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Remembering One of Our Own

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Memorial Day is such a solemn holiday, a day specifically set aside for us to remember and think on the sacrifices of those brave men and women who gave the last full measure of devotion to a grateful nation. Today, thinking about up and coming projects at the Greene County Historical Society and work that will be commencing at the old County Cemetery on the Hill above the County Jail, I am reminded of Henry Younken.   Henry, is one of the hundreds of individuals buried in the County Home Cemetery and was once a resident of the building that the Greene County Historical Society Museum now calls home.  Though most of the graves in the cemetery are unmarked, Henry is one of two people who have actual stone markers at their graves. Henry was a veteran of the Civil War, and though he did not die in battle, on a day such as memorial day, he is a person definitely worth remembering and memorializing. Henry was born in 1845 to Charles and Nancy (Henry) Younken in Upper Turkeyfoot Township, So
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The Greene County Historical Society Goes Digital!

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We are always trying to be innovative and up to date here at the Greene County Historical Society, and as we prepare for our opening day this Saturday, April 30th 2022 from 10AM to 3PM we are excited to announce the next step in our Museum Interpretation.   Thanks to the Generosity of Mr. Glenn Toothman, CEO of Memory Medallion and the hard work and dedication of Dr. Kathleen Thompson's History Class at Waynesburg University, the first floor rooms of our West Wing now feature completed Memory Medallions. Memory Medallions are small metal discs with a QR code, that when scanned by a Cell Phone or Tablet provide the user with detailed information and photos about the displays and items in our rooms. Each Student completed two medallions to bring to life the various exhibits in that portion of the Building.   As you tour our museum, be sure to look out for the Medallions, and utilize them to take your next step into a journey through Greene County History. The Photo to the Left is Dr.
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 What's Coming up at the Greene County Historical Society! As we prepare to open for the season, we have SEVERAL Exciting Events to look forward to! On April 15th, at 7PM on Zoom, Join us for the Next Installment of our Drop of History Lecture Series.  Matt Cumberledge from the Greene County Historical Society, Kathleen Thompson from Waynesburg University and Travis Duncan from GreeneArc will be discussing Mental Health in the 19th Century and the role treatment and care for the mentally ill played at the Greene County Almshouse.  This should be a very informative presentation that will deliver a lot of new material related to the Almshouse, or County Home as it was later known, in Greene County. Follow the links below for more information and to register: Event Registration On April 24th, 2021, join us for our Virtual Opening Day and 5K.   We will be releasing fun and interesting videos throughout the day on Facebook, and the museum will be open for tours.   Also don't forget
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The Waynesburg and Washington Railroad is a HUGE part of the Greene County Historical Society Museum! The Waynesburg & Washington Railroad (W&W RR) faithfully served the county seats of Washington and Greene Counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The W&W RR was nearly single handedly the key to Greene County economic development in that farmers and merchants had reliable means to transport goods and service to market. The line ran independently as the “W&W RR” until 1885 when the mighty Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) purchased the line. In 1920, the W&W RR lost its identity when the PRR reorganized and then re-lettered all equipment “PENNSYLVANIA.” The railroad was 28 miles of narrow gauge parallel steel that carried freight and passengers from inception on May 18, 1875, to the last day of freight revenue service on April 6, 1933. Passenger service ended a few years earlier on July 9, 1929. In those short 28 miles, there were 178 curves, eleven “major” stations service
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The weather outside may not have you thinking about lawn maintenance, but the staff at the GCHS certainly is.  Our lawn care equipment is in desperate need of an upgrade and we’re kicking off 2021 with a Calendar Ticket to help raise funds to do so. Each ticket is a $10 donation and has cash prizes for each day in April. That’s 30 chances to win cash for only $10! They can be purchased through our gift shop or by contacting a GCHS staff member or volunteer.  If you don’t live local but still want to purchase tickets we can mail tickets to our out of town supporters!  Just call the museum office, email Janis ( Janis@greenecountyhistory.org ), purchase through  our online store or send us a private message on Facebook. Please keep in mind, the museum is not currently open for regular hours.  If you would like to purchase at the gift shop, be sure to call the office and set up a date and time to come in. As you know, we depend on donations and fundraising to continue our work here at the
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 Don't forget to check out the new GCHS Online Store! The GCHS Online Store! You'll find interesting books about Greene County, Shirts, Hats, Gifts and More!
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Good Afternoon Everyone! Many of you probably know that the Greene County Historical Society Museum is located at the site of the former Greene County Home, or as it was known in the yearly years the Almshouse or Poorfarm. We discovered an old VHS Tape that had interviews with some former staff that worked at the County Home in the 1920s and 30s.   Please forgive the quality of this video, but it is interesting to watch nonetheless.
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