Historic road marked by new signage
As the nation continues to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War, a local organization is spearheading an effort to mark the historic Braddock’s Road. The road, which often parallels Route 40, is named for British Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock, who led an ill-fated expedition into western Pennsylvania in 1755. Braddock built a road from Cumberland, Md., through Fayette County and toward present-day Pitts burgh, where he planned to drive out the French who had built their own Fort Duquesne.
“This has the potential to be a world historic site,’ Dr. Walter Powell of Gettysburg, president of the Braddock Road Preservation Association, said of the road. “It was a remarkable feat of engineering.’
The association, headquartered at Jumonville in North Union Township, has created a simple, but striking, sign that features the year 1755 superimposed over the British flag and the words Historic Braddock Road.
Designer Robert Adamovich, a Jumonville Road resident and a member of the association, said he used a decidedly British symbol on purpose: “This was a time when the colonists were not established as Americans. The British were trying to establish rule here.’
Adamovich, a local historian and owner of Adamovich Design, volunteered his services to the association to create the sign. Quick Signs of Uniontown is producing them.
Adamovich noted, “The Braddock Road Preservation Association felt it extremely important to have some uniformity in the signs so that whether you’re in Maryland or Pittsburgh, you know you must be along the Braddock Road trace in the area.’
The association posted 10 signs at Jumonville last spring through sponsorships and is making the signs, which cost about $125 each, available to individuals and organizations throughout western Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, the states through which Braddock’s expedition traveled as he marched in 1755 toward present-day Pittsburgh.
Braddock’s journey ended with the Battle of the Monongahela on July 9, 1755, when he was attacked by French soldiers and their Indian allies who fought from the woods. Braddock’s troops suffered extremely heavy losses, and Braddock was mortally wounded. His troops retreated to present-day Fayette County, where he had established a camp under Col. Thomas Dunbar on land now belonging to Jumonville.
Braddock died July 13 and was buried in the road he built. His body was discovered in 1804 and reburied on a small knoll next to the road. The National Park Service today maintains the land as part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield.
The 250th anniversary of Braddock’s expedition will be commemorated next year with events beginning in February in Virginia. The Battle of the Monongahela will be remembered on the actual battlefield in North Braddock, on Saturday, July 9, with historians, re-enactors, historical documents and an 18th century film festival. The Braddock’s Road Preservation Association and the National Park Service will commemorate Braddock’s death in Fayette County on the weekend of July 16-17.
In the meantime, the association is continuing its efforts to have the commemorative signs posted before the anniversary.
“We’re encouraging sponsors for additional ones throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland – private or public land – to allow it to be installed,’ said Powell, who noted that interest in the signs has been shown from Virginia through Pennsylvania. “We’re very happy with the reaction we’ve received so far.’
Powell said the association has posted 10 signs at Jumonville, starting on North Union Township’s Braddock Road and continuing to the two waysides marking the path through the woods to Green Cathedral.
“I think it’s a great asset. It’s part of our heritage. We’ve been wanting to do something for a long time, and Bob donated his talents to create this sign,” said Larry Beatty, secretary of the association and director of Jumonville.
Tom Markwardt of the National Park Service at Fort Necessity said the park will put up signs but has not yet decided where to place them. The trace of the road exists on park service land near the fort and Braddock’s grave.
The association members are hoping the sign will not only identify Braddock’s Road but draw attention to its existence and the historic events that are associated with it.
“A lot of people still don’t understand the history of Jumonville and what happened here. If the signs bring public awareness, they will be a great asset,” Beatty said.
Adamovich added, “We need to be proud of who we are. Our goal as an organization is to be sure the symbol is used. We would welcome all organizations and forms of government to make use of it. This symbol can be an educational tool.’
For more information on the signs, call Adamovich at 724-439-3711.