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For a picture of what my community looked like in the past I want to provide a brief and summarized time line of events that I came across in my researching that I feel portray what the community looked like in the past. I would also like to mention how the name West Middlesex came to be which fascinated me. West Middlesex was halfway between Clark and New Castle which were already established towns. This location of halfway between became to be referred to as Middlesex which was already a well used name in England, and even used in the famous poem "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". Since there was already a Middlesex in Eastern PA, the "West" part of the name was added later to assist with the delivery of mail. Please check out my pictures in the album Sense of Place Project for some great photographs of my community in the past, and take your time reading the related captions.
Time-line of West Middlesex Past:
Prior to European Settlers- many tribes of Native Americans traveled and lived along the Shenango river in areas near and south of West Middlesex, PA
1787- Land in Shenango Township and West Middlesex was given to Captain James Gibson for his service in the American Revolution and Indian Wars
1818- William Ederburn (buried in the Haywood Cemetery) built a grist mill in West Middlesex and sold it to James McConnell
1821- James McConnell built 1st log cabin in West Middlesex then sold his property in West Middlesex and established a new mill east of New Castle on the Slippery Rock Creek which is now McConnell's Mill State Park
1840's-70's- Erie Canal extension and railroads built through West Middlesex to connect Pittsburgh to lake Erie
1854- First Iron furnaces built and operated in West Middlesex
1864- West Middlesex becomes a borough
1865- Haywood Cemetery established
1868- Union High School built on Main Street in West Middlesex which would remain as the main school from 1868-1953
1920's-30's- Klu Klux Klan held rallies and burned crosses in West Middlesex
1954- My parents were both born in West Middlesex
1954- School building we now have today was built in West Middlesex and since has been remodeled and had 2 buildings added.
1960's- First National Bank and Post Office were built in West Middlesex
1988- I was born
2014- West Middlesex celebrates 150 years as an official borough
As for the future of West Middlesex, I am not too hopeful. After talking with the President of the Historical Society, I came to a few realizations. Most of the history of my community has been destroyed because the borough officials saw it as much cheaper to bulldoze old buildings, homes, and even school houses than to preserve or upkeep them. West Middlesex has lost a very large portion of its history, and I feel that will continue on as a trend. To further prove my point, I would like to tell the short story of the attempted preservation of the only remaining of eight one-room school houses in West Middlesex. The Historical Society purchased this remaining school house in an attempt to remodel, and open this wonderful piece of our communities history for public viewing. The society attempted to raise funds and support for this preservation. Little interest was shown which further reflects the attitudes of previous town officials when choosing to destroy old buildings. The people simply do not seem to care that all of the community history will soon be lost with no support to save it.
I cannot quite understand why this town has slowly disintegrated over the years, businesses and practices left, and none to replace it, but I can easily see this steady downfall continuing on. The recent addition of a Dollar General is now our community shopping center, and a small Circle K mini mart, is all we have for other conveniences. It is disheartening to think that this was once a thriving town that people came to for shopping and pleasure, and now is one in which even its own residents must leave for most needs. The excerpt selected as the photograph for this post is from a book written on the highlights of West Middlesex intended for use at the Sesquicentennial even this past August. I feel it also echoes my concerns for the future of West Middlesex. It states that the West Middlesex Area School district is now the communities largest business. This is frightening. We may be a small town, but shouldn't we have more to boast about than our school district? At the rate we are going I fear my community will continue to fall towards more of a wasteland than rebounding and once again becoming a thriving community.
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