Jefferson

Jefferson Main Street 1866









Likely near the covered bridge at the railroad underpass. W.T. Hays was a photographer from Waynesburg who did a lot of work around Greene County.



This old Post Office was across the street from the present one. Jefferson's first Post Office was established in 1805.


From the History Of Education in Pennsylvania by J. P. Wickersham, 1886 : In the little town of Jefferson, Greene county, the Baptists of Southwestern Pennsylvania founded an institution of learning, in 1867, which was chartered under the name of Monongahela College, in 1871. The grounds consist of fourteen acres, and the buildings are comfortable though small. The endowment is $30,- 00O. Creditable progress has been made in securing apparatus and a library. The College admits both sexes, and several ladies occupy places in its faculty. The students number about seventy- five, only a few of whom are in the regular College course. Rev. H. R. Craig has been President from the first.The college did not make it long as a business and folded in the 1890's. In 1909 the Jefferson High School moved into the building.It was torn down in 1956.

Clicking this image opens a nice large map from Caldwells Atlas 1876



List Of Business 1876








Jefferson looking south, undated photo

Jefferson at one time had around 700 citizens. There was a grain mill, several tanneries, saddle shops,cooper shops, wagon maker shops, five saloons. It was a busy distributing center for the country trade. The Jeffersonian and Jefferson News delivered the latest news. It was often spoken of as the best place for the county seat, being on the main road between Rices Landing and Waynesburg, the two most important towns in the county. Colonel James Maxwell, a very prominent officer in the Revolution, is buried in the Presbyterian cemetery. When slack water was carried above Rices Landing and the Waynesburg & Washington Railroad was built to Waynesburg then the importance of Jefferson waned.