Town recreates frontier justice

and Native American enemies during the Revolutionary War. On July 13, 1782, the British took their belated revenge for the Hanna’s Town Resolves, attacking and burning the community. Hanna’s Town never recovered, and in 1786, Westmoreland’s County seat was relocated to New Town, which was later renamedGreensburg.

The site of Hanna’s Town remained farmland for most of the next two centuries until it was purchased by the county for development as a parkin 1966.

“What was below the ‘plow zone’ was preserved as a uniquearcheological treasure house,” Ms. Hays said. “That attack was devastating, but it left behind amazing evidence of how people lived here.” She estimated that more than 1 million artifacts had been found thus far on the property.

While there are no original Colonial-era structures on the site,archeological and written evidence have helped the historical society recreate a tavern, courthouse, log cabins, block house, fort, stockade and wagon shed with a Conestogawagon.

The Steel family farmhouse, built in 1910, is being renovated and eventually will be linked to a new structure, the Westmoreland History Education Center, now under constructionin the park.

All sides in the American Revolution will be represented during the Frontier Court weekend. Revolutionary War re-enactors dressed as British regulars and Colonial militia will take part in drilling and firing demonstrations. There also will be a Native-Americanencampment.

The largest re-enactor group taking part will be members of John Proctor’s Independent Battalion of Westmoreland County Provincials, or IBWCP. That military unit’s well-known flag features a coiled rattlesnake and the warning “Don’t Tread on Me.” The original is in the collection of the Fort Pitt Museum at Pittsburgh’s Point.

Costumed demonstrators will show 18th century crafts and trades including black-smithing, needleworking, and, for the first time, beer making. Musical entertainment will include Scots-Irish tunes performed by the West Coast acoustic band “Gallowglass.”

There will be lectures on the roles of frontier midwives, fur trading and growing heritageplants.

“There is so much history and so many stories for us to tell right in our own backyard,” volunteer organizer Augie Nicolai said. “People don’t realize that Hanna’s Town was a Revolutionary War battle site. Or that Pennsylvania and Virginia battled for years over which state wouldcontrol the Point.”

Ms. Hays and Mr. Nicolai both emphasized the importance of volunteers in putting on the Frontier Court weekend, which is a major fundraiserfor the historical society.

Mr. Nicolai had special praise for the decades of service from long-time volunteers Joe and Pauline Moyar andPaul and Sylvia Shearer.

Others donating their time for the festival will include Boy Scouts from Greensburg Troop 465 and Young Marines of Westmoreland County. That organization includes youth from middle schoolthrough high school.

“Love of history drew me into this organization, but the great volunteers are what keep me active,” Mr. Nicolai said.

For more information, call 724-532-1932.