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Washington, Pennsylvania, USA - Washington, Pennsylvania, USA - Main Street Station. Pa. R.R., Washington, Pa.

Prior to the American Revolution the area was the centre of a land dispute with Virginia. Pennsylvania’s claim was finally validated by the Virginia constitution of 1776. Laid out by David Hoge in 1781, Washington was early known as Catfish’s Camp for a Delaware Indian chief who lived there about 1750. It was known as Bassett-town for a short time until renamed for General George Washington. It was a hotbed of activity during the Whiskey Rebellion (an uprising against an excise tax on distilled liquor) of 1794 and was organized as a borough in 1810. The first crematory in the United States was built in Washington in 1876 by Francis Julius Le Moyne, who had to contend with an aroused public opinion, which forced the construction of the building at night. Washington was chartered as a city in 1924.

britannica.com

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Washington Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards

Washington, Pennsylvania, USA - Main Street Station. Pa. R.R., Washington, Pa.
Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

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Main Street Station. Pa. R.R., Washington, Pa.
Washington, Pennsylvania, USA - The George Washington Hotel, Washington, Pa.
Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

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The George Washington Hotel, Washington, Pa.
Washington, Pennsylvania, USA - Washington County Court House, Washington, Pa.
Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

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Washington County Court House, Washington, Pa.

Discover Washington: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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1791 - Washington, Pennsylvania, was the center for the 'Whiskey Rebellion' of 1791, which was one of the first open rebellions against the new U.S. government and Constitution.
The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as the Whiskey Insurrection) was a tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. It became law in 1791, and was intended to generate revenue to help reduce the national debt. The tax applied to all distilled spirits, but whiskey was by far the most popular distilled beverage in the 18th-century U.S., so the excise became widely known as a "whiskey tax". The new excise was a part of U.S. treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton's program to pay war debt incurred during the American Revolutionary War...

Throughout counties in Western Pennsylvania, protesters used violence and intimidation to prevent federal officials from collecting the tax. Resistance came to a climax in July 1794, when a U.S. marshal arrived in western Pennsylvania to serve writs to distillers who had not paid the excise.... Read MORE...

1830 - DREADFUL TORNADO.
Washington, Pa. March 27.
On Monday evening last, near sundown, a most awful hurricane passed over this county, which in its consequences were more disastrous and melancholy than any with which we have been visited in the recollection of the oldest inhabitants.

In its course it appears, so far as we have heard, to have been confined altogether to a narrow strip of country not more than half a mile in diameter, in Peters township. The course of the Tornado was from north-west to south-east, and among other particulars of a less destructive and afflicting character, we have gathered the following.
The house in which JAMES ARMSTRONG resided was blown down upon the family and killed MR. ARMSTRONG and his son, a lad, of what age we have not heard, and wounded every other member of the family, one or two of them dangerously.

The dwelling house and double barn of JOSEPH TOWNSEND, blown down.
Widow BLACKMORE'S house & barn do.
JOHN LOGAN'S house, do. - himself wounded.
THOMAS... Read MORE...

1854 - Washington
Washington, a pleasant and nourishing town, capital of Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the National road, and on the Hempfield railroad, 25 miles S. W. from Pittsburg. The Hempfield railroad (not yet finished) extends from Wheeling to the Central railroad at Greensburg. The town is distinguished for its literary institutions, and the elegance of its public buildings, among which are the court house, a number of well-built churches, a female seminary, a bank, and the edifice of Washington College. The latter is a flourishing institution, founded in 1806. Three newspapers are published here. Incorporated in 1810. Pop. in 1850, 2602.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
1876 - December 6 – The first cremation in the United States takes place in a crematory built by Francis Julius LeMoyne. (Washington, Pennsylvania)

wikipedia.org
December 6, 1876
1895 - Washington
Washington, a post-borough, capital of Washington co., Pa., is on the National Road, and on the Chartiers Railroad, which connects here with the Wheeling & Pitts burg Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and the Waynesburg & Washington Railroad, 31 miles S.S.W. of Pittsburg, and 32 miles E.N.E. of Wheeling. It contains a court-house, 9 churches, a national bank, a savings-bank, 2 banking-houses, a female seminary, 2 carriage-shops, a broom-factory, 6 cigar-factories, a stove-foundry, a tannery, 2 woollen-mills, and a steam flour-mill. It is the seat of Washington and Jefferson College (Presbyterian), which was organized in 1802 and has a library of 10,000 volumes. Three daily and 5 weekly newspapers are published here. Coal is mined near this place, and large quantities of wool are exported from it. Pop., in 1890, 7063.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1906
Washington, a post-borough, capital of Washington co., Pa., on the Baltimore and Ohio, the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis, and the Waynesburg and Washington Rs., 25 miles (direct) SW. of Pittsburg. It is in a productive coal and oil region and has extensive manufactures of tin-plate, iron, glass, foundry and machine-shop products, car-springs, carbon, etc. Washington and Jefferson College, Washington Female Seminary, and Trinity Hall are located here. Pop. in 1900, 7670.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Washington, Pennsylvania:
The LeMoyne House: Start your visit with a slice of history at the LeMoyne House, which is the headquarters of the Washington County Historical Society. This historic house museum provides insights into the area's past and is a great place to learn about the town's history.

David Bradford House: Another historical gem, this house was once the home of David Bradford, a key figure in the Whiskey Rebellion. Take a guided tour to learn about this fascinating episode in American history.

Washington & Jefferson College: Stroll through the picturesque campus of Washington & Jefferson College, one of the oldest colleges in the United States. The college's beautiful architecture and landscaping are worth exploring.

Museums: Washington has several museums worth visiting, including the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of trolleys and streetcars, and the Duncan & Miller Glass Museum, which showcases exquisite glassware.

Consol Energy... Read MORE...

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Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

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Patriotic Memories: Memorial Day Vintage Postcard Coffee Mug

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Updated: 10/15/2023 8:15:17 AM