When you arrive in the town of Perryopolis, it is almost as if you are entering the pages of a history book.
Many sites and locations have been preserved and maintained, offering visitors a glimpse back.
George Washington originally owned the 1,641 acres where the town was established.
In 1774 and 1775, Washington built the now famous grist mill, which is now open for tours.
Other points of historical interest include the old distillery, a fond reminder of the Whiskey Rebellion; the Mary Fuller House, believed to be the birthplace of Mary Fuller Frazier, whose bequests were used for the area's educational and school system; the Becky Bishop House, which was the home of Congressman J. Buell Snyder; and the Gue House, which is a reconstructed log home originally built in 1820.
And we can't forget the Old State Bank, which is now a museum and houses memorabilia and artifacts and antiques from many local attractions.
"We have a little bit of everything here," Joan Lyons, museum curator, said. "Not only items of local interest, but many different artifacts and things for people to see."
The Old State Bank, which was built in 1814, will extend its operating hours during this weekend's Pioneer Days celebration. The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Old State Bank was the first bank west of the Alleghenies. It was closed for a short time due to bankruptcy, but was reopened as a again between 1829 and 1837, serving as one of the few state banks. After the bank shut down a second time, the building was used as a fruit stand, a school, a Methodist church, a pool room, and a doctor's office and home.
Then it was finally transformed into a museum.
The front of the museum is the original bank. The adjacent rooms and second floor additions were added to the building over the years.
The museum is set up to walk through at your leisure, or Lyons will gladly give you a tour.
"When people stop in I just ask them if they'd like to walk through themselves or I can take them through. Most people just want to go through themselves and take their time."
The rooms are filled with old family photos, old newspapers, pottery, primitives, old comics, and antiques.
J. Buell Snyder's top hat and gavel, as well as a handmade wooden model of a B&O railroad locomotive crossing the Layton Bridge, and many clothing items of Mary Fuller Frazier are all on display at the museum.
"Most of the clothing we have is donated by locals," said Shirley Baldwin, president of the Perry Area Heritage Society, which operates the museum.
"You can see Mary Fuller Frazier liked a lot of black. Just black -- that's what they wore then," Baldwin explained, indicating a closet filled with her Frazier's clothing, all solid black, but wonderfully tailored.
"We have a conglomeration of different eras here," Lyons said.
There is also a room that is dedicated to family research and genealogy.
"We have people that stop in searching for information," Lyons said. Baldwin said she herself has used the information to research material not only from Perryopolis but also from surrounding towns.
Lyons said the museum always takes donations -- especially for the genealogy research section.
The museum is located on 312 Liberty St. It is open year round. Regular hours are Monday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon.
For information, call 724-735-8080.
