Commissioners return to 1773 county seat for historic meeting

Officials donned colonialera headwear at the site of the county’s first seat of government to kick off America’s 250th birthday celebrations.

By RICH CHOLODOFSKY
TribLive

Four years before the United States revolted against its British lords, Westmoreland County leaders met in a local tavern to handle the government’s business of the day.

More than two centuries later, as the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, leaders again convened about 5 miles east of Greensburg to conduct county business.

Westmoreland’s commissioners on Thursday relocated their public meeting from the courthouse to the visitors center at Historic Hanna’s Town as part of the country’s Semiquincentennial celebration.

“We have great history in this county. I want to come here more often, maybe every other year,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes.

The commissioners, sporting modern suits and colonial-era tricorn hats, conducted routine business items that included the awarding of contracts and approval of personnel actions.

They also heard public comment from a half-dozen residents and presented proclamations. They included an acknowledgment of the work done by Joanna Moyar, who serves as the director of interpretations and collections for the Westmoreland County Historical Society, which operates Historic Hanna’s Town.

Historic Hanna’s Town is a re-creation of the village that served as Westmoreland’s initial seat of government. It dates back to 1773.

Thursday’s meeting was convened inside the modern visitors center on the grounds, near the reconstructed Hanna’s Tavern, three relocated log houses, a reconstructed Revolutionary War-era fort, and a wagon shed home to an authentic late-18th century Conestoga wagon.

“Having a meeting here is symbolic of our government’s history,” Moyar said. “This is a place where people gave their opinions and aired their grievances, and we still do that.”

Thursday was not the commissioners’ first visit to Hanna’s Town for a public meeting. The commissioners conducted a public meeting on the grounds in 2023 to celebrate the county’s 250th birthday.

A return trip might be considered in the future.

“For me, coming here reminds me of the rebellious nature of our Westmoreland County ancestors and a precursor of our Independence. We should try and come back here regularly,” said Commissioner Doug Chew.