Beeson’s house
In the late 1700s one of Uniontown’s founders, Jacob Beeson, built his mansion to overlook the five corners where Main and Fayette streets currently intersect with South North Mount Vernon avenues. Part of Beeson’s house still stands – although not for long – amidst the Mount Vernon Inn. As the inn developed over the years, wings were added on, dwarfing the Beeson house. And what modern-day construction didn’t envelope, fire destroyed in 1994.
The entire property is now slated for demolition, as current owner Jesse Risha announced that he is selling the hotel and restaurant to a company representing Walgreen’s. Once the property transfers hands, the wrecking ball will move in.
Some local historians are pushing to preserve the part that was once Beeson’s home. In reality, there is little left to save.
If there was anything historically significant left of the home that Beeson lived in until his death in 1818, we would seek to preserve it. But that isn’t the case. The charge to save the Beeson house should have been rallied 50 years ago, as that’s when it began to be lost to commerce.
We would guess that many residents who travel past the site each day had little idea that the Beeson house existed beneath the fa?ade. That they now know, might give some new appreciation for the site.
Although it is doubtful that Walgreen’s would have much to save from the house, it wouldn’t hurt for the store to incorporate a plaque or some type of sign into its design to mark the spot where the Beeson mansion once stood.