Braddock Trail

Indians marked out the old roads of Westmoreland County long before the white man arrived. There seems to be an instinct in man to follow the setting sun in his journeys, and the Native Americans were no exception to mankind in general in this matter. They had well-defined footpaths and trails that they traveled in going from one hunting ground to another, and on their long journeys, history tells us "they followed each other Indian Fashion."

When the distinguished English General Edward Braddock was sent over from England with three thousand regular troops to seize Fort Duquesne, he invited Major George Washington, a young Virginian, to join the projected expedition and give advice as to the route. Washington selected the Nemacolin Trail as the most direct route to pursue, and directed his forces as if on parade, with drums beating and colors flying. This Trail goes directly through what is now the Borough of Mount Pleasant, following present-day Eagle Street from North to South. Today the trail is commonly referred to as "The Braddock Trail." At the intersection of Braddock Trail (Eagle Street) with Main Street, a granite boulder bears a bronze tablet with the inscription, "General Edward Braddock and his Army crossed the Pittsburgh and Mount Pleasant Pike at this point, July 3, 1775."

General Edward Braddock was badly defeated on this Trail at the Battle of Monongahela, and while in the act of giving orders, he received a mortal wound, the ball passing through his right arm into his lungs. Falling from his horse, he lay helpless on the ground, surrounded by the dead, abandoned by the living. The only allusion he made to the fate of the battle was a softly murmured, "Who would have thought it?" Never giving up, his parting words were, "We shall better know how to deal with them another time." General Braddock is buried on the Braddock Trail, near Fort Necessity, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and his grave is beautifully marked with a huge granite monument.

Chapter Beginnings

Braddock Trail Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was conceived on June 27, 1943, and organized on November 27, 1943, with sixty-three organizing members. Of these, seven were transfers from other chapters. Two ambitious sisters, who were Daughters by transfer, compiled data for the applicants of this new Chapter. For five months, Laura Hay (Mrs. James S.) Braddock of Mount Pleasant and Charlotte Hay (Mrs. R. Edward) Beard worked diligently to attract new members from the local area for the new chapter.

On December 15, 1943, the National Board of Management confirmed this fledgling Chapter as the Braddock Trail Chapter. Mrs. Braddock and Mrs. Beard suggested this name for the Chapter to commemorate the historic road which General Edward Braddock and his army passed over in 1775 on his journey to Fort Duquesne. This road came through what is now known as the Borough of Mount Pleasant.

The founding Daughters, now deceased, were active for thirty-five years. During this time, they enrolled over 200 members from Allegheny, Bedford, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties. With this large membership, it was difficult to find a suitable meeting place. At different times, the Chapter met in private homes, a disbanded schoolhouse, church parlors, American Legion home, Frick Hospital Nurses Home, and other places.

Warden House

Samuel Warden, born August 8, 1822, was the first-born of Paul and Mary (Flemming) Warden, and the grandson of the Irish immigrant Samuel Warden Sr. He grew up on the old Warden farm near Mount Pleasant, and was a farmer for most of his life. In later years, he became involved in coal and coke production at the Warden Works near present-day Alverton. In 1845, he married Margaret Andrews. They had seven children: Mary Eleanor, John Andrews, Elizabeth Margaret, Clark Paul, Martha B., Samuel Neel, and Alice Flemming.

Samuel built the mansion in 1886 on land purchased in 1881 from Mrs. Barbara Tintsman and Peter Sherrick. The six surviving children were all adults at this time. Samuel died in 1894, leaving the house to his widow Margaret. After Margaret's death in 1904, Samuel Neel Warden became the head of the household. Three of his sisters lived with him, along with two servants. Samuel died in 1935, leaving the property to his widow, Pearl Carter Warden. At her death on March 11, 1960, Mrs. Warden left this property to her sister, Hazel Carter Gilkey.

When Braddock Trail member Bessie Campbell Cook died on July 12, 1960, she left to Braddock Trail Chapter one quarter of her estate. With this bequest, the Chapter was able to purchase the property from the Gilkeys. The indenture was made February 6, 1963, with Hazel C. Gilkey and her husband Robert M. Gilkey signing the deed transferring the property.