South Greensburg in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

George Franklin Huff

Photographed by Bradley Owen, April 1, 2025

1. George Franklin Huff Marker

Inscription.

George Franklin Huff. . Birthplace: Norristown, PA . July 16, 1842 - April 18, 1912 State Senator: 1885 - 1888 . U.S. Congressman: 1891 - 1910. George F. Huff was well respected by both the wealthy and working class. His business ability, high character, pleasing personality, polished manners and kind disposition made him an unquestionable leader in politics, banking and industry. He gave his name to the village of "Hufftown". At the time, Hufftown was under the jurisdiction of Hempfield Township until it was incorporated as South Greensburg Borough on June 10, 1891., George F. Huff's first job was working in the car shop with the Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona. He came to Greensburg in 1867 and was one of the organizers of the South-West Branch Railroad in 1871 along with Richard Coulter as an engineer for the railroad's construction. George F. Huff, was the treasurer of this branch until the office was moved to Philadelphia in 1874., In 1874, George F. Huff acquired a large portion of the original land that was first owned by Michael Rugh. In 1881 he sold a portion of the land to the Greensburg Coal Company which merged in 1902 and became the Keystone Coal and Coke Company. In 1888, about fifty houses were built for the purpose of housing workers for the new factories being built. These houses are now located between Sheridan and Coulter Avenues on Broad, Poplar and Elm Streets., In 1874, George F. Huff was one of the organizers and owners of the Greensburg Coal Company along with Richard Coulter. In 1902 it became the Keystone Coal and Coke Company of which George F. Huff became president. In 1881, he was also an organizer and sat on the board of the First National Bank of Greensburg until his death. In 1888, George F. Huff was the principle person to convince the Kelly and Jones Company to relocate from New Jersey and build its plant here at Huff Avenue with George F. Huff on the Board of Directors. In 1925, Kelly and Jones became the Walworth Company., George F. Huff was widely known as one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of Westmoreland County and was closely identified with nearly all of its many industrial and financial enterprises. He donated the first piece of fire equipment, a hand-drawn cart, to the South Greensburg Fire Department in 1901., George F. Huff married Henrieta Burrell on March 16, 1871. They had eight children; four of whom died in infancy. The surviving four were Lloyd B., Julian B., Carolyn B., and Burrell Richardson. The Huff family home in Greensburg sprawled over about 500 acres called "Cabin Hill" and consisted of highly cultivated farm land and original forest beautified by a system of landscape gardening and parks. The entire farm had over four miles of winding driveways which were maintained by the Huffs and were open at all times for the public to enjoy. George F. Huff was laid to rest in 1912 at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.

Birthplace: Norristown, PA • July 16, 1842 - April 18, 1912
State Senator: 1885 - 1888 • U.S. Congressman: 1891 - 1910
George F. Huff was well respected by both the wealthy and working class. His business ability, high character, pleasing personality, polished manners and kind disposition made him an unquestionable leader in politics, banking and industry. He gave his name to the village of "Hufftown". At the time, Hufftown was under the jurisdiction of Hempfield Township until it was incorporated as South Greensburg Borough on June 10, 1891.

George F. Huff's first job was working in the car shop with the Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona. He came to Greensburg in 1867 and was one of the organizers of the South-West Branch Railroad in 1871 along with Richard Coulter as an engineer for the railroad's construction. George F. Huff, was the treasurer of this branch until the office was moved to Philadelphia in 1874.

In 1874, George F. Huff acquired a large portion of the original land that was first owned by Michael Rugh. In 1881 he sold a portion of the land to the Greensburg Coal Company which merged in 1902 and became the Keystone Coal and Coke Company. In 1888, about fifty houses were built for the purpose of housing workers for the new factories being built. These houses are now

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

located between Sheridan and Coulter Avenues on Broad, Poplar and Elm Streets.

In 1874, George F. Huff was one of the organizers and owners of the Greensburg Coal Company along with Richard Coulter. In 1902 it became the Keystone Coal and Coke Company of which George F. Huff became president. In 1881, he was also an organizer and sat on the board of the First National Bank of Greensburg until his death. In 1888, George F. Huff was the principle person to convince the Kelly and Jones Company to relocate from New Jersey and build its plant here at Huff Avenue with George F. Huff on the Board of Directors. In 1925, Kelly and Jones became the Walworth Company.

George F. Huff was widely known as one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of Westmoreland County and was closely identified with nearly all of its many industrial and financial enterprises. He donated the first piece of fire equipment, a hand-drawn cart, to the South Greensburg Fire Department in 1901.

George F. Huff married Henrieta Burrell on March 16, 1871. They had eight children; four of whom died in infancy. The surviving four were Lloyd B., Julian B., Carolyn B., and Burrell Richardson. The Huff family home in Greensburg sprawled over about 500 acres called "Cabin Hill" and consisted of highly cultivated farm land and original forest beautified by a system of landscape gardening

Photographed by Bradley Owen, April 1, 2025

2. George Franklin Huff Marker

and parks. The entire farm had over four miles of winding driveways which were maintained by the Huffs and were open at all times for the public to enjoy. George F. Huff was laid to rest in 1912 at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.

Erected by South Greensburg Lions Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is April 18, 1912.

Location. 40° 16.899′ N, 79° 32.894′ W. Marker is in South Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County. It is on Huff Avenue 0.1 miles east of Main Street (U.S. 119), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 197 Huff Avenue, Greensburg PA 15601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Laurel Highlands

and in Greater Pittsburgh.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: South Greensburg Veterans Memorial (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); South Greensburg Borough Service Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Walworth Employees Honor Roll (approx. 0.3 miles away); 14th Quartermaster Detachment Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hempfield Township Roosevelt Club Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Southwest Greensburg Veterans Memorial

Paid Advertisement

(approx. one mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South Greensburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 10, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.