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Ligonier
A Great Town in
Westmoreland County, PA
by
Karen Fetter
Ligonier, Pennsylvania,
located at the intersection of Routes 30 & 711
in Westmoreland County, is a quaint town with a
great history and beautiful scenery. It has a
turn-of-the-century atmosphere that is welcoming
to both its residents and visitors. The center
of town features “the Diamond" with a bandstand
that has come to be the symbol of Ligonier.
Ligonier History ;
Ligonier Resources ;
Ligonier
Activities & Events
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Whether you are
visiting Ligonier for business or pleasure,
the atmosphere will make you want to return.
The store-lined streets and beautifully
decorated sidewalks are an alternative to
shopping centers and malls. The wooded
scenery is enjoyable in all four seasons and
has been a constant attraction for many
years. There is so much to see and do. There
is history, shopping, and scenic views. From
schools to churches and from restaurants to
outdoor activities, Ligonier has everything
to offer. It’s a step away from the city
that gives people a chance to slow down and
appreciate what is important to them.
Historic Ligonier Valley is the home of Fort
Ligonier, Linn Run State Park, Idlewild Park
and Soak Zone, and the Compass Inn. Not to
mention the library, theater, art museum,
and YMCA located in the heart of the town.
In addition, special events are sprinkled
throughout the year attracting visitors to
the historic town, especially its well-known
Fort Ligonier Days. Ligonier is also the
location for the main office of the Laurel
Highlands Visitors Bureau, a non-profit
tourist promotion agency. |
 The
Bandstand in Ligonier's Diamond |
History of Ligonier
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The town of Ligonier
began in 1817 by John Ramsey. The location
was perfect for a stagecoach stop.
Passengers could obtain food and supplies in
local stores and farmers could trade their
produce for supplies. The town at that time
was only about four blocks around the
diamond. The town grew slowly and became an
incorporated borough in 1834, and thrived as
a shopping center for the farmers of the
area. |
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Fort Ligonier –
www.fortligonier.org
Fort Ligonier represents a key engagement of the
French and Indian War that was fought on October
12, 1758 at this location. The Fort has two
periods: the first, being the construction the
original fort in 1758; and the second, the
revival of interest in the fort in the twentieth
century and its reconstruction in the 1960īs
through the year 2000.
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Fort Ligonier |
About 1,200 French
soldiers and only a few hundred Indians
attacked the British at Fort Ligonier. The
French and Indians experienced a heavy loss
and fled. The British troops, under Gen.
Forbes and Col. Washington, pressed on after
the Ligonier victory. The French retired
northward. Therefore, Ligonier is called
"the Key to the West in 1758." The victory
at Ligonier was the turning point for the
British. They went on to establish Fort Pitt
and create Pittsburgh, making mid-America
English instead of French.
Fort Ligonier is a full-scale, on-site
reconstruction of the 1758-1766 original.
Activities include reenactments, battles,
encampments, folk crafts and archeological
digs. Reenactments and tours also take place
during Fort Ligonier Days in October. |
Compass Inn –
www.compassinn.com
Compass Inn Museum, listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, is an authentically
restored stagecoach stop. Located just three
miles east of town, the structure was built in
1799 in Laughlintown by Phillip Freeman. Robert
and Rachel Armor purchased the inn in 1814 and
named it the “Compass Inn." The Inn was used as
a stagecoach stop from 1820 until 1862.
Afterwards the Armors closed the Inn to guests
but continued to live there for seven
generations until 1966 when it was sold to the
Ligonier Valley Historical Society who restored
it to its 1820 condition.
The Historical Society sponsors Living History
Weekends, presents lectures covering people,
places and events from the past to the present,
maintains a records and documents room and a
small local history library, and hosts popular
social events such as the holiday "Festival of
Lights" & "Tastes of the Town" showcasing
culinary delights of local eateries.
Idlewild and Soak Zone –
www.idlewild.com
Named as the third oldest park in the country,
Idlewild Park, is a scenic family–oriented
amusement park that offers rides, swimming,
entertainment, children’s activities, and
history. Built in 1878 by William Darlington,
the area started out as a picnic area that
surrounded a train station for travelers to and
from Pittsburgh. The park has continued to
expand to include several new areas. Idlewild
Park and Soak Zone operates between May and
September.
Linn Run State Park -
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/linnrun.aspx
Linn Run State Park is located in the heart of
the Laurel Mountains. It offers picnicking,
fishing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cabin
renting, hunting, and hiking. The land ranges
from 1,300 feet to 2,800 feet above sea level
and covers over 612 acres. The park also
includes a small but scenic waterfall called
Adams Falls.
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Ligonier Resources
Ligonier Library –
www.ligonierlibrary.org
The Ligonier Valley Library is located right in
the center of town around the diamond. It
originally opened in 1945 with only 200 books.
Now the collection has grown to over 55,000
items. A new children’s wing was added in 2001
to accommodate the growing supply. Also, all
files are currently automated making searches
for patrons much easier. The facility is active
with the community and offers a wide array of
activities such as a pre-school story hour, a
mystery book club, and a genealogy forum.
Ligonier Theater -
http://www.ligonier.com/valleyplayers.asp
The Valley Players of Ligonier is a local
theater that offers weekly movie showings and
live performances of a variety of musicals and
plays. It is also available for rental. It is
located at 210 West Main Street in the heart of
town.
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YMCA –
www.ligonierymca.org
The Ligonier Valley YMCA has offered
services for over 20 years to the community.
In addition to child care facilities and
special events, there are a number of
programs available such as swimming, golf,
gymnastics, martial arts, cheerleading,
soccer, first aid, and health and fitness. |
Ligonier Tavern |
Southern Alleghenies
Museum of Art -
www.sama-art.org/ex_ev/ligonier.htm
This branch located in the Ligonier Valley is
housed in an authentic log cabin design that
reflects the historic community. It is
surrounded by beautiful gardens that are
maintained by a volunteer auxiliary. In addition
to art shows, exhibits, and children’s programs,
the Walter Carlyle Shaw Paperweight Collection
is on permanent display.
Chamber of Commerce –
www.ligonier.com
Located in Town Hall on East Main Street, the
Ligonier Chamber of Commerce is one of the most
active associations within Ligonier. It is a
voluntary association of concerned business and
professional people and other community-spirited
citizens who work together to help Ligonier
thrive as a community.
It organizes promotions such as sidewalk sales,
the shopping directory, and the shopping map.
Also, it organizes and manages many programs
such as Fort Ligonier Days, summer band concerts
on the diamond, summer jobs for students, Clean
Up Week, the Corn Roast, Santa's Arrival, and
Christmas Lighting for the diamond. The Ligonier
Chamber of Commerce also acts as a "legislative
watchdog," working closely with the Town Council
and township officials to improve the quality of
life in the entire Ligonier Valley.
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau –
www.laurelhighlands.org
This is the official tourist promotion agency
for Westmoreland, Somerset, and Fayette
Counties. Its main office is located in Town
Hall in Ligonier. It guides visitors to lodging,
recreation, and events in the area. This
organization works closely with local businesses
and the Chamber of Commerce to promote the
Ligonier Valley.
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Ligonier Activities and Events
For current dates on
all activities, please visit
http://www.ligonier.com/events.asp
The Ligonier Country Market. The
Ligonier Country Market is open every Saturday
morning from 7:00 am until noon. Everything is
sold from fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers
to candles, quilts, and jewelry. The market is
located near the intersection of Route 30 and
West Main Street on the west end of town. The
Country Market ends for the season September
24th!
Fort Ligonier Days. Fort Ligonier Days,
is a 3-day festival that commemorates the Battle
of Fort Ligonier that was fought on October 12,
1758. Fort Ligonier displays a living history
encampment showing frontier life, military
tactics, drills, cannon firing, ceremonies,
Highlanders, redcoats, French troops, frontier
men and women, Indians and music from 1758.
Also, a re-enactment of the Battle of Fort
Ligonier is on display at 2 & 4 pm Saturday and
Sunday.
The Fort is not the only form of entertainment
at Fort Ligonier Days. A community parade
marches down Main Street and around the diamond
at 11:00 AM on Saturday. It features many bands,
floats, antique cars, Indian and Colonial units,
clowns, horses, and Shrine units. There is also
free outdoor entertainment such as Civil War era
music, Big Band music, South American folk
music, bagpipes and drums, footstompin'
bluegrass, and Gospel. There is also an
old-fashioned band concert on the diamond Sunday
evening.
There is plenty of food available throughout the
festival. Dozens of community food booths line
the diamond and other locations throughout town.
Sit-down meals are available at several local
churches.
Approximately 150 craft booths in 3 locations
are linked by shuttle bus service. Talented
artisans display and sell their wares including
pewter figures, wicker and wood, dolls, dried
flowers, paintings & prints, stained glass,
jewelry, leather, baskets, pottery, and
blacksmithing.
Guests are advised to follow the signs to
designated parking areas around town. No
parking is allowed in town or along Route 30
during the event. All official parking areas are
handicap accessible. Parking is $5.00 per car in
officially designated lots. Free shuttles are
available to main festival sites all day.
Antiques on the Diamond. Over 30 vendors
come to Ligonier to sell various arts and
crafts. Booths line the diamond area and local
merchants offer sidewalk sales.
Ligonier Ice Fest. Blocks of ice
are sculpted into amazing images representative
of businesses and clubs through the Ligonier
Valley. Kettle corn and music is also provided.
The outdoor fundraiser benefits the Chamber of
Commerce.
Scarecrow Contest. Fall is one of
the best times of year to experience Ligonier.
Shortly after Ligonier Days is Halloween and
Ligonier celebrates this holiday with a
scarecrow contest. Local clubs, organizations
and businesses elaborately decorate scarecrows
that are placed on display around the diamond.
Voting is completed and a winner is awarded a
prize.
Summer Band Concerts. Sunday evenings are
a perfect time to sit back and relax, especially
while enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the
diamond. Every Sunday evening through the summer
months is a live band concert open to the
public. Bring your lawn chair and relax as you
experience different musical sounds.
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Ligonier, Westmoreland County, PA
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