Waynesburg in Greene County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Widely known as the Birthplace of Rain Day

Birthplace of Rain Day Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, April 27, 2022

1. Birthplace of Rain Day Marker

Inscription. This location was once home to the Allison Building, which housed the J.T. Rogers & Co. Drugstore. In the 1870s, a local farmer remarked to pharmacist William Allison that it always seemed to rain on his birthday, July 29. In 1874, Allison began tracking the weather on that date every year, and a Waynesburg tradition was born. The recordkeeping was inherited by Allison's brother, then by the owners of the Daily & Spragg drugstore, Byron Daily and Carl Spragg. The records were taken over by Daily's son, John, who "bet his hat" with a national or regional celebrity that it would rain. The late newsman John O'Hara helped Rain Day grow to national prominence.

The image on this plaque is from a postcard postmarked 1913, and the bricks underneath are from the Allison Building, which was razed in 2013.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is July 29, 1874.

Location. 39° 53.793′ N, 80° 11.17′ W. Marker is in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, in Greene County. Marker is at the intersection of East High Street (Pennsylvania Route 21) and Church Street, on the right when traveling west on East High Street. Located on the SE corner of the First Federal Savings and Loan building. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: 45 E High St, Waynesburg PA 15370, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Greene County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Greene County World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Combat Wounded Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); Greene County (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memoriam (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Company K, 110th U.S. Infantry (10th PA) World War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Greene County’s First Courthouse (about 700 feet away); Monument Park (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waynesburg.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, April 27, 2022

2. Birthplace of Rain Day Marker

Marker is Included in Part of Waynesburg's Historic District image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, April 27, 2022

3. Marker is Included in Part of Waynesburg's Historic District

Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.