Tourism Attraction Development Grant (TAG) Helps Preserve & Promote Mercer County History

02-20-2008

 

In an age where our regional history and early buildings are disappearing faster than they can be saved, the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau has helped save an early piece of Mercer County history.

 

Neshannock Woods & Co. of Leesburg Station Rd., Mercer, applied for and received a Tourism Attraction Development Grant (TAG) from the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau to complete work on the John Steadman Log House project.

 

The board of the CVB created the TAG program in 2007 to assist in attracting new tourism developments and to help in the expansion efforts of existing tourist attractions. With this program, the CVB hopes to increase the diversity, quantity and quality of the County tourism offerings, resulting in more overnight stays and greater economic impact.

 

The completion of the John Steadman Log House Museum is designed to attract visitors and tourists into southern Mercer County and become a stepping stone to other Mercer County attractions. This Museum will also introduce visitors to the rich early history of Mercer County and its contribution to the early decorative arts of Western Pennsylvania.

 

 

                                    About the John Steadman Log House Museum

 

The two-story log house was built in 1825 by John Steadman in Delaware Township, near New Hamburg. Three years ago, it was saved from being demolished and was moved to its present site on Leesburg Station Rd. It is only the second log building moved and rebuilt for preservation in Mercer County. The other is the Raisch log cabin located near the Shenango Dam in Sharpsville. The log house will become the John Steadman Log House Museum, a regional museum featuring the work of two of Mercer County’s most celebrated 19^th century artisans.

 

Part of the building will house the restored Weavers Shop of David Beil, a coverlet weaver by occupation, who worked from about 1835-1860 in New Hamburg, Delaware Twp., Mercer County. It will display his original loom, some original coverlets, and other Mercer County spinning and weaving artifacts. One of David Beil’s woven coverlets was presented to President Buchanan in the 1850’s and is in the White House collection.

 

The other half of the log building will house the restored shop of Samuel Geibner, the chair maker from Mercer, who worked from 1820-1860. Some of Samuel Geibner’s chairs are considered among the finest in the country during that time period.

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