Frick descendants visit West Overton Museums
West Overton Museums had some special visitors recently.
Twenty-eight descendants of Henry Clay Frick were on hand Nov. 3 for a tour.
“They were as far-flung as London, Seattle, Virginia and Maine,” said Jessica Kadie-Barclay, West Overton's managing director. “They came from all over the place and they don't get together that often so that was pretty exciting for us.”
Henry Clay Frick spent the first 30 years of his life at West Overton after being born in the springhouse located adjacent to the homestead where Abraham and Mariah Overholt lived. Abraham Overholt began the commercial distilling operation at West Overton which included Old Farm Pure Rye Whiskey.
In 1846, Abraham Overholt hired John W. Frick, a Swiss immigrant, to work in the grist mill located in the village. While working, he met Abraham's daughter, Elizabeth, and they were married in 1847.
Their son, Henry Clay Frick, eventually went into the coal and coke business when he established the H.C. Frick Coke Company in Scottdale and became one of the largest coke producers in the country. Partnering with Andrew Carnegie, he eventually led the Carnegie Steel Industry as a result of the business partnership that evolved out of Carnegie's needs to purchase coke.
Henry Clay Frick passed away in 1919 and left his fortune to his daughter, Helen Clay Frick. She purchased West Overton as a way to memorialize her father.
Kadie-Barclay said the visitors had a chance to tour much of West Overton including the distillery museum, the homestead, spring house, summer kitchen and the big barn. They also viewed the replica of the coke oven and walked through the garden.
“It was great,” Kadie-Barclay said. “I was really nervous about it. They came here and they loved it. You could just tell they were excited to be here. It was good to have contact with the family. They gave me some good ideas on what we can do for educational outreach. They were really excited about the updates we made.”
West Overton reopened for tours Aug. 31, 2012 after renovation that began 16 months prior to that.
Descendants of Henry Clay Frick in attendance did come away impressed.
”I've been here many times,” said Helen Clay Chace of Bedford N.Y., Henry Clay Frick's great-granddaughter. “I've been visiting since age 12. I noticed a great rejuvenation. My great-aunt (Helen Clay Frick) would be pleased. It was her vision to preserve her father's birthplace.”
Chace added she was impressed with the big barn and remembers days of years gone by when the barn was filled with pigeons.
“The displays draw you in,” added Suzzara Durocher of Boston, Henry Clay Frick's great-great-granddaughter. “This is my first trip here. I'm excited to be here. This is really well done. They brought this history to life.”
Durocher recalled drinking ginger ale and tomato juice on the property and playing checkers with Helen Clay Frick, with her winning all the time.
Elise Frick, another great-granddaughter of Henry Clay Frick, who lives in New York, also was pleased with what she saw.
“I have been here a few times,” she said. “I see a very big difference. It is very interesting. It is very beautifully done.”
Childs Burden, a great grandson of Henry Clay Frick, shared the same positive sentiments.
“I like it a lot,” he said. “As a kid when I came here it always felt like a dark attic. I'm very pleased with the new energy and outlook.”
That was just the first event at West Overton Nov. 3.
The museum's parlor talks kicked off later that day with about 60 people attending to hear Steven Nolt, a history professor at Goshen College (Indiana), talk about the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and the involvement of the Mennonites in the war.
The next talk is scheduled for Jan. 19 and will feature Mark Meyer, who will speak on the Whiskey Rebellion.
Paul Paterra is a staff editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-887-6101 or ppaterra@tribweb.com. Kelly Vernon contributed to this story.
