Over the weekend, we passed the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock several times that we made plans to stop by the house on our way back to Ohio. The home, a two-story, six-bay structure made of sandstone was built by John Brown in 1822 and is today, a museum of rural life.
Perfectly situated at the crossroads of the Pittsburgh-Franklin and Butler Mercer Pikes, it was the perfect location as a stagecoach stop and tavern for those who were moving away from the east coast. First, a small log tavern provided ale and food to travelers, but when the family home was completed, it became a historic inn.
Within its interior are three rooms on the first story, each room fitted with its own fireplace and exterior entrance. Upstairs is one large room which is separated by curtains. The 2 story wooden porch is accessible from each level.
The stone structure may have already existed when Brown purchased the property and may have been used as a tavern room for travelers passing by. Locals would also arrive to the tavern to meet with the travelers in hopes of news from other states. The tavern would have offered food and drink and an overnight stay when room was available.
Of course, not only did the Stone House attract everyday travelers, highway bandits were also known to hang around the taverns and stagecoach stops. A list of rules was posted to reduce rowdy behavior and local disturbances.
There were two separate counterfeit gangs who were known to hang around The Old Stone House, led by a man nicknamed “Old Man North Pole”.
According to historian, Brad Pfugh, the Mohawk/Wigton story has ties to the Old Stone House as Mohawk journeyed by stagecoach to the town of Butler. Roaming around town, it is said he stopped by the Kiester House, a local tavern where he was given milk. He fell asleep and after awaking, returned to the Old Stone House where he fought the owner who would not serve him alcohol. Mohawk spent the night outside not far from the Old Stone House and at some point, visited the Wigton family home. Mrs. Wigton was alone as her husband had left town that day and Mohawk killed her and her family then fled. Mohawk was eventually captured and hung on March 22, 1844.
With the invention of railroads, the stagecoach stops were no longer needed for travelers, so the Old Stone House became a family farmstead in the 1870s. By 1918, it was abandoned and hidden beneath the underbrush, in need of repair where eventually, only the north wall and chimney were left.
In 1963, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy restored the property with the help of Charles M. Stotz a local Pittsburgh architect and converted the space into a museum for the next 20 years. The 1980’s recession led the Conservancy to consider selling the property but the local community was outraged as it had poured large donations into its restoration. They came up with a solution to allow Slippery Rock University to rent the property, maintain its condition and manage its tourist events. With this agreement, Old Stone House is available for visitors to learn more about rural life in Western Pennsylvania.
Have you had the opportunity to visit the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock? I would love to hear your thoughts about the property if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my stop at Old Stone House and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Old Stone House
865 William Flynn Highway
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
Telephone: 724 738 4964
Where to Stay:
Springhill Suites by Marriott Pittsburgh Butler/Centre City
125 East Jefferson Street
Butler, PA 16001
Telephone: 844 207 5336
Where to Eat:
Reclamation Brewery
221 South Main Street
Butler, PA 16001
Telephone: 724 790 4370
What to Eat:
- Pierogie Pizza
What to Read:
- Rage, Murder and Execution! The Story of Sam Mohawk and the Wigton Family Massacre, by Bradley Pflugh
- An Unconventional Life, 1815 – 1884, by Jane Grey Swisshelm
Approaching the end of my walk, I came upon an amazing artistic installation designed by Andy Rosen, a South Portland artist. Titled, “Unpack”, the display was created from fake fur, PVC pipe, foam, and aluminum piping. According to Rosen’s website, “The work imagines a pack of once domesticated dogs turned wild and abandoned on a pier waiting for their “masters” to return.”
