A celebration 250 years in the making: The historic Cook Farm will join America as it also marks its semiquincentennial

Story by Staff Writer Ladimir Garcia
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Photos by Staff Photographer Jeff Helsel
See more photos in our online photo gallery at www.monvalleyindependent.com

As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial, the Cook Farm and the Rostraver Township Historical Society have hit the ground running for a big 250th celebration in August.

The Cook Farm is also celebrating its own 250th anniversary, as it was built in 1776 by Col. Edward Cook. Mark Cook, a descendant of Col. Edward Cook and one of the main organizers of the 250th celebration, started organizing the event last year, alongside his wife Alicia and members of the Rostraver Township Historical Society.

Mark Cook and his mother, Marlene Cook, 89, stand in front of the historic Col. Edward Cook House. Jeff Helsel / MVI

Mark Cook emphasized that what’s special about their 250th celebration is that it’s a local event to celebrate Mon Valley history.

“A lot of places will do fireworks on the Fourth of July, maybe they’re doing something a little bit bigger, or maybe some communities are having their annual community picnic, and they changed it for the 250th,” Mark Cook said. “But here you’re actually going to be on a farm that was started with the country, the history was even before the United States, and you’re actually going to be on property where history was made. Compared to a lot of other events, our property has been here for 250

Construction of the Cook farm stone home in Washington Township, Fayette County, began in 1772 and was completed in 1776. Jeff Helsel / MVI

plus years.”

Rostraver Township Historical Society President John Hepple said the Cook Farm 250th celebration is going to be a special event.

“This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a taste of local history dating back to the Revolutionary War,” Hepple said. “This might be your last chance to ever be able to attend such an event on a historical farm, such as the Cook Farm.”

The celebration will take place 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Cook Farm located on 347 Cook Road, Belle Vernon. Tickets for those 18 and older will be $10, and $3 for those ages 4 to 17.

The event will feature military reenactments starting from the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, and Civil War; more than 75 vendors, including craft, art, antique, and food vendors; live music and other types of entertainment.

The 250th celebration will also include a petting zoo, Belgian horse wagon rides, and Scottish Highland cattle, an old-time revival tent, distillery demonstrations from

Mark Cook stands inside the “Market to Remember,” a farm market located in Cook Farm’s historic spring house. Jeff Helsel / MVI

Liberty Pole Spirits and McLaughlin Distillery and a historical blacksmith demonstration.

The Cook family will open their home to tours to explore one of the last remaining Pennsylvania homes built in the 1700s. Tickets for house tours can be purchased online at www.thecookfarm250thcelebration.com.

The celebration is also set to have shuttle buses provided on behalf of the Belle Vernon Area School District.

According to Mark Cook, the event will bring several state and local officials to celebrate the United States and the

Historic family photographs, patriotic displays and antiques decorate the interior of the Col.
Edward Cook House, which was begun in 1772 and completed in 1776. Jeff Helsel / MVI

Cook Farm. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding is one of the confirmed state officials to attend the celebration.

“We are deeply honored that Secretary Redding will join us on Aug. 8,” Alicia Cook said. “His presence speaks to the significance of this farm — not just to our community, but to the agricultural and cultural heritage of Pennsylvania as a whole.”

History

Col. Cook was originally from Lancaster County but eventually made his way to Western Pennsylvania. At the

An antique farm wagon dating to the 1800s is displayed on the grounds of Cook Farm in Washington Township. Jeff Helsel / MVI

time, the western part of the state was largely unsettled, making the Cook property one of the earliest frontier properties in the region.

According to Mark Cook, Col. Cook was involved with the Whiskey Rebellion and even had connections to President George Washington. It is said that the first American president even stood on the front porch of the Cook House.

Mark Cook explained that the Cook Farm used to officially be part of Rostraver Township and Westmoreland County, but after some county border shifts, the Cook Farm is now part of Washington Township in Fayette County.

Col. Cook started the construction of the original Cook House in 1772 and completed it in 1776. Since then, the property has been inherited by generations of Cook’s, eventually falling into the ownership of Robert and Marlene Cook, the parents of Mark Cook.

The tombstone of Col. Edward C. Cook on the farm grounds. Jeff Helsel / MVI

“Edward Cook came here in the 1760s to Fort Pitt and then started to purchase property in late 1768, 1769, and started this house in 1772,” Mark Cook said. “He put a lot on the line; he was in the Revolutionary War, and he was involved with the Whiskey Rebellion. He was involved with local politics, serving as the justice of peace, the treasurer of Westmoreland County, and the judge of Fayette County.”

The Cook house still has almost all of its original features. Things like the original smokehouse, summer kitchen, and washhouse still remain in the home.

A sign on the historic Col. Edward Cook House notes the structure was built in 1772. The farmhouse will be featured during the Cook Farm 250th celebration in August. Jeff Helsel / MVI

Earlier this year, the Cook Farm was recognized as a bicentennial farm at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, marking a historic moment for the Cook family.

Planning

During a 250th celebration meeting on June 16, it was obvious that the event included a lot of moving parts, but Mark and Alicia Cook, alongside over 60 confirmed volunteers, seemed determined to get it done.

Organizers of the 250th celebration are still working to get additional funding for the event, and Mark Cook said that they continue to welcome any sponsors or donations. He added that they’re also still accepting volunteers and more vendors.

“We still have things coming in that we need to pay, so we’re always looking for more money to help take care of all that before the event happens,” Mark Cook said. “We’re accepting vendors, we’re accepting volunteers, we’re accepting donations, if somebody wants to be a sponsor, that’s great, all of the above.”

Cook said that he can be contacted at 724-415-9334 for donations, volunteers, vendors or for any questions. Hepple noted that they’re aiming to get period-accurate vendors if possible.

“We don’t want to be a flea market. We don’t want people selling perfume or something like that,” Hepple said. “We’re actually being selective on what type of vendors we want at the 250th, and if it’s people that can dress in period dressings or selling something that has some historic reference to what we’re doing, that’s who we want.”

Links for donations, vendor applications, and more can also be found on the Cook Farm 250th Celebration website.

To prepare for the celebration in the coming weeks, the Rostraver Township Historical Society is hosting planning meetings at its 800 Fellsburg Road location. All meetings start at 6:30 p.m. and are open to the public.

Their next planning meeting dates are the following:

• Tuesday, July 14

• Tuesday, July 28

• Tuesday, Aug. 1

• Tuesday, Aug. 4

Despite all the planning and work going into the celebration, Mark and Alicia Cook expressed excitement for the day the celebration starts. Mark Cook is specifically excited for the French and Indian War reenactors.

“The French and Indian reenactors, it sounds like they got a pretty big group,” Mark Cook said. “They are bringing indians, they’re bringing the British, they’re bringing the French, and they’re going to have their cannons.

“So it sounds like they got a pretty big group coming, so I’m excited for that. The other thing I’m excited for is just that some of our local people who are portraying George Washington.”

Mark Cook reiterated the importance of having a local 250th celebration.

“I’m excited that we’re having this big event on the farm, and just to be able to have the community come,” he said. “This is our community. We’re sharing it. We’re going to put Washington Township and Rostraver Township on the map for the day.

“You don’t have to go to Philadelphia, you don’t have to go to Washington, D.C. You can come right here in your local area of southwestern Pennsylvania, and history is all right here.”