Friday, November 25, 2011

Mingo Creek Church

Another historic church, again Presbyterian, since the Scots-Irish were the only Europeans courageous or fatalistic enough to settle the Pennsylvania frontier.  There's still an active little church on this spot, though its current building isn't much to look at.  The original log structure--above--was a constant meeting place for the leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion, and it's mentioned in many books of local history.
This is about three miles south of Finleyville, on the edge of the Monongahela Valley.  There is a lot of history around Finleyville, some enormous old houses and interesting ruins.  If I were a ghost-chaser (which I'm not), I'd definitely spend some more time in this area.  
Click to enlarge.  
Like many small rural congregations, Mingo Creek is currently served by a "lay pastor," who saw me poking around the property.  He was kind enough to miss a Steelers game in order to give me a tour.  Mingo Creek Church's cemetery has some of the oldest graves in this region.  John Hamilton--whose grave is here--was a prominent figure in the Rebellion.  
I like any cemetery with graves dating back to the 1700s.  

2 comments:

  1. circusvue@Pittsburgh So nice to find a site on colonial history. Came upon it after a search and after reading an old book on the Western Insurrection as it was called. Intend to visit the cemetery and look to find the names I have read about and were also associated with the Old Stone Tavern still standing in the West End of Pittsburgh.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the comment. I read something about the Old Stone Tavern on "Discovering Historic Pittsburgh" blog. Good photos. Also, see Woodville Plantation--summer home of the Nevilles. Its still stands on Washington Pike near Bridgeville, and it's open to the public:

    http://snowandjaggers.blogspot.com/2012/04/woodville-plantation-neville-house.html

    ReplyDelete