History of the Mason-Dixon Survey and Historical Park

History of the Mason-Dixon Survey and Historical Park. . , Start here, 900 - 1200 AD, Monongahela village settled just outside borders of / near future site of Mason-Dixon Historical Park, 1632 , King Charles I issues a land grant, called Maryland, representing the area between the 40th parallel and the Potomac River extending from the Delaware River west to the source of the Potomac River, which is at the Fairfax Stone., 1681 , Charles II later issues a land grant (vaguely delimited by 40th and 43rd parallels) which became the Colony of Pennsylvania. Because of the inaccurate descriptions of these two land grants, and poor survey work, boundary disputes raged for 80 years., 1763 , The Royal Society of Astronomers at Greenwich, England commissioned the aristocratic-tempered astronomer Charles Mason, age 35, and Jeremiah Dixon, a brilliant mathematician-surveyor of 30. Survey begins., 1766 , Survey is stopped June 9, 1766 until an agreement for safe passage can be negotiated with the Six Nations council., 1767 , Survey resumes and several Indigenous People from the Six Nations were deputized to join the surveyors, including 11 Mohawks and 3 Onondagas. Through summer and fall of 1767, various Indigenous People joined the surveyors, including members of the Delaware Tribe and Seneca Nation., October 9, Mason writes, "... Crossed a War Path.... crossed Dunkard Creek three times." The Chief informed them that the War Path was the extent of his commission and he would not go one step farther Westward. It was the intersection of the north-south Catawba Trail and the east-west Warrior Path., October 10-19, surveyors ended their line on what is now Brown's Hill, 23 miles short of their goal. Mason wrote, "... we set up a post marked W on the West Side and heaped around it Earth and Stone three yards and a half diameter at the Bottom and five feet High. The figure nearly conical." (Their original post and mound deteriorated and was replaced by a cut-stone marker, which can be seen today), 1768 , Mason and Dixon sail back to England., 1784 , American scientists David Rittenhouse and Andrew Ellicott completed the survey to the corner of Pennsylvania and north, giving West Virginia a panhandle., 1883 , C.H. Sinclair placed a stone monument in the center of the old mound, inscribed with the year of the survey., 1969 , January 6, Consolidated Gas purchased the property from Charles and Delores LaPoe., Dr. Eldon Tucker, a native of nearby Cassville, learned that the surveyors Mason and Dixon had terminated their famous boundary line on Brown's Hill, 23 miles short of completion. He and other history buffs began promoting the creation of a park to honor Mason and Dixon., 1977 , March 18, Consolidated Gas gave the property to Monongalia County., 1983 , Volunteers in the nonprofit corporation Mason-Dixon Historical Park, Inc., were given permission by Monongalia County Commission to begin park development. Volunteers worked at the Park with funding mostly from Monongalia County, from rentals and events, and some from Greene County to improve the facilities at Mason-Dixon Historical Park., 2001 , The Monongalia County Commission decided to start managing Mason-Dixon Historical Park, Chestnut Ridge Park, and Camp Muffly., October 2017, Mason-Dixon Historical Park celebrated the 250th anniversary of the end of Mason and Dixon's survey., Today, The park features 5+ miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, including the immensely popular "Fairy Door Trail". The park is also popular with cross-country skiers and sledders during winter months. Dunkard Creek is popular with kayakers and anglers. Kayaks are often launched from the park property., Activities and entertainment include summer concerts, a ramp dinner in April, buckwheat dinner in the fall, and more., Volunteers are invited to help. Come and be part of the history of Mason-Dixon Historical Park.