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From: "George & Kathy Zagorac" <>
Subject: Re: [PABUTLER-L] Black Bear Tavern
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 08:30:57 -0400
References: <001901c32b98$98239d00$48b3a741@pvg>


Paula,
Will try to help.
From "Cranberry Township: A History of Our Community" compiled by the
Cranberry Township Historical Society, 1991

""In 1839 Matthew Graham helped build a brick church to replace an earlier
log church to accommodate the Plains Church congregation. Between about
1830 and 1840 he built five brick homes on what is now Glen Eden Road. Four
of those homes are still standing today.

Matthew Graham was a founder of the Cranberry Township school system.
Graham School Road is named for a school he helped open. He died in 1850.
His wife Mary died in 1866. They are buried in Plains Church cemetery."
pg.26

"The two taverns on the Pittsburgh-Mercer Road (Perry Highway) were Matthew
Graham's Black Bear Tavern built in 1813, and the Garvin tavern built
probably in the 1820's. Both were successors to log cabin taverns dating to
about 1800. They were located near what are now Marshall Road and North
Boundary Road.", pg. 46

"The site of the Black Bear tavern is now an ivy-overgrown ruins on a
bypassed and abandoned stretch of the Old Perry Highway paralleling the
northern end of Marshal Road. The most recent resident was a Mr. Arndt who
operated a machine shop on the property.", pg.47

According to a self guided tour of Historical locations map from the
historical society a Matthew Graham built 2 houses in 1870. The directions
to these homes: Rt. 19 N through Cranberry, You will see a Ford dealership
on the left side of the road, at the next big intersection (there is a 7 11
or Cogos, some convenience store on the left side of the road) turn left at
light. (if you make a right this is North Boundary Rd., Marshall Rd. is off
to the right off of North Boundary.) When you come to the Y (not far) take
the left Glen Eden Road. It looks like this will take you straight to Graham
School Road or Unionville Rd.. The one house will be on the right hand side
towards the end of Glen Eden. The other is shown as being on the right hand
corner of Glen Eden and Graham School Rd. (or Unionville Rd.). If you are
interested in the site of where the Graham School once stood........... when
you get to Graham School Rd. (or Unionville Rd.) make a left, when you come
to what looks like a Y keep right this is Graham School Rd. (this is where
the road breaks off and one is Unionville and the other Graham).
From the Historical Society book: "Graham School was named for Matthew
Graham, one of the township's earliest settlers and a founder of the school
system. It was on the east (it will be on the west side since you are
coming from a different direction) side of Graham School Road about a mile
from Rochester Road. A stone and earthen house marks the location. It
closed in 1952. The building was used by the Graham family for storage
until it was destroyed by fire in 1952. The building was used by the Graham
family for storage until it was destroyed by fire."

It is possible that the historical society has pictures. Their address is
Cranberry Township Historical Society, Inc.
PO Box 1931
Cranberry Twp., PA 16066

They have moved and restored the Sample School. It now sits on the
municipal center grounds and is open to the public on Wed. and Sat.. through
Sept. I believe. It probably resembles the Graham School.

I'm sure that I have told you more than you really wanted to know but hope
some of it has helped.
Kathy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paula Good" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 3:27 PM
Subject: [PABUTLER-L] Black Bear Tavern


> Can anyone tell me exactly where the Black Bear Tavern in Cranberry
Township was located, using present day landmarks?
>
> Butler County History:
> Mathew GRAHAM erected the tavern known as the "Black Bear," on the
Pittsburgh and Mercer road, which ran through his farm. This hostelry was
the general stopping place of all who traveled from Pittsburgh to Merver for
thirty years, and is still standing but unoccupied.
>
>
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