West Overton, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West Overton Historic District
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Christian S. Overholt Store and House, HABS Photo, Summer 1990
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Frick Ave., East Huntingdon Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1850 |
| Built by | Abraham Overholt |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Vernacular Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001572 |
| Added to NRHP | July 18, 1985 |
West Overton is a historic village located about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. You can find it in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It sits along PA 819, between the towns of Mount Pleasant and Scottdale.
This village is famous as the birthplace of Henry Clay Frick, a very important industrialist and art collector. It was also the original home of the family business started by his great-grandfather, Henry Overholt, and his grandfather, Abraham Overholt.
West Overton Village was founded in 1800 by German Mennonites who came from Bucks County. They were led by Henry Overholt. Today, West Overton is a museum complex. It shows what a 19th-century rural industrial village looked like. It's special because it's the only village from before the American Civil War that is still complete in Pennsylvania.
The museum has been fully updated. It now focuses on the Overholt family's early industries, including their grain milling and coal operations. The museum reopened for visitors in August 2012, and the Overholt Homestead opened in June 2013.
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Exploring West Overton Historic District
The West Overton Historic District is a special historic area in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It includes 19 important buildings that show what the village was like in the mid-1800s. These buildings are designed in a style called Greek Revival.
Key Buildings in West Overton
Some of the important buildings in the district include the Christian S. Overholt Store and House. There's also the Abraham Overholt Homestead, built in 1838. Another key building is the Overholt Mill, which was built in 1859.
Henry Clay Frick's Birthplace
A very important spot in the district is the springhouse of the Abraham Overholt Homestead. This small building is where Henry Clay Frick was born in 1849. He later became a very successful businessman and collected many famous artworks.
National Recognition for West Overton
Because of its historical importance, the West Overton Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's recognized as a place worth protecting for future generations.
Images for kids
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Christian S. Overholt Store and House, HABS Photo, Summer 1990
