Fayette County Historical Society/Abel Colley Tavern & Museum

08/15/2026

In 1754, George Washington embarked on an expedition down the Yough...

08/15/2026

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

I'm always looking for photos from the towns around Fayette County. Uppermiddletown is one of the towns that is very difficult to find. So when I found the one showing the maid from Uppermiddletown, I thought I should buy it so I could tell the story about an important part of Fayette's industrial history. Back in 2016 a gentleman came to the Abel Colley Tavern looking for some information about Plumsock. Jo Lofstead and I quickly went to work looking to see what we could find within our collection. This gentleman, Norman Samways, was a Pittsburgh metallurgist, who hailed from Wales. Since he worked within the industry in Pittsburgh, he knew that Pittsburgh was claiming that the puddling industry had its roots in Pittsburgh. Norman wanted to make certain that the true history was told. Towards that end, the Society supported his efforts to have a marker approved by the Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission. It's a lengthy and arduous process. But after many months, the marker was approved. Norman paid the fee for the marker and the local Kawasaki dealer (who permitted the marker to be located on his land) put the marker securely in place. And then we had the unveiling of the marker. Dozens of people came out for the event. One of our members, who was present that day, is a direct descendant of the Welshmen, Thomas Lewis, who first approached Isaac Meason about establishing the furnace on this site. Isaac Meason (1743-1818) was one of the greatest ironmasters of this area and time. The mill didn't operate for a long period of time, but it, nevertheless, established the industry in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The establishment of this marker meant the world to Norman. He left us on February 2, 2018. Some of us from the Historical Society went to the village where his wake was held. His wonderful children and grandchildren could not have been more gracious...just like Norman. There were to be no tears, just lots of stories and toasts with whiskey. Norman made an impact on the lives of many. He certainly showed us a better path to take.

Chris

08/12/2026

Rest in Peace Mr. Gallatin! He was a fascinating man and his Fayette County home is worth visiting!

On this day...

August 12, 1849, Abraham Alfonse Albert de Gallatin dies in Astoria, New York at the age of 88. Gallatin is remembered as the fourth Secretary of the Treasury, finding the funding for the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the National Road. He helped lower the national debt and served in local, state, national and international positions.

During the first meeting of the New York Historical Society following Gallatin’s death, the president of that organization, Luther Bradish says of Gallatin:

“The name of Mr. Gallatin is emphatically a name of history. Few men have lived in any age whose biographies have been so intimately connected with the history of the country. Living in one of the most interesting periods of the world, a period of great events, of the discussion of great principles and the settlement of great interests, almost the whole of his long and active life was passed in public service amidst the events and in those discussions...He has well been called, “Citizen of the World.”

Gallatin is buried at Trinity Church yard in lower town Manhattan next Hannah, his beloved wife of almost 56 years on August 15th. He and Hannah are in the Nicholson family plot. Friendship Hill National Historic Site preserves the home built by Gallatin to share his legacy. Visit www.nps.gov/frhi for more information.



Photos credits: https://www.archives.gov/nhprc/projects/catalog/albert-gallatin