Fayette County celebrates its 240th birthday
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Vince Karolewics, who sits on the board of the Fayette County Historical Society, speaks at the county’s 240th birthday ceremony Tuesday.
A crowd of people lined the sidewalk in front of the courthouse steps Tuesday to take part in celebrating Fayette County's 240th birthday.
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Christine Buckelew, president of the Fayette County Historical Society, addresses the crowd during a Tuesday event marking the county’s 240th birthday.
Local leaders and historians gathered in front of the Fayette County courthouse Tuesday to mark a milestone for the county – its 240th birthday.
It was in 1783 when Fayette was founded out of the southern portion of Westmoreland County, and named for Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of the Revolutionary War.
“Today, we pause to remember our unique and significant history, and to celebrate those who came before us and sacrificed much – including with their own lives – to make our county and our country a better and safer place,” said Christine Buckelew, the president of the Fayette County Historical Society.
Jo Lofstead, the society’s secretary, recognized Delaware Nation Chief Nemacolin and Thomas Cresap for forging Nemacolin’s Path, which George Washington made use of during the French and Indian War. That trail became Cumberland Road.
“Later, thousands upon thousands of pioneers headed west along the Cumberland, or National, Road,” Lofstead said.
Fayette Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Muriel Nuttall said the birthday celebration marked not only a local achievement, but a national one, as “our country was built – created and defined – right here” along the National Road Heritage Corridor.
“The National Road, commonly known as ‘the road that built the nation,’ traverses directly through Fayette County. Some of the most important battles of the French and Indian War were fought on our soil. The Underground Railroad – that link that brought so many to freedom – crossed our land. The coal and coke that provided the fuel that built industry in our nation was mined from our earth. Fayette County was key to the growth of our nation. We should be very proud to still be here, as a growing and prosperous community, after 240 years,” Nuttall said.
Mary Kay Karolewics, the historical society’s treasurer, also made note of Uniontown’s history of being a stop for runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad.
“And we say with pride that James Lawson – he would become one of the greatest civil rights leaders of all time – was from Uniontown,” said Karolewics.
Lawson helmed workshops that led to the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, Freedom Summer, the Birmingham Campaign, and the Memphis Sanitation Strikes. He organized the Nashville Student Movement and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and trained civil rights movement leaders, including John Lewis and Diane Nash.
Karolewics described the history of immigrants from Italy, Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom who came to the area for work.
“We recognize how difficult their lives must have been, and the challenges they faced. They built beautiful churches so that they might sustain their religions,” she said. “They brought their traditions and foods into the patches. Slowly, these traditions became part of the fabric of the county.”
Representatives of Fayette County’s state and federally elected officials were also attendance and presented the county commissioners with proclamations recognizing Fayette County’s birthday.
Tuesday’s event ended with the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to Fayette County, and enjoying cake and 240 cupcakes.
Mark Rafail, the county’s director of economic development, said the baked goods came courtesy of the culinary programs at Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center, and Fayette County Career and Technical Institute.