May 11, 2007 By Frances Borsodi Zajac 4 min read

People who visit the National Road Festival May 17-20 will find themselves celebrating a legacy of The Road That Built The Nation. “I think it’s one of the few ties we have with the past – our heritage,’ said Dwayne Welling of Addison, who serves as coordinator of the National Road Festival Committee.

“Wagons Rolling on the National Pike to Celebrate Our Heritage’ is the theme of the 34th annual National Road Festival, which will be celebrated along the 90 miles of the Historic National Road in Pennsylvania. The National Road – which is the nation’s first federally built highway – is located in Somerset, Fayette and Washington counties — much of it running along present-day Route 40.

President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation in 1806 that created the National Road. Eventually it stretched from Cumberland, Md., to Vandalia, Ill., and served as a gateway to the West for many pioneers.

During the National Road Festival, towns from Addison, Somerset County, to West Alexander, Washington County, will have celebrations of life along the National Road through the centuries.

Donna Holdorf, executive director of the National Road Heritage Corridor, said, “The National Road Heritage Corridor is proud once again to partner with all the communities along the National Road. We hope people will come out and support the communities who have worked hard to plan events.’

They include living history demonstrations and tours at Mount Washington Tavern, part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Farmington. There are 1860s base ball games played in Addison and Hopwood. In addition, Hopwood offers a fishing derby for children and Addison has an original play called “Oysters, alcohol and Justice.’ The Old Petersburg Tollhouse in Addison will also be open and local children will learn lessons at the one-room Humberson School.

Welling noted that some visitors come to Addison during the festival to find out about their ancestors. He noted he came into contact with the California descendants of one of the first wagon makers on the National Road.

“They came back the other year and were searching for their roots through him. They were delighted to see where his blacksmith shop was,’ Welling said.

John Petro of Hopwood said, “We’re pretty well organized. We start with the crowning of the king and queen at 11 a.m. (on Saturday, May 19). We have a parade at 1 p.m. We have a fishing derby that gets bigger every year. And Sunday there is old time baseball games. It’s a pretty full schedule. We always have a nice attendance.’

Downtown Uniontown is hosting a scavenger hunt during the festival that will involve participating businesses, offering as much as $2,000 in gift certificates for downtown businesses. In addition, there will be a barbershop quartet stroll through city streets and a singalong as well as musical performances in Storey Square.

Laurel Highlands High School students will give tours of coal baron J.V. Thompson’s early 20th century mansion, known as Oak Hill, which is now part of Mount St. Macrina, the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Basil just west of Uniontown, on May 20.

Sister Carol Petrasovich said, “We always look forward to seeing the high school students. They’ve been coming almost 30 years and it’s a pleasure to work with them. ‘

Searights Tollhouse will be open for tours and a Treasures of the Pike sale May 19-20 with Sylvia Sleighter playing early American tunes on the dulcimer May 20.

In Brownsville, the Frank L. Melega Art Museum will premiere the Artists of the Pike, featuring the Artists of Washington County Group Exhibition May 19-20 while Nemacolin Castle offers music by High Ryder country band May 19-20 and ghost tours and a climbing wall for children on May 20.

St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Richeyville offers a pancake breakfast May 20 while Scenery Hill will have a multitude of events, National Pike Steam Gas & Horse Association in Malden offers sawing, feed grinding and shingle making and West Alexander has a community yard sale and historical display.

Jan Dunker of Scenery Hill said, “The festival all started in Washington County so we’ve had the festival all 34 years. We have crafters and food booths and children’s games. Sunday, we’ll have Model A cars and we have a re-enactment group. Sunday, we have a community church service. This year we will not have fireworks but we will have them next year for the 35th year.’

The National Pike Wagon Train will once again make its journey west, leaving Grantsville, Md., on May 17 and continuing with overnight stops in Addison, Nemacolin Woodlands in Farmington and Mount St. Macrina.

Check the National Road Heritage Corridor Web site at www.nationalroadpa.org.