Town & Township History

This village was laid out on 1813, by Noah Speer, father of L. M. Speer, esq., now largely engaged in the business of the town. It is situated on the east bank of the Monongahela river, in Fayette county, three miles above Lock No. 4, of the slack water, and about forty miles from Pittsburgh. At this point the great cattle droves, from the west, cross the river in going east, and it is in easy communication with Allen township, Washington county, by means of an excellent steam ferry. The town contains between 700 and 800 inhabitants, and is a place of much business. There are five dry goods stores and four groceries located here, which transact a prosperous trade with the surrounding country. There are among its manufactories, two glass houses, in full operation, in which are employed 87 hands. The works consume about 300 tons of soda, 500 barrels of salt, 150 kegs of nails, cut 350,000 feet of lumber, and turn out 25,000 boxes of glass.

There is also a large boat yard here, carried on by L. M. Speer, Esq., who employs about 50 hands, whose wages will average annually about $15,000, and the value of the boats constructed will amount to $50,000.

The is, adjoining the town, a "sand bank," producing the best quality of glass sand. This also belongs to L. M. Speer, and gives employment to fourteen hands. There is washed out from it about 3,000 tons of sand, yearly, of a value of $6,000. Mr. Speer has also a large Coal Works near the town, in which employs ten hands. The coal taken from these mines is sold in the town and immediate vicinity, supplying, in fact, the entire neighborhood.

Among the minor mechanical branches carried on in this place are, one boot and shoe manufactory, one cabinet manufactory, one chair manufactory, two blacksmith shops, one wagon manufactory, and one saddle and harness manufactory. There is also a tan yard in full operation, and two saw mills.

There are three churches in town; one Methodist Episcopal, one Disciples and one Freewill Baptist. There is a good Union School here, with an attendance of 200 pupils. The school house is of brick, and two stories high.

The tract of land upon which Bellevernon is laid out is rich in minerals, partaking of the general characteristics of the surrounding country. The farm of L. M. Speer, upon part of which the town is built, contains two stratas of coal, one of sand glass, one of iron ore, one of limestone and one of sandstone. The top of the hill, upon which a portion of the town is built, is 215 feet above the river, 22 feet below which, and 193 feet above the river level, lies the strata of glass sand. At a height of 130 feet above the river is the base of the bituminous coal strata; between which and the base of glass sand strata, lies a fine strata of cannel coal; also, a strata of iron ore, from 10 to 14 inches. At a height of 112 feet above the river, is the strata of sandstone, between which and the base of the bituminous coal strata, lies a strata of limestone. Although these stratas underlay the whole neighborhood, yet the ease with which any or all of them may be entered upon from the face of the hill, at Bellevernon, adds great importance to the site of the town. The glass sand strata and the bituminous coal are already entered upon and largely worked by Mr. Speer, as before noticed. The whole farm contains 276 acres, 38 perches, and from the easy access had to the minerals upon it, and the thriving town already occupying a portion of the tract, it is of great value, and offers superior advantages for the erection of manufactories.