Boquet, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Boquet is a small community located in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It's not a city or a town with its own government, but rather a group of homes and businesses that are part of a larger township.
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Why is it Called Boquet?
Boquet gets its name from General Henry Bouquet, a brave officer who served in the British army way back in the 1700s. Even though his name was spelled a little differently, people agree the community was named after him.
The Famous Forbes Road
Boquet is located along the original path of the Forbes Road. This important road was built in 1758 by British and colonial soldiers. Their mission was to remove the French from a place called Fort Duquesne. This was the second major road built into western Pennsylvania. The first was Braddock's Road, built a few years earlier in 1755.
A few years after it was built, the part of Forbes Road near Boquet was moved a few miles south. The new path went around Boquet. An important event called the Battle of Bushy Run happened on this newer, more southern part of Forbes Road.
General Bouquet's Role
Even though General John Forbes was in charge of the mission to build the road, Colonel Henri Bouquet became the main leader because General Forbes was very sick.
Other places also named after Henri Bouquet include:
- Boquet Street in Pittsburgh
- Boquet's Redoubt, a blockhouse (a small fort) built in 1764 at the site of Fort Pitt. This blockhouse is thought to be the oldest building in western Pennsylvania!
Cool Places Near Boquet
There are several interesting spots in and around the Boquet area.
Greensburg Jeannette Regional Airport
One of the most important landmarks nearby is the Greensburg Jeannette Regional Airport. It's a place where planes take off and land, connecting the area to other places.
The Battle of Bushy Run Site
Just over a mile from Boquet is the historic site of the Battle of Bushy Run. This battle was a big part of Pontiac’s War, a conflict that happened long ago. Today, you can visit the site, and sometimes during the summer, people even re-enact the battle to show what it was like!
Other Fun Spots
Boquet is also close to three golf courses where people can play:
- Cloverleaf Golf Club
- Westmoreland Country Club
- Manor Valley Country Club
The community also has many old buildings from the 1800s. One cool example is a building made of stone in 1818. It used to be a place where whiskey was stored, but now it has been turned into a home!
