New barn at Woodville Plantation will provide historical experiences

A Collier nonprofit has crafted an 18th-century barn on its national historic landmark site.

Neville House Associates plans to use the structure, crafted with wood from an 1810 Belgium barn found at the Steranko Farm in Latrobe, to provide more authentic experiences at the Woodville Plantation.

“It fits in with our time period,” said Susan O’Toole, Neville House Associates president. “There obviously would have been a barn on this property. It was a working farm for many years. We felt this would give us an opportunity to have programming, events, rentals, etc., which would generate income – which is important for any historical site.”

Built in 1775, Woodville Plantation was the home of John and Presley Neville.

During its early years, the grounds were a much-welcomed rest stop and sanctuary for weary travelers and dignitaries.

It was a key site in the Whiskey Rebellion, a 1794 uprising of farmers and distillers in Western Pennsylvania in protest of a whiskey tax enacted by the federal government.

Woodville is located a quarter mile north of Interstate 79 Exit 55 (Kirwin Heights) on Route 50, near the intersection of Thoms Run Road.

The barn project was several years in the making and pushed by former president Bob Eckle.

“This has been on our minds for years because we wanted to try and become self-sustaining,” O’Toole said. “Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation has helped us with operating expenses for many years. We raise funds through tours, special presentations and events, but our events are very dependent on weather because our indoor spaces are small.”

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help fund the project. As of May 19, it shows about $1,000 has been raised toward a $300,000 goal.

However, O’Toole said contributions made not through the fundraising website have pushed the total funding as of this month to more than $170,000.

The barn is about 54 feet by 40 feet with a 14-foot-ceiling. There is a small kitchen, bathroom and a storage room.

“There is a process of doing some of the finishing work,” said Rob Windhorst, historian and Neville vice president. “They still need to plumb and wire the backroom. The actual space in the barn is ready to go and beautiful. We still have to do some landscaping.

“When we brought into the site and sort of built it into the hillside, we still have to bring some of the topsoil back over and regrade the front of it, so it has the bank coming out of the doors of the barn down toward the main house.”

O’Toole said there was enough leftover wood for the organization to build an interpretive cabin to have cooking demonstrations and talks on early 18th-century life.

Windhorst said the Woodville home was originally built without a kitchen. A log kitchen was constructed separate from the main building in the 1780s. It was later connected to the home.

The interpretive cabin will be created with the original concept of the separated kitchen.

Collier officials worked with the organization to obtain the necessary permits for the project. Woodville is the oldest home open for tours in Western Pennsylvania.

“It’s sort of an oasis of history dropped down here in the middle of Collier Township’s business district,” Windhorst said. “When you look at the Whiskey Rebellion as a very significant event, this is where it all started.”

Between 3,000 and 5,000 people visit the site annually. Tours are offered every Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

More information is available at woodville-experience.org.