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‘Whiskey Boys Rampage’ event highlights local history

4 min read
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Washington County is rolling out the red carpet Saturday for those who want to step back in time and learn about events and locations of historic significance. “Whiskey Boys Rampage” is a family-friendly event designed so people of all ages can learn about and experience local history in a fun and interactive way, designed with stops in Finleyville, Monongahela, Brownsville, Scenery Hill and Washington.

The concept was conceived by state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, who wanted to find a way to interest people in all that Washington County has to offer as they learn about history and support the local economy.

“We’ve planned the Whiskey Boys Rampage so everyone can learn about and experience Whiskey Rebellion events that took place in Washington County,” she said. “It’s a fun day of activities, allowing people to participate at their own pace while engaging with many non-profits and small businesses across Washington County. People can come out and learn about our history while supporting the local economy, both of which are important to me.”

The Whiskey Rebellion – called “Insurrection” by some – occurred at points across the area from 1791 to 1794, when local farmers objected to taxes being imposed by the federal government.

The Whiskey Boys Rampage takes participants across Washington County, offering several stops that people can make throughout the day on a self-guided, self-paced tour, which starts at 10 a.m. and goes through 8:30 p.m.

One recommended path starts at 10 in the Mingo Cemetery, 528 Mingo Church Road, Finleyville, to pay respects and see where many Whiskey Rebels, including Tom the Tinker, are buried. The cemetery is among the most historic in the area and is the final resting place for many involved in the Whiskey Rebellion and other wars.

The Rampage event then continues on to Monongahela. At 11:30, participants will assemble at Whiskey Point, at the intersection of West Main and First Street. Participants will hear an overview of events that happened in Monongahela and watch a re-enactment of the eloquent speech delivered by Albert Gallatin at Whiskey Point. Gallatin’s speech turned the tide of the Whiskey Rebellion and led to the peaceful resolution.

The tour will continue to the Monongahela Area Historical Society headquarters at 230 West Main Street, where participants will sign a book showing they participated in the inaugural Whiskey Boys Rampage. Here, participants can learn more about Whiskey Rebellion events, see a brass kettle used during the Whiskey Insurrection and receive coupons to be used at other local establishments.

The next stop on the tour is the historic Nemacolin Castle and Black Horse Tavern in Brownsville, steeped in history as the first meeting place of the Whiskey Rebels. The trading post in Brownsville was a stop for rest and supplies along the National Road and is a “must see” for anyone learning about the Whiskey Rebellion. Docents will be available throughout the day offering information and tours, for a free, from noon to 5 p.m.

Traveling west along Route 40, participants can stop to dine at the Century Inn, with a humble frontier beginning in 1794 having welcomed stagecoaches and modern travelers. The Century Inn was given new life after being destroyed by fire in 2015 and re-opened in a remarkable feat by owner Megin Herrington who restored the inn so it could be kept on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Century Inn has been available for dining and lodging over the years, having hosted Andrew Jackson, the Marquis de LaFayette, Henry Clay, James K. Polk and others. Here, visitors can see the one item saved from the devastating fire: a treasured Whiskey Rebellion flag.

The next stop is the home of David Bradford, 175 S. Main St., Washington. David Bradford (1762-1808) was a successful lawyer and deputy attorney-general for Washington County in the late 18th century. He was infamous for his association with the Whiskey Rebellion, and his fictionalized escape to the Spanish-owned territory of West Florida (modern-day Louisiana) with soldiers at his tail.

He was later pardoned by President John Adams for his actions. Today, the Bradford House is a national landmark and museum. Docents will be available for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a fee. The Bradford House will be open with no admission charge from 4 to 8:30 p.m.

Liberty Pole Spirits by Mingo Creek Craft Distillers located at 68 West Maiden Street in Washington will offer activities from 4 to 9 p.m.

At 8:30 p.m., a flag bearing the words “No Excise Tax” will be raised at the David Bradford house onto a 17-foot Liberty Pole and paraded by the “New Whiskey Boys of Liberty Pole Spirits”. The flag will be carried to the Liberty Pole Spirits Distillery.

For more information, contact any of the participating organizations.

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