Pennsylvania, Jefferson College Historical Society Historical Markers
The Jefferson College Historical Society brings together people interested in the history of Jefferson College, Canonsburg PA, and the surrounding area. On January 15, 1802, the former Canonsburg Academy became the Jefferson College when a charter was obtained from the Pennsylvania legislature. Hostilities between the North and the South led to a decline in enrollment and the eventual merger with Washington College to become Washington & Jefferson College in nearby Washington PA.
On North Central Avenue at Cardinal Lane, on the right when traveling north on North Central Avenue.
The tavern opened in 1783. The whiskey insurrection began as a protest movement against the 1781 Whiskey Tax. From this site in 1784, a call to the militia was sent out by whiskey rebels as a gesture of defiance toward the Federal Government. Stolen . . . — — Map (db m201459) HM
On North Central Avenue (Pennsylvania Route 980) at West Pike Street, on the right when traveling south on North Central Avenue.
Originally part of John Canon's Mill property, a large stone building stood here for more than a century. During the Jefferson College years and the Civil War, it was a popular meeting place and site of many banquets. After passing from the . . . — — Map (db m200586) HM
On West Pike Street east of Iron Street, on the left when traveling west.
This home was built in 1895 by Canonsburg industrialist John Budke, 1852-1914. Budke became manager and later the owner of Canonsburg's first major industry. Canonsburg Iron and Steel Company, commonly known as the Budke Mill. He was a pioneer in . . . — — Map (db m198177) HM
On South Central Avenue (Pennsylvania Route 980) south of West Water Street, on the left when traveling north.
A water powered grist & saw mill was erected here about 1780 by John Canon, founder of Canonsburg. He was county sub-lieutenant of militia during the Revolution and served in the state assembly. Canon operated the mill until his death at age 58 . . . — — Map (db m200540) HM
On North Central Avenue north of West College Street, on the left when traveling north.
A unit of Pennsylvania National Guard was established in Canonsburg in 1926. This armory was erected in 1938 for Co. H. 103rd Medical Regiment and was designed by local architect, George W. Brugger, and patterned after a building in Williamsburg, . . . — — Map (db m199471) HM
On West Pike Street just west of Glencove Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Yenko Chevrolet was founded in 1947 by Frank & Martha Yenko. Their son, Don, became a franchisee in 1956, and soon formed Yenko Sportscars Inc., selling high performance parts and Corvette racing equipment. Don teamed up with Gulf Oil Research . . . — — Map (db m294346) HM
On North Central Avenue north of East Pike Street ( Route 980), on the right when traveling north.
In 1810, the original Emery's Tavern was built up the hill on N. Central Ave. opposite the college building. In 1820, the new Emery's Tavern was built on the N. E. corner of N. Central and E. Pike when the Washington-Pittsburgh Turnpike was . . . — — Map (db m198183) HM
On East College Street west of Greenside Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
On April 22, 1848, the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta was founded in an upper room of the two-story frame student residence that stood on the S.W. corner of E. College and Greenside. Rooming and boarding establishments were called "forts" in the . . . — — Map (db m199529) HM
On East College Street east of North Central Avenue, on the left when traveling east.
Jefferson College received its charter on Jan. 15, 1802 and moved to this site, originally John Canon's home, in 1817. It was founded by the Rev. John McMillan, John Canon and others, and was one of the five largest colleges in the nation. In . . . — — Map (db m199498) HM
On East College Street east of North Central Avenue, on the left when traveling east.
This log structure was the Frontier Latin School built circa 1780 by the Rev. John McMillan and was located about a mile south of Canonsburg next to the McMillan home. Latin, Greek, Mathematics and other classical subjects were taught here. It . . . — — Map (db m199713) HM
On North Central Avenue 0.1 miles north of East College Street, on the right when traveling north.
In 1852, the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity was founded by Willliam Henry Letterman (spelling he used) and Charles Page Thomas Moore in the attic of the house that stood here at 246 N. Central Ave. The house was owned by his widowed mother, Ann . . . — — Map (db m199297) HM
On East Pike Street (Pennsylvania Route 980) east of North Central Avenue ( Route 980), on the right when traveling east.
Erected in 1890 by J. C. Morgan for his dry goods store, the building had an opera house on the second floor from 1891 until August 26, 1911. A spectator yelled "fire" in the crowded theater when a piece of film sparked. There was never a fire . . . — — Map (db m199552) HM
On North Central Avenue north of West Pike Street, on the left when traveling north.
The Olome Institute, AKA Olome-Seminary, was an unincorporated girls' school under the tutelage of Mrs. Oliva J. French. Founded in 1844 in the local town hall, the school moved to E. Pike St. until it found its permanent home in 1847 on N. . . . — — Map (db m294572) HM
On Payne Place 0.1 miles south of Pike Street, on the right when traveling south.
Founded in 1824, Payne Chapel is one of
the oldest African Methodist Episcopal
congregations west of the Allegheny
mountains. After meeting in several locations
around Canonsburg, the congregation
built its first church at this site in . . . — — Map (db m288236) HM
On North Central Avenue north of West College Street, on the left when traveling north.
Rev. John McMillan purchased this lot in 1796 and the original part of the house was constructed. Rev. John Watson, first president of Jefferson College and son-in-law of Rev. McMillan, died in this house in 1802. John Roberts bought the house . . . — — Map (db m199468) HM
On Adams Avenue 0.1 miles east of Morganza Boulevard, on the left when traveling east.
Frank "The Candy Man" Sarris established Sarris Candies in the basement of his home on Adams Avenue in 1960, later opening a storefront next door. Multiple expansions of the building including the addition of an old-fashioned soda fountain and a . . . — — Map (db m288263) HM
On North Central Avenue at Locust Alley, on the left when traveling north on North Central Avenue.
This lot is the original site of Jefferson College. In 1791, John Canon donated this lot to the Canonsburg Academy and Library Company, which in 1802 was chartered as Jefferson College. The college quickly outgrew the 2-story stone structure and . . . — — Map (db m199469) HM
On VFW 191 Drive 0.2 miles north of Crosbie Drive, on the left when traveling north.
A "gift to the community," Town Park was constructed between 1923 and 1934 as a Civil Works Administration Project of the New Deal. Originally purchased from William Crosbie in 1917, by a group of local citizens, this former cow pasture was . . . — — Map (db m294632) HM
On East College Street east of North Central Avenue, on the left when traveling east.
The Canonsburg Mothers of Democracy commissioned noted sculptor, Giuseppe Moretti, to create this bronze statue of a World War I soldier. The statue was unveiled in 1924 on Memorial Day. Two thousand people attended the dedication including . . . — — Map (db m200465) HM
On Strabane Avenue north of Chartiers Street, on the left when traveling north.
Near this site was a mill that processed radium, uranium, and other ores between 1911 and 1957. It was one of the world's largest producers of radium and one of the earliest in the nuclear industry. Nobel Laureate Marie Curie toured the site in . . . — — Map (db m294841) HM
On West Pike Street at North Central Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Pike Street.
John Watson, Esq., was the son of James Watson of Chartiers Twp. He built a home and blacksmith shop on the northwest corner of Pike St. and Central Ave. before Canonsburg Borough was formed in 1802. He served on the first Town Council and . . . — — Map (db m200609) HM
