Bushy Run Battlefield
The Fight to Save Bushy Run
by Karen Fetter
Despite the fact that
funding for Bushy Run Battlefield has not yet
been determined, Heritage Society President Jean
Loughry insists Bushy Run will not close.
A group of 10 dedicated people, the Board of
Directors for Bushy Run Battlefield, have made a
commitment to keep the park open. To this point
they have volunteered the hours it takes to give
guided tours and serve at the museum and gift
shop.
The controversy began when The Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) decided
to cut funding for the Bushy Run Battlefield.
The Board of Directors was left to learn about
this decision from an article in the newspaper,
according to Jean Loughry. She said they
received no confirmation from PHMC. If cut is
made then the staff at Bushy Run will be
downsized and the educational director position
eliminated, although the maintenance staff of
one-and-a-half would remain intact.
Regardless of the actions of the PHMC, the Board
at Bushy Run has determined that it will find a
way to staff the site and keep the historic
battlefield open as long as possible.
How can you help? There
are three ways that people can support Bushy Run
Battlefield. One way is to become a volunteer.
Any hours that you can donate out of your week
to work at the museum, gift shop, or to give
tours would help tremendously. Other areas that
are in need of volunteers are administrative,
fundraising, marketing and promotion, school
liaison, special events, and web design.
A second way to help is to donate money. By
making whatever donation you can afford, you can
help ensure the future of the park and museum.
Funds that are raised help sustain the operating
system until further plans can be made. The
Battlefield needs $1.5 million to continue to
operate. If every person in Westmoreland County
donated just $5.00, this goal could be achieved.
You can also help sustain Bushy Run by becoming
a member of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage
Society. Individual memberships are only $15.00
and family memberships are $25.00. There are
corporate sponsors, endowments, and lifetime
sponsorship levels depending on your level of
commitment. A membership includes free admission
to Bushy Run Battlefield Museum and quarterly
lectures, reduced admission to all PHMC sites,
10% special savings on Bushy Run Gift Shop
merchandise, and a quarterly newsletter.
The Bushy Run Battlefield Park began in 1918. A
group of men from Irwin, Jeannette, Greensburg,
and Harrison City decided to buy six-and-a-half
acres of the land where the battle took place so
that a memorial could be developed. School
children in the area collected pennies as a
fundraiser to help in making the acquisition. In
addition to purchasing the land, the first
monument was erected. Today, the park consists
of nearly 250 acres. "Of course," says Jean
Loughry, "the Heritage Society needs more than
pennies to help it now."
The goal of the Bushy Run Heritage Society is to
preserve and restore the battlefield as a
historical, educational, and recreational
resource for the community. The history behind
the Bushy Run Battlefield dates to August 5-6,
1763 when Colonel Henry Bouquet and a force of
approximately 400 British soldiers achieved a
decisive victory over the Native Americans,
opening up the settlement of Western
Pennsylvania. Highlights of the site include the
interpretive exhibit, "The March to Bushy Run"
at the site's visitor center, as well as guided
and self-guided tours, special events, and
educational programs.
Operating hours are Wednesday through Sunday
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On the weekends
there are guided tours of the battlefield that
take place on an eight person golf cart. There
is no cost for members of the society. In
addition to the battlefield, there is a museum
and a gift shop where people can buy historic
books, Bushy Run apparel, souvenirs, and 18th
century toys.
Yearly events are also scheduled. August is the
annual reenactment of the Battle of
Bushy Run. The annual battle reenactment shows
how Colonel Henry Bouquet and his troops
defeated the Native American forces that had
ambushed the British in 1763 on their way to
saving the besieged Fort Pitt. The morning
battle portrays the events that occurred on
August 5 and the afternoon engagement shows the
August 6 tactics that led to British victory.
Also featured are period 18th century military
camps, and 18th century trades area, 18th
century craftspeople, and other special
programs.
If you would like
more information about
Bushy Run Battlefield and its Heritage Society
please visit
www.bushyrunbattlefield.com
or www.savebushyrun.org.