West Overton, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
West Overton is a ghost town
located approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) southeast of Pittsburgh
, in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is on PA 819 between the towns of Mount Pleasant
and Scottdale
. Its latitude is 40.117N and its longitude is -79.564W.
It is best known as the birthplace of Henry Clay Frick
, the industrialist and art collector, and the original site of distillery of his grandfather Abraham Overholt, the namesake of Old Overholt
rye whiskey.
West Overton Village was established in 1800 by German
Mennonites from Bucks County, who were led by Henry Overholt. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Districts in 1985. Today it operates as a museum complex and is an example of a 19th century rural industrial village. It is the only pre-American Civil War
village still intact in Pennsylvania
.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
located approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) southeast of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is on PA 819 between the towns of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It stands 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people...
and Scottdale
Scottdale, Pennsylvania
Scottdale is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. Scottdale is the home of the Southmoreland Scotties. Early in the 20th century, Scottdale was the center of the Frick coke interests...
. Its latitude is 40.117N and its longitude is -79.564W.
It is best known as the birthplace of Henry Clay Frick
Henry Clay Frick
Henry Clay Frick was an American industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing company, was chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company, and played a major role in the formation of the giant U.S. Steel steel manufacturing concern...
, the industrialist and art collector, and the original site of distillery of his grandfather Abraham Overholt, the namesake of Old Overholt
Old Overholt
Old Overholt is a long produced American rye whiskey distilled by A. Overholt & Co, currently a subsidiary of Beam Inc., at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. Old Overholt was originally distilled in Broad Ford, Pennsylvania, 35 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It is one of the few...
rye whiskey.
West Overton Village was established in 1800 by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Mennonites from Bucks County, who were led by Henry Overholt. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Districts in 1985. Today it operates as a museum complex and is an example of a 19th century rural industrial village. It is the only pre-American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
village still intact in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.