Filled with a rich history of its own, the Warden House of the local Braddock Trail Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is the perfect setting to conduct genealogical research.

Built in 1886 by Margaret and Samuel Warden, the house in Mount Pleasant was a private residence and occupied by a member of the Warden family until 1962.

A member's generosity led to the chapter's move to the Warden house, where the chapter has operated since the early 1960s. When chapter member Bessie Cook died, she bequeathed the chapter $25,000, enabling the group to purchase the home and transform it into the local headquarters. Prior to that, members met in different locations until they moved into the historic mansion.

"One of the objectives of the chapter was to own a home," said member Rosalind Ashmun. "The ladies would make and sell things like gingerbread mixes to start a fund to purchase a house."

Founded in 1943, the Braddock Trail Chapter recently celebrated its 65th anniversary and has dozens of members.

Now, the 12-room home is used for chapter meetings and to host special events, such as an annual "Festival of Lights."

Genealogy library

One of the most interesting fixtures within the home is the vast genealogy library, which holds thousands of documents, cemetery listings, newspapers, photographs and historical references.

The library also offers family histories and court records, many of which can be used to determine eligibility for those who apply for DAR membership or to other historical organizations.

Over the years, the chapter has acquired historical documents at auctions and sales. It also has obtained documentation gathered by other members from other chapters.

"When Charlotte Westerman passed away, we received her collection of books," Ashmun said of the Scottdale native. "We bought books and had others donated to us. We have quite a collection of books upstairs."

"We have a lot of people come through here,' Ashmun said of the library. "Since we opened in April, there were maybe only three days that someone didn't come."

The library also holds all copies of the Mt. Pleasant Journal from 1882-1963 and has hard copies of the paper from 1997 through the present.

People love to delve into their pasts, Ashmun said.

"We have a lot of people come here to get information on their ancestors such as their great-grandparents or other people from their past," she said. "Then we also have people who are interested in local history."

There is always a chapter member or a volunteer to help with research.

"You can have a lot of fun in here," Ashmun said of the library. "You can really get lost in these books and lost in the history stored here."

When to visit

The genealogy library at the DAR house is open from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays from April until November.

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