Perrysville, Pennsylvania facts for kids
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Perrysville is a community in Ross Township, which is part of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is about 7 miles north of the city of Pittsburgh on Perry Highway (U.S. Route 19). Perrysville is a populated area in Allegheny County. In the past, it was a well-known stop for stagecoaches and was called the village of Perryville. Just like other towns nearby, Perrysville's main street has many small businesses, homes, and several churches.
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A Look Back at Perrysville's History
Early Days as a Busy Stop
Perrysville was once known as the "village of Perrysville." Before the 1900s, it was a very important place. It had a toll plaza on the Perry Plank Road north of Pittsburgh. This made it a popular stopping point. Merchants and farmers would stop here while taking their goods to sell in Pittsburgh.
Perrysville was also a key stop for stagecoaches. It was home to some of the first hotels, churches, shops, and inns. It was so active that some historians in Western Pennsylvania even called Pittsburgh "the town south of Perrysville."
Old Churches in Perrysville
The first sermon in this area was given by a Mr. Stockton in 1799. This happened on a place called Hiland Hill. In the 1780s and 1790s, Hiland Hill was used as a safe place. People would go there to protect themselves from Native American attacks. The hill was named after Barnabas Hilands. He disappeared while traveling from his home in Perrysville to Federal Street in Pittsburgh. People thought he had been killed by Native Americans.
In 1836, the Hiland Presbyterian Church was officially started on this site. Later, in 1864, many Roman Catholics began meeting in a home in Perrysville. Land was bought for a new church that same year. The church was built with bricks made right there in the area. It opened in 1867 as St. Teresa of Avila Church. Both of these churches are still active in Perrysville today.
The Perrysville Volunteer Fire Company
The Perrysville Volunteer Fire Company is also still around today. It was formed in 1908 after a disagreement with another fire company. In the 1920s, this fire company started holding an annual parade and carnival. People said it was one of the biggest in Pennsylvania! Marching bands and drill teams from all over the state would come to join. The annual parade still happens every year. It brings participants and many people watching from the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh.
A Famous Escape Story
In January 1902, two fugitives named Jack and Ed Biddle escaped from the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. They were helped by Kate Soffel, the warden's wife. They fled to Perrysville and hid in a school. They took a horse and a shotgun, and also got some food. They continued traveling north. A few days later, they were caught. This exciting incident was later used as the basis for the 1984 movie Mrs. Soffel.
