Videos
Lefevre House Reconstruction Videos
While the last year presented many challenges for us all, we had moments to celebrate at the Westmoreland Historical Society, too. One successful project was the relocation and reconstruction of the Lefevre House to Historic Hanna's Town. Originally located in the Jeannette area, the house dates to the late 18th...
“Christmas Memories” video
While you are nestled all snug in your bed for the holiday season, enjoy this video of our Christmas Memories exhibit! While the Education Center is currently closed, we will reopen on January 7 and the exhibit will have an extended run until January 16. The Education Center will begin...
Tea Through the Centuries
While in-person teas are on hiatus this year, we are happy to share the fascinating history of this delicious drink in a new video! Grab a cup and join Louise, Joanna, and Pam as they explore the history of tea through the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Discover the ancient...
Eagle Scout Projects at Historic Hanna’s Town
We have recently been working with Scout Troop 405 to complete Eagle Scout projects at Historic Hanna's Town. These projects are helping restore the historic environment by planting native plants and addressing several environmental issues at the site and creating new educational and recreational opportunities for visitors. As former...
“The People of this Place Behaved Brave” The Burning of Hanna’s Town
At 2:00 p.m. on July 13, 1782, a group of Seneca and their British allies attacked Hanna's Town, the seat of government for Westmoreland County. But what were the events that led to one of the most devastating attacks on the Pennsylvania frontier at the end of the Revolutionary War?...
Storytime: John Newbery and the Birth of Children’s Books
Enjoy our ninth virtual Pages of History Storytime program! This week, we are featuring Balderdash: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. While most children's books in the 18th century contained lessons and rules, John Newbery imagined them overflowing with entertaining stories, science, and...
Storytime: Because of an Acorn
Enjoy our eighth virtual Pages of History Storytime program! This week, we are featuring Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon. Read with permission from Chronicle Books. In this story, wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower,...
Storytime: A House That Once Was
Enjoy our seventh virtual Pages of History Storytime program! This week, we are featuring A House That Once Was by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Lane Smith. ISBN: 9781626723146. Learn more about the book here. This poetic story follows two children who discover an abandoned house and wonder about all...
“With Our Lives and Fortunes” The Hanna’s Town Resolves
Discover the history of the Hanna's Town Resolves, a document written by the citizens of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in response to the battles of Lexington and Concord during the Revolutionary War. During the American Revolution, patriots in support of independence believed they were fighting for freedom from the tyranny...
Storytime: Hector the Collector
Enjoy our sixth virtual Pages of History Storytime program! This week, we are featuring Hector the Collector by Emily Beeny and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. ISBN: 9781626722965. Learn more about the book here. How can you be a collector like Hector? Explore tons of virtual museum tours and...