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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
