New Kensington-area historians and officials are hoping to turn an often-overlooked cabin on Stevenson Boulevard into a more visible educational site.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Massy Harbison-Fort Hand chapter and the city of New Kensington are working to restore the cabin and Massy Harbison Park, at Oates Boulevard and Route 56 near Valley High School.
“It’s been, more or less, a drive-by, and perhaps people have looked and thought, ‘Hmm, wonder what that is,’ ” said Millie Pipman, a member of the local DAR. “We want it to be a visible part of the community, where people can find out what New Kensington was all about and its storied, historic past.”
The Massy Harbison Cabin is named after a pioneer woman who, in the 1790s, was taken hostage by Native Americans from her home in what is now Allegheny Township.
She was 22 and several months pregnant with her fourth child when she was taken hostage. Two of her young sons were murdered, and she tightly held onto her third as she was taken across the Allegheny River toward a Native American encampment near what is now Butler.
More than 100 years later, the Fort Crawford Association planned to build a replica of Fort Crawford and the 1777 frontier fort in Upper Burrell.
Harbison’s cabin was moved from Butler and may or may not have been in Upper Burrell from 1959 to 1976.
The Tri-City Historical Society and the DAR are investigating “encouraging” leads about the history there, Pipman said.
In 1976, the cabin was moved to its present site in New Kensington, but now it’s in poor condition.
New Kensington Council in May requested state grants to restore the cabin. Grant announcements won’t come until next year, but to prevent further deterioration of the site, the DAR is seeking donations to begin repairs, Pipman said.
The scope of work, Pipman said, includes roof repair, patching holes in walls, replacing shingles and other projects to improve the infrastructure there.
She estimated total costs could be at least $100,000.
Ultimately, the goal is to recreate an authentic, 1800s homestead, Pipman said, “for historic education in our city, as well as be a place where we can have community events.”
Pipman said the ambitious plan includes a historically accurate garden, picnic areas and comprehensive signage and historical context.
Councilman Dante Cicconi said he is “ecstatic” for the plan.
“It’s a great opportunity to tell the story of the American settlers, outside of Massy Harbison, what was going on in that time period,” Cicconi said.
