any stone, as well as I could observe. As stated elsewhere, an outside chance exists this road was indirectly connected to the old cut stone bridge, though, this is less attributable to a haphazard occurrence.

       Below is the clear image of the uniquely angled road way continuing from the watery depths. The elevated road runs from farther to the left of the photo which might be puzzling. In recent memory, the creek was much higher before dredging. The fording site might not be directly connected to the bridge structure we see today.




Where the road comes from the southwest to the Westmoreland side of Jacob's Creek

stony road elevation from southwest to the east



fallen TFR bridge stones on bank of Jacob's Creek

    
    Above is a clear photo of the stacks of stone work toward the stream near the northeast corner of Upper Tyrone township in Fayette County, PA.

  Summation

    So, there you have it folks; kit, bang and caboodle! This has all the look of real age, and one could conjecture it was placed long before the modern Dexter Road and Overton Drive and the railways, Dexter Mines and the coke ovens were put into use. This would incorporate additional support as a serious candidate of the route of the Turkey Foot Road at the very place it would of had to cross by taking the circumstantial considerations seriously while including the research and tradition of Veech and Ellis. The path of the road on the other side may well be older, as a part of it approaches from the west beyond the area of the decrepit bridge landing area, though it might be connected later to a railroad. The deep stream might of beeen forded for some time and then bridged by Providence Mounts,  as his militia assisted. Or it might of been built by others from this area, possibly the Stauffers, early pioneers here.The stones could of conceivably of been brought a good distance. There are no well known areas where stone of this type should of been hauled from in this vicinity. There is the Quarry Street area at Mt. Pleasant as a remote consideration. There is some reason for a supposition of a previous bridge even more primitive than this, if you can go by other crossing sites. This is only speculation.

   Appropriately, I might throw into the mix, that Indian artifact collector, Duaine Fouss claims that this area was populated long ago with Indians. There were unverified stories Abraham Stauffer had relations with local tribes. He was a majpr personage in what became the Kingview area of Stauffer's saw mill and further up Dexter was the grist mill, giving a hint of things to come. This can help pin down some evidence of the age of the road. The Turkey Foot Road was part and parcel of the migration into the Ohio country. Unfortunately, the traditions concerning what could be termed the old Turkey Foot Bridge, are lost here at the border of Fayette and Westmoreland Counties.

   With the sturdy nature of this type of structure, this is different evidence than a landscape scar, however appealing and meaningful. Here we are on the firmest of ground. A veritable document in stone. I am adamantly thrilled to of been able to bring this to the attention of others with a degree of relative accuracy. Remember, YOU have been the first, so far, to of shared in this find, whatever the potential importance. This is an historic occasion in the existence of this old cut stone bridge, with evidence mounting, and correlating to a famous old road.

  It is time to finalize contact with the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission, state archeologists, and Laurel Highlands.org, etc. Those experts will be tasked to undertake a proposed further investigation of this road and bridge. We can anxiously await further revelations.

 First and foremost, we need experts to verify it's age and archeological work is required. Not many ancient bridges are discovered anymore. This is just what we need for better verification. Serious attention is a must by the authorities on such matters.


   ~  Histbufffer