truth

Legion Ville Clues May Lie Beneath the Graves
By Dianna Smith,
Beaver County Times
July 19, 2001


In a grassy area along bustling Route 65 sits an old cemetery that draws the attention of passers-by, but few may realize just how significant it might be. Besides the estimated 170 scattered graves in honor of those who died as long ago as the early 1800s, the Hill Cemetery in Baden may also contain a blockhouse established by Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne in 1792, when he created the first military training camp at Legion Ville in Harmony Township under a commission from George Washington. The blockhouse was one of four built for 36 soldiers each at the outskirts of the Legion Ville site, where they were stationed to protect their camp 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pat Riley of the Legion Ville Historical Society is confident that the blockhouse is in that cemetery, beneath partly sunken ground covered with grass and weeds.
The cemetery contains graves of Civil War soldiers, and the possibility that a blockhouse could be discovered prompted Riley to contact D'Appolonia, a civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering firm in Monroeville, for help. And the firm immediately obliged. On Monday, D'Appolonia workers and Legion Ville Society members began studying the cemetery - recording the dates and names of the tombstones, measuring the land, and using special equipment to find hidden artifacts or unmarked graves. William Johnson of D'Appolonia thinks that not only are there unmarked graves in the cemetery, some of the tombstones are in the wrong places. His assumption is based on vandalism that occurred in the 1950s. Bob Weber, the borough's code enforcement officer, said teens were caught digging up graves. Since then, tombstones have been stolen and knocked over. Some tombstones were found this week lying on the hillside behind the cemetery, Weber said. Those knocked over could have been put back in the wrong spots, he said. But the borough doesn't know whether, in fact, the tombstones are in the wrong spots because the cemetery has never been mapped. Weber said the Hill family of Baden created the cemetery in the early 1800s. The land was part of the family's farmland and was supposed to be strictly for Hill family members. But that eventually changed. Deteriorated tombstones of families with the last names of Moore, Porter, Dippold and Watt also are sprinkled along the land. Some date to 1811, others the early 1900s. The land was deeded to the borough in the 1950s, Weber said. Riley became convinced that a blockhouse was in the cemetery after reading a letter written by a Hill descendant in 1938. The letter, which was found in the Baden Memorial Library, stated that the most interesting item about the cemetery was that one of Wayne's blockhouses was established there. As Riley walked the cemetery on Wednesday, he pointed to a section of the land that does not contain tombstones or markers, which leads Riley to think that that is probably where the blockhouse once stood. "This ground is sunken in," Riley said, while pointing to the ground. "There's something going on here; it's just so weird that there's nothing here." Johnson plans to use a deep metal detector and imaging equipment that will allow workers to examine the land as far as 10 feet deep without having to dig up the ground. The results will be transferred onto a computer disc and compiled within two weeks. Johnson said he agreed to study the cemetery because he enjoys hunting for things such as unmarked graves or items of historical significance. "It's interesting to be able to take these materials and see in the ground something we would otherwise not know about," Johnson said. "If they want to know where the blockhouse is, hopefully we can find it." Johnson is counting on his equipment to detect the stone used to build the blockhouse. Workers don't plan to search for the blockhouse until Friday. Riley said if the blockhouse is found, that would be one more reason why county and state officials should help preserve the Legion Ville site. "If we have an unusual situation where there is something from Wayne that is still intact, then we need to identify it so any disturbances in the future won't affect it," Riley said.

Rich History
by Patrick Riley
Letter to the Editor/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
May 12, 2001
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the article on the archaeological conference in the Focus magazine section of the Easter Tribune-Review ("Fortifying history," April 15). The number of historical events that transpired right in our region is amazing. Unfortunately the average citizen does not think of the great events that happened where we live and travel everyday. Pennsylvania is particularly rich in military history. Major battles in the French and Indian War were fought here. In Braddock, within sight of Kennywood, the English suffered one of their most disastrous defeats in North America. At Bushy Run, the Highlanders would redeem their fallen comrades in arms. After the French were defeated and their fort (Fort Duquesne) burned, it was replaced with the mighty Fort Pitt. When Fort Pitt had fallen into disrepair, Pittsburghers under orders from General Wayne would build Fort LaFayette. This fort, one of the first American forts in the United States, sat on what is now 10th and Penn and Garrison Alley. It is where the new convention center is expanding. Pittsburgh would be the headquarters of the Legion of the United States, commanded by "Mad" Anthony Wayne. This was America's first standing army, and it made its home in our great city. Interestingly enough, the colors of one of its units were black and gold, and the city's first mayor served in that unit. During the War of 1812, British prisoners of war were housed in the old fort built by Wayne. The city made rope and other materials for Admiral Perry's fleet on the Great Lakes during the war. During the war with Mexico, Pittsburgh sent its finest. In the Civil War we made cannons here, the largest in the world. We played major roles in the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam. I think it is fantastic that groups continue to discuss and remember the role that western Pennsylvania played in our nation's history. I hope that more emphasis is placed on the region's rich archaeological heritage and more is done to study the archaeological remains that are discovered. I encourage people to take a look around them. You may be surprised to see part of the USS Maine in a park on the North Side, battle markers in Braddock, the old military arsenal in Lawrenceville and Native American monuments in Schenley Park. Take a minute out of your workday to contemplate where names like Braddock, Grant Street, Fort Duquesne Boulevard, Wayne Street, Garrison Alley, Federal Street and Butler Street originated. You may just have some fun and learn something. I hope as we approach the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War that the Tribune-Review has many more articles on this region's rich cultural history. Patrick Riley South Heights

The Beaver County Times
May 6, 2001
Questions to Candidates


Harmony Township

Commissioner

(Three four-year seats open)

Question No. 1: How do you plan to make Harmony Township more attractive to future businesses and residents?

Question No. 2: Do you plan to work with the supporters of Legion Ville to help preserve the historical area? If so, how?

Democrat

August F. Antonini, 67, 2808 School St., Did Not Respond.

Frederick A. Retsch, 61, 968 Ridge Road, Did Not Respond.

John B. Cermak, 34, 2650 Manning St., Did Not Respond.



Fortifying History
On The Frontier: Archaeologists Share Results Of Research
By Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
April 15, 2001

Legend has it that the ghost of Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne splits its haunting time between Erie, where Wayne died in 1796, and in Chester County, where he was born. The dual grave sites happened when Wayne's relatives dug up his remains and boiled them in a big cast-iron kettle. The flesh was reburied in Erie, and the bones were interred in his hometown. Two centuries later, there was more digging in the matters of "Mad Anthony," one of the 18th century's most colorful military leaders. It took place in Legion Ville, a relatively unknown site in Beaver County where amateur and professional archaeologists unearthed significant artifacts. It was here at America's original boot camp that Wayne groomed the first professional American army, the Legion of the United States. Among the prominent men who trained there were William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition; William Eaton, who led the U.S. Marines ashore at Tripoli in 1806; and William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States. A model of the fort, its grounds and the adjacent Ohio River was on display at the 6th annual Ohio Country Conference, held recently at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. It was built by Andrew S. Janicki of Georgetown, Pa., a draftsman and model maker whose work is in a number of regional museums. He grew up around Legion Ville, but knew very little about it. "What happened there was never talked about in history classes," he said. Learning about the site inspired him to build a tiny, detailed model that he displayed at the conference on "Archaeology and the American Wars for Empire: 1754-1794." Legion Ville was built at the end of the Revolutionary War when Americans were expanding into Indian territory past the Ohio River. "It was a very interesting time and led to the development of what we became as a nation," said David Miller, a conference organizer and site director of Bushy Run Battlefield near Harrison City. "The French and Indian War gave a lot of individuals a training ground for the Revolution. The troops, generals and colonial soldiers involved used to be British Americans, and they learned from their mistakes and turned out to be leaders." It was imperative that the settlers and soldiers establish frontier forts. "They had to deal with not only the Native Americans, but there was also competition for the empire," said keynote speaker Eric Klingelhofer, an archaeologist with Mercer University in Macon, Ga. There were cultural differences, too. The British, he said, encouraged mass settlements to re-create European villages and farms, while the French established a fur trade with the Indians. Fort Ligonier, built in 1758, played a major role in the French and Indian War. It was a middle point between Fort Bedford and what's now Pittsburgh. Reconstruction began in the early 1950s in the wrong location. "Jake Grimm of Ligonier became involved in the early 1960s and was able to find the exact location," said Dr. Thomas R. Baker of Greensburg, an independent archaeologist, anthropologist and consultant who's been digging there for 11 years. Locating the fort's artillery was one of his most significant discoveries. He found trenches around the perimeter and a dry moat that surrounded the point of the barrier. "That was exciting, because we thought that most of that had been destroyed," he said. Baker also found traces of Forbes Road. Evidence of those early trails, he said, are seen in linear or darkened stains in the ground - ruts left by wheels - or parts that fell off wagons. Who was at Fort Ligonier was also significant. Gen. John Forbes stopped with his troops on the way to capture Fort Duquesne, which became Fort Pitt. George Washington was there as a young British officer, and so was Col. Henry Bouquet, whose soldiers outsmarted the Indians at Bushy Run. Gen. Arthur St. Clair later became a prominent Revolutionary War figure. Other men with familiar names passed through the area: Gen. Thomas Gage, Daniel Morgan of Morgan's Riflemen, Horatio Gates, and Daniel Boone, who was born in Pennsylvania. "Boone moved to North Carolina and came back as a wagoneer for General (Edward) Braddock," said Scott Stephenson, another conference organizer. "During the battle (at the Monongahela River) he cut loose a horse and got out of there." Stephenson grew up in Pittsburgh and now lives in central Pennsylvania where he is a historical consultant. He has done work for Colonial Williamsburg, Bushy Run and the Pennsylvania Museum Commission. "Western Pennsylvania has a very rich historical legacy," Stephenson said. "It's connected to a long geographic range, from the Appalachian Mountains in New York to Tennessee." David Starbuck, an archaeologist with Plymouth State College in New Hampshire, is the author of "The Great War Path: British Military Sites from Albany to Crown Point." "The kind of events that were happening here in western Pennsylvania paralleled what was going on in other places," said Starbuck. "What was happening here was simultaneously happening in Lake Champlain." Not all forts were military posts. Settlers built them for protection against the Indians and then established their own defense systems. "There was the local militia, which was all the adult white males," said Steven McBride, an archaeologist at the University of Kentucky. "They had scouts who were spies, and they'd travel between the forts looking for signs of a raid so they could warn the settlers to come into the forts." The stockades were located in centers of populated areas and additionally were used as centers for government and other activities. "They served the community in many functions, including being mercantile centers for the redistribution of goods," McBride said. In rare cases, excavations yield more than artifacts. A skeleton unearthed at Logan's Fort in Lincoln County, Ky., was examined by Nicholas P. Hermann, an archaeologist and physical anthropologist at the University of Tennessee. The remains are that of a young male of European ancestry killed during a raid in 1777. Early documents recorded the deceased as William Hudson, age unknown. "There's evidence of a traumatic death, probably scalping, based on the cut marks in the cranium," Hermann said. "There's also a healed fracture in the lower left leg." Hypoplasia, or decreased or arrested growth, of the teeth show that at an early age, the deceased suffered "stress episodes" such as fever, illness or malnutrition. The need for defense and fortifications didn't end with the Revolutionary War. But by then, American leaders realized that they could no longer rely on a volunteer militia.

Wayne used an iron fist to train those first troops. He flogged soldiers, shot deserters and blew up a whiskey still to keep his men sober. The Indians called him Blacksnake for his cunning and "The Wind" in honor of the power that his forces brought. It took Janicki six months to re-create the campsite with tiny details. From the tips of little paintbrushes, he made hundreds of soldiers, some with backpacks and helmets. He carved a basic horse shape in a long piece of styrofoam and sliced off the animals like cutting a loaf of bread. There are boats and wagons the size of a dime. Troops stand at attention in training, and naked soldiers skinny-dip in the river. In another setting, Lt. William Pitt Gassaway lies dead on the ground, shot in a duel. In recent years, members of the Legion Ville Historical Society were able to unearth numerous artifacts and locate sandstone floors and other evidence of the fort and its many structures. But the site is privately owned, and excavation has stopped. The society would like to purchase it, but the future is uncertain. More information on Legion Ville is available at www.tristate.pgh.net/(tilde)bsilver/legion.htm.
According to information from the society, Legion Ville is ranked by the Pennsylvania Registry of Historic Sites as one of the commonwealth's important sites, along with Independence Hall. "I built the model because I wanted to present a reminder of the spirit of the people who built this country," Janicki said. - Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller is a Greensburg free-lance writer for the Tribune-Review. Guy Wathen photos Sean Stipp photos S.C. Spangler photo


Businessman Stalls Road Project
By Dianna Smith , Beaver County Times
February 20, 2001
HARMONY TWP. A local businessman has stalled a Harmony Township project at Logan's Lane and Duss Avenue. Township engineer Frank Lemmon told the Harmony Township Commissioners during Monday's commissioners' meeting that LeRoy Friend, who owns part of the Legion Ville property across from the Aldi supermarket in Harmony, doesn't want the township to move a utility pole on his property. Harmony officials want to widen the intersection because trucks have been driving onto the curb when turning from Duss Avenue onto Logan's Lane. The island in the intersection of Duss Avenue and Logan's Lane would be taken out, and the road would be widened. To complete the project, Lemmon said Duquesne Light Co. needs to relocate a pole on Duss Avenue. Duquesne Light needs permission from PennDOT, which, in turn, needs a right of way easement to install a guy anchor on the pole. A guy anchor helps hold the pole upright, Lemmon said. Friend doesn't want to grant the right of way, Lemmon said. "Apparently he doesn't want to deal with it because the property is for sale," Lemmon said. "We can't move forward with this project unless there is a right of way obtained." The property is part of the Legion Ville historic site, which was used by Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne in 1792 as the country's first military training ground. Friend already sold part of his property to Dialysis Clinic Inc., which plans to open a facility on the site this summer. August Antonini, chairman of the commissioners, said he would call Friend to try to get the matter resolved. Commissioners also decided to reopen bidding for the construction of an addition to the township's municipal building. The addition will be built over the garage and will allow more room for the Harmony Township Police Department. The bids were opened earlier this year, but came in around $159,000, a bit higher than the commissioners expected. To attract lower bids, the commissioners have decided to downsize part of the project. The commissioners plan to vote to reopen bidding at Wednesday's meeting. Dianna Smith can be reached online at dismith@calkinsnewspapers.com.

Legion Ville Historic Site Bill Delayed
by Dianna Smith , The Beaver County Times
February 21, 2001

State Rep. Susan Laughlin's plan to help make Legion Ville a national historic site has been delayed. Laughlin, D-16, Conway, introduced a resolution earlier this month in Harrisburg that involved making Legion Ville a historic site in Harmony Township. The resolution was the same one introduced in 1980 by the late Jim Ross, a former local state senator. Laughlin intended to bring the resolution before the full House this month, but recently decided to hold off so that changes can be made to the resolution.
"We're going to bring it up to date," she said. "I have someone looking at it, and he said there needs to be some changes to it." Although she knows changes will be made, she said she doesn't know what those changes will be. She said she is leaving that up to the person making the changes, but she would not reveal who that person is. Laughlin hopes the resolution will be updated by April, so that she can then bring it to the floor for full House approval. She then hopes to get the state Senate's approval. If all goes well, Laughlin said the resolution would be offered to Congress also for approval. Ross's resolution was approved by Congress in 1980 and was sent to President Jimmy Carter, who, Laughlin said, vetoed making Legion Ville a national historic site. Legion Ville was the site of the nation's first military training camp in 1792, established by Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne under a commission from President George Washington. Right now, a dialysis clinic is being built on 5.68 acres of the Legion Ville site across from Aldi supermarket in Baden. Legion Ville supporters have been trying to get funding to preserve the rest of the site, but haven't raised enough money to do so. Dianna Smith can be reached online at dismith@ calkinsnewspapers.com.

County to Re-allocate Legion Ville Money?
by Bob Bauder , The Beaver County Times
February 6, 2001

A $300,000 grant acquired several years ago by Beaver County to buy the Legion Ville historic site is scheduled to expire in March, and the county commissioners want the state's permission to use the money for another project. The county was prepared to buy and preserve the property in Harmony Township that was used by Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne in 1792 as the country's first military training ground. County officials acquired a $300,000 matching grant through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Under the grant provisions, the county would have had to put up $300,000 of county funds to qualify for the state money. However, the Harmony Township Commissioners derailed the project by protesting county ownership, according to county commissioners Chairman Dan Donatella. "We actually met with the Harmony Township board, and for the first time, I learned they were not supporting that project," Donatella said. "When I learned that the Harmony Township Commissioners opposed that, that's when we backed off." August Antonini, chairman of the township commissioners, said he never met with county commissioners. However, he said that he did ask former commissioners Chairwoman Bea Schulte to hold off on acquiring Legion Ville. "We had a client that was going to do a really, really big project down there," he said. "It was something really big at that time. I only asked her to hold out for a little while to see if this was going to progress." The project never happened. Antonini said he has mixed emotions about developing Legion Ville or preserving it as a historic site. The bottom line, he said, is the commissioners have to think about preserving and expanding the township's tax base. Legion Ville would be immune from taxation if the government or a nonprofit organization owned it. "I have not seen a document, not a certificate, that says that that particular area they claim is Legion Ville is actually it," he said. "There are no documents that say, 'Hey, this is the spot here.' If that were proven to me now, I'd be the first one pushing (preservation efforts)." Now the grant is on the verge of expiring, and the county commissioners want to see whether it can be used for something else. Commissioner Charlie Camp said he has directed Community Development Director Robert Dyson to ask state officials for permission to move the money. Dyson said he had no idea whether the state would agree. The county has not identified an alternative use for the money, but Camp said something would surface quickly if a grant were available. Camp said he would like to see the money used for development of a pedestrian trail on an old railroad bed that parallels the Little Beaver Creek. "I hate to bail out on Legion Ville," he said. "But there's a danger that we may not get that money used in Beaver County." Bob Bauder can be reached online at bbauder@calkinsnewspapers.com.

Historic Status for Legion Ville Eyed
by Dianna Smith , The Beaver County Times
February 2, 2001

State Rep. Susan Laughlin, D-16, Conway, is trying to do what many think should have been done a long time ago - make Legion Ville a national historic center. She introduced a resolution this week in Harrisburg that involves making Legion Ville a historic site in Harmony Township. It is currently on the National Register of Historic Places. Laughlin plans to bring the resolution before the full House in the next two weeks. She said she has about 45 co-sponsors and thinks there is support in the state Senate. She said that the resolution is the same one introduced by Jim Ross, a former local state senator, in 1980. The idea was later approved in Congress and sent to President Carter, who, Laughlin said, vetoed making Legion Ville a national historic center. Laughlin decided to give it another try. "If it happens, it's possible that we can get funding to develop Legion Ville," she said. "I think this is a significant area. We should do something about it. Hopefully, someone will try to help us."

The land was the site of the nation's first military training camp in 1792, established by Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne under a commission from President George Washington. Right now, a dialysis clinic is being built on 5.68 acres of the Legion Ville site across from the Aldi supermarket in Baden. About 16 acres is vacant and is owned by Ambridge resident Alex Barlamas of Javy Real Estate Co. and Mitchell Unis of Center Township. Legion Ville supporters have been trying to get funding to preserve the area. Legion Ville Society President Pat Riley was surprised that he didn't know about Laughlin's plan. "I certainly think it's an excellent idea to try to preserve it," Riley said. "If she's trying to purchase the whole parcel, I think that's a fantastic idea. But what I find strange about it is, how do we not know that this is going on? Everybody knows how to get ahold of us."

Harmony Township Commissioner John Cermak also said he didn't know about the resolution. "She never called; I think it would have been a courtesy," Cermak said. He didn't want to comment further because he said he wants to read the resolution first. Laughlin said the idea came from Jerry Peckich, a member of the Mad Anthony Wayne Foundation. Riley said Peckich owns the southern half of Legion Ville. Riley said Peckich was going to donate his property to the Legion Ville Historical Society 11 years ago but never did. Peckich could not be reached for comment. "I didn't know there was a resolution back in 1980," Laughlin said. "He's the one that alerted me to it and asked me to sponsor it ... let's just see what happens. Hopefully, they'll be supportive of this." Dianna Smith can be reached online at dismith@calkinsnewspapers.com.

Project Does Not Threaten Site
by August Antonini
Letter to the Editor/Beaver County Times
March 6, 2001

In response to letters to the editor concerning Legion Ville: If anyone has ever attended a meeting in which Legion Ville was discussed, they would know that I was always trying to be informative in my explanations and actions. Many of the statements printed have compelled me to explain that my comments were based on information and facts received from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission from archaeological studies and findings. All through the proposed development of Legion Ville, the state commission has been reviewing the project's potential effect on both historic and archaeological resources, and it is their opinion that the dialysis clinic's activity will have no adverse effect on historical resources. What I have read are many articles that begin with the following phrase: "Historians believe there are 17 unmarked graves located somewhere on the Legion Ville property" and historians believe Legion Ville is the country's first U.S. Army training camp. I believe that most of the ground we walk on is part of our history and heritage, and most areas would uncover something of historical value. Treasures and remains are probably throughout this and many other areas as well.

A 26-acre parcel that which is part of the Legion Ville area is scheduled to be developed as a national park dedicated to Major Anthony Wayne's army training camp in Legion Ville. The Beaver County Planning Commission's review of the Legion Ville parcel that DCI is to develop even includes the following comment: "The developer should be aware of the location of underground utilities which appear to be located on the tract." Their presence means that during World War II, the site was disturbed and developed. Any artifacts found will be donated to The Carnegie Museum and, according to the county planning commission, the property owner has satisfied requirements of state commission. The primary source of revenue for our township is local real estate taxes, and as a commissioner my efforts are to maintain financial stability. I have received dozens of telephone calls of support to keep our taxes affordable.

This matter involves a financial commitment that the township cannot make. The township commissioners has never been against the Legion Ville Historical Society acquiring funds to match the $300,000. But this has never happened. I am considering the future progress and development of the property. This is not because I disrespect the property or my community, but because I want to see the township's tax base expanded and future land development.

Chairman August F. Antonini
Harmony Township Commissioners

Editors Note: The property mentioned in the article above is within the National Register boundary of Legion Ville. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) 1975.

What Will We See At Legion Ville?
by Fred F. Dunn Letters to the Editor/Beaver County Times February 21, 2001
Legion Ville was more than home to my family. It was the place of my childhood. I grew up in Legion Ville Hollow. Neither time nor space allows me to expound on the joyful days spent in the wooded area surrounding our home.For personal reasons, that would be enough for me to support the efforts of those working diligently to preserve this historic landmark. As one who still considers Legion Ville as home, I feel that it would be a historical travesty to allow the true birthplace of the U.S. Army to be lost in the name of commercialism. The conception of our armed forces on those hallow grounds has assured the enjoyment of freedom for our forefathers and, more importantly, for our future generations. Young service men and service women sacrificed their lives safeguarding our freedom. We would be doing a great disservice to them and all that served in the military by sitting idly by. Historically, we have recognized the birthplace of great leaders by building monuments and restoring original homes. Should we not extend a similar endeavor to those who sacrificed to make and defended our freedom? The battle to challenge the injustice to our beloved veterans must not end with local, county and state officials. The U.S. Army was born in Legion Ville. Therefore, we should extend our convictions to the federal level. Support the Legion Ville Historical Society. Write your concerns to the president, secretary of defense and/or the secretary of state. Let's hope that one day every school child knows where it all began. Of course, that school child may want to see it for him/herself. Will he or she see a true monument to our humble beginnings, or will he or she see a commercial shopping plaza? Fred F. Dunn
Brooklyn, Conn.

Dialysis Clinic Won't Be On Historic Site
by Alice Fortune
Letters to the Editor/Beaver County Times
February 21, 2001

I sat back and read the letters to the editor on Jan. 31 and thought to myself, "Who are these people disrespecting my community. How dare someone call, where I live and raised my children a 'nuclear waste dump.'" It is true that my community is not Cranberry Township, but we are trying to improve the way our community looks and keep the pride that we residents have. I was taught that people in glass houses should not cast stones, I will leave where they live well enough alone. There was a need for a dialysis clinic in this region. Should people who need medical treatment have to go to Aliquippa or Moon Township for treatment three times a week for 4 to 6 hours each time? I do not believe that is fair to them. I have seen the plans for the new facility. It will enhance the community. I have seen what the state has said about the proposed development. According to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission that oversees development on grounds near potential historical sites, the clinic will occur outside the mitigated portion of the National Register listed Legion Ville property and there will be no adverse effect on historic resources. The Beaver County Planning Commission also has approved the plans. The letters point out that the Harmony Township Commissioners would rather desecrate the graves of soldiers by allowing property to be developed. How can this be true when the proposed development according to the official office states there will not be adverse effects on historical resources? In fact, I find the opposite to be true. The board of commissioners is trying to balance development of land while preventing the destruction of historically significant property. Besides, there is a road called Logan's Lane that runs in front of the dialysis property. Should we close that road because it is in the historical society's belief it is on a part of history? And if that, what about the businesses there. They must also be on part of the "historical property." The subject is very touchy. I think that the residents of Harmony Township have to decide what is to be done within their community. Do we want other communities and people telling us what we can do in our community? I am proud of my community and the part that it has played in the building of our country. I also support the difficult decisions that the Harmony Township Board of Commissioners has to make. In response to the other irresponsible comments the writers have written about my community and the elected officials, I will not even acknowledge them with a response. Alice Fortune Harmony Township


Don't Destroy Part Of Our Past
by Scott Lee
Letter to the Editor/Beaver County Times
February 14, 2001

As a native of the Beaver County area, I was shocked to see that our county is thumbing its nose at an opportunity to save one of our areas most important resources - history. I am now living in Philadelphia and it seems that everywhere I turn I see tourists spending money to see history. Among our most popular attractions is Anthony Wayne. His swords and pistols are at the U.S. Mint, and his statue is in front of said building. His homestead is not far away, and Valley Forge (where he trained troops for Gen. Washington) is almost in my back yard.

Why doesn't Beaver County seek to preserve its heritage? When I visited about six months ago, Legion Ville was just a field. This would be the best time to save it. It could be your only chance. I can't believe Harmony Township Commissioner August Antonini doesn't know where the site is. He could call the National Museum or he could just read the signs in his township.
I think the citizens of Beaver County should wake up and get rid of those who value our past so little.

Scott Lee
Hatfield, Pa.
Can You Believe Their Arrogance?
by Doug Ward
Letter to the Editor/Beaver County Times
February 14, 2001

I applaud the work that state Rep. Susan Laughlin has been doing. We of the Legion Ville Historical Society have been working hard to make local politicians see the importance of preserving the Legion Ville site. Why haven't others come forward to save our past? Harmony Township Commissioner August Antonini is waiting for someone to show him where Legion Ville is. Shame on him. We have given him presentations, and the National Historic Museum has registered the site. He said he'd be the first one pushing preservation efforts. We would love to have him join our efforts and not stonewall them. The Beaver County Commissioners are busy trying to pick Legion Ville's pockets. They can't come up with the $300,000 to match the grant from Gov. Tom Ridge when we're talking about Legion Ville, but they can come up with the money if it is for a walking track. Why not use the money for what it was intended for?

Did the Harmony Commissioners meet with the Beaver County Commissioners or didn't they meet? That isn't the question. Did the Harmony Township Commissioners tell the Beaver County Commissioners to back off Legion Ville? Who cares? The question is, why is Legion Ville in jeopardy at all? We had more than 3,500 citizens sign a petition to save the site. They are ignoring what we want. Can you believe their arrogance? Is this the kind of representation we want in the township or county? Seventeen unmarked graves lie unprotected on the Legion Ville site. Some of these commissioners are veterans themselves. How can they pave over the graves of their brothers in arms? Selling them out. For what? Maybe that's the real question!
Who are they going to sell out next?

Doug Ward
Economy

Proposal Would Help Legion Ville, Economy
By John L. Micek , Times Capital Bureau
February 6, 2001

HARRISBURG

Historic preservation efforts in Old Economy and Legion Ville could get a boost if a bill sponsored by a Westmoreland County lawmaker is approved by the state House this week. The House is to vote Wednesday on legislation sponsored by state Rep. Thomas A. Tangretti, D-Westmoreland, which would provide a mix of sales, real estate transfer and personal income tax credits and exemptions to owners of historic homes who try to preserve their properties. The proposal will cost an estimated $3 million a year. "I don't think our interest is unique in terms of wanting to protect our small cities and downtowns," said Tangretti, who began work on the bill five years ago when homeowners in the historic Academy Hill section of Greensburg began voluntarily restoring their homes. "The fact that it's up for early action and heading for the Senate is a good thing." The House approved the bill last year, but it died before the Senate could take action. About 78,000 homes statewide could be affected by the legislation, said Caroline Boyce, a lobbyist for the environmental group 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. Thirty-six other states already have some kind of tax incentive program. Commercial buildings within "Main Street" historic districts could also qualify for the credits and tax breaks - as long as the owner lives somewhere in the building, Tangretti said.

However, homeowners would have to meet a variety of conditions to qualify for the exemptions and tax credits. Among them are that the building:
* Be at least 50 years old.
* Be divided into no more than four units, with one unit the principal residence of the owner.
* Has been designated as a historic site by the federal or state government; that it's in a state or federal historic district; or that it's been designated as a historic property by the cities of Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

Under Tangretti's bill, the owner or purchaser of the historic home also would be required to sign an agreement with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to spend at least $1,000 to rehabilitate the building and use it as a principal residence for at least five years.

If it were approved in its current form, Tangretti's bill would provide:
* A state sales and use tax exemption for the "tangible" property or services used in the restoration of a historic home. This exemption would not include the costs associated with the acquisition of property, the enlargement of an existing building, landscaping or the personal labor performed by the homeowner.
* A personal income tax exemption on the gain from the sale of a historic home. The bill would also allow a 20 percent credit against the income tax for the rehabilitation or restoration of a historic home. The maximum allowed credit would be $6,000, and any unused credits could be carried forward for five years.
* A real estate transfer tax exemption for the sale or transfer of a historic home.

The bill marks a significant departure from current law, which requires people to pay sales tax on the equipment used to renovate their homes. Current law also provides an exemption on the gain from the sale of a principal residence as long as it was used and served as a principal residence for at least two years during a five-year period ending on the date of sale.
The current state tax code also requires someone to pay the transfer tax on the sale of a historic home. State Rep. Susan Laughlin, D-16, Conway, said she thinks Tangretti's legislation could help shore up historic improvement efforts in Legion Ville and Old Economy. "We've been fortunate because we've been getting money released since (the Casey administration), but we can always use more." Rep. John R. Pippy, R-44, Moon Township, said he thinks Tangretti's bill is a good fit for his growing district, which also includes many historic farmsteads. "You have to preserve the history and culture of the region," Pippy said on Monday. "What's important here is the landowner has to get involved. There are a lot of programs that try to force things onto landowners, and I don't support that. But this provides incentives to preserve historic homes,'' he said.
Pippy and Laughlin are just two of the dozens of co-sponsors who have thrown their support to Tangretti's legislation. Rep. Nick Colafella, D-15, Center Township, also has signed on as a co-sponsor.

Some other Beaver County locations that could be helped by Tangretti's legislation include the Beaver borough historic district between Fifth, Beaver and Buffalo streets; the Capt. William Vicary House in Freedom, and the Bridgewater Historic District at Bridge, Cherry and Elm streets.

Legion Ville's Dead Deserve Better Fate
by Joseph Janicki
Letter to the Editor/Beaver County Times: February 20, 2001

I have read the recent letters to The Times. There surely seem to be many angry people in this community and elsewhere.
What seems to be happening is that the average citizen supports the Legion Ville project while a select few in key political positions have utter contempt for the effort. In a recent article, it quoted a past county commissioner in regard to the Legion Ville site. I wonder whether that past commissioner understands why she no longer has a job. I cannot think of one veteran in this great county who voted for the other past commissioner either. The present commissioner who wishes to use the money set aside for Legion Ville may find himself on unemployment in the very near future. I wonder whether he, too, will ponder his demise. We will not be fooled by his empty campaign promises in the next round. There are many reasons we are so passionate about saving this site. They range from patriotism, to American values, to respect for the past, to simply honoring our fallen comrades-in-arms. Thirty-one years ago, I took an oath to honor and defend my country. If I died in a land far away from my home and family, I asked only one thing, and that was to bring me home to be buried with my kin. On March 23, 1793, a young ensign named William Pitt Gassaway died in a duel at Legion Ville. He lies there until this day with 16 other American soldiers in unmarked graves. We owe it to our collective conscience to honor his death with remembrance and respect.

I am physically sickened when I see county and Harmony Township officials turn their backs on people who speak from their hearts. How can we ever forget the sacrifices of this nation's soldiers? The United States will spend tens of thousands of dollars excavating the crash site of one jet in Vietnam in order to repatriate one soldier. Beaver County will spend tens of thousands of dollars of government money to fix an old railroad bed while it bulldozes 17 graves into the river.

I know who I am not voting for next Election Day.

Joe Janicki
Hopewell Township

Clinic Surely Beats A Field Of Weeds
by Anna Weber
Letter to the Editor/Beaver County Times
February 18, 2001

All the letters about Legion Ville made me search for some history of it. To my surprise, I learned this land was bulldozed and used as a trailer court during World War II. Most of the artifacts were moved or taken years ago. This would attribute to the statement abut not knowing "where is it now." Then I learned Anthony Wayne was called "Mad" because he would befriend the Indians for help, then kill them when he was through with them! What a "historic" man to remember. Rather than see a field of weeds, I prefer a dialysis clinic to help people live. Effort should be made to continue the growth of established Old Economy as our historic site. We are in dire need of economic growth in this area. We can't wait for a historic site we will never see in our lifetime.

The county commissioners should use the money before they lose it. Instead of pushing this issue for history, I feel it's time to stop going after a lost cause. I've visited Old Economy and seen the historic significance of years of preservation there. Let's improve one site substantially instead of taking funds from it to start something where its former existence is now very questionable.

Anna Marie Weber
Baden

Editor's Note: The archaeological remains at Legion are in-situ (intact). The trailers were parked on the ground surface.

Legion Ville Decision Was Disappointing

by Jim DeSantis

Letter to the Editor/Beaver County Times

February 18, 2001

I side with the people who are all trying to make Legion Ville a historic site, and I share in their disappointment with the reluctance of the bureaucrats to make it so. Let's not forget that these are the same peas-in-a-pod imbeciles who applauded the implosion of a stadium that still had a $13 million mortgage on it. These were the same lawmakers who did nothing to stop Gov. Tom Ridge from giving the fat cats $700 million for another stadium even after the people voted no. Legion Ville will not produce any revenues for the commonwealth or the county, so therefore it will be put on the back burner for the time being until the historic society runs out of steam.

The state's $300,000 grant will only be matched if the citizens of the county reach in our pockets for the rest. But let's not overlook the fact that the governor may have opened up the door when he gave that money away for the stadium. The Legion Ville Historic Society should now hire a lawyer to see what laws govern the right of the state to discriminate as to what organization can or cannot receive huge amounts of money without payback.

Jim DeSantis
Aliquippa

Take Legion Ville Fight To Officials

by Ralph Morton

Lettr to the Editor/Beaver County Times

February 19, 2001

The Times has published a number of excellent letters from people who support the idea to preserve the Legion Ville site for posterity. I, too, have written letters on the subject. And while all of our efforts are commendable, letters to the editor are not enough. You have to follow up with letters to your elected officials and personal visits, if possible, starting with our county commissioners. It is your right (and duty) to attend these meetings and speak about your interests. If you want to preserve the Legion Ville site - as I do - you had better let your commissioners know before they put the subject on the back burner and try to forget about it. The written word is great and should be continued, but the personal appearance shows greater concern and should make more of an impression on your representatives. Remember, your commissioners, like all politicians, are elected to do the people's bidding, but the special interests, the volume, the logistics, the pressure of your desires, the consistency of your visitation moves your interest higher on their attention list and should impress them with your intentions. They better listen, you elected them.

And don't settle for letters and/or visits to your commissioners. All of your elected officials - representatives, congressmen and congresswomen, senators - are in office because you put them there. Let them know how you feel about Legion Ville, also. The subject deserves their attention and action to protect our bit of national history.

Ralph Morton
Beaver

Destroying History Is Not Progress

by Herbert Sullivan

Letters to the Editor/Beaver County Times

January 21, 2001

I couldn't help but gasp at the picture in The Times showing a bulldozer churning and plowing under the soil at Legion Ville. Some may call this progress where others like myself see it as destruction and perhaps the beginning of the end to Legion Ville as we now know it or as it once was. All along, certain political factors have either dodged, ignored or scoffed at the tremendous effort put forth by the Legion Ville Historical Society and other groups in trying to preserve the entire site area. Granted, the area in question has long since been subdivided, removed from the National Register of Historic Places and rezoned to favor development. Those following the preservation procedures know all too well that the greasy, almost invisible hand of politics lubricated these wheels into motion.

Truth is truth, and no matter how harsh the words, I place the blame on Legion Ville's destruction on those who did nothing more than sit back in the comfort of their homes and read about it in The Times. If the picture of the bulldozer isn't enough to shock the people of Beaver County back into reality, then perhaps a visit to the site would heighten the senses? Yes, that is the smell of diesel fuel in the air. And yes, the wheels are rolling. Sit back, do nothing and you will find yourself a flagman who waves the bulldozer even further into the depths of Legion Ville. Doesn't the smell of diesel fuel make you sick?

Herbert J. Sullivan
Economy

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