This Woodville sign welcomes visitors to the former home of John and Presley Neville. Photo courtesy of Neville House Associates.
Community Spotlight—Woodville
The Community Spotlight series features the efforts of Rivers of Steel’s partner organizations, along with collaborative partnerships, that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the communities within the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.
By Emma Michaud, Communications Intern
Woodville: Where the Chickens Call Home
They might not know it, but a flock of chickens residing at a National Historic Landmark in Bridgeville just had the view from their run upgraded. Their coop sits beside Woodville (aka the Neville House), which was built by John Neville who gained historic notoriety for his role in the Whiskey Rebellion. And the view from the run? Well, it overlooks a recently restored exterior porch.
Situated on two acres of former farmland, Woodville, which was constructed between 1774 and 1780, has been preserved by the Neville House Associates since the mid-1970s.
The Woodville property contains the John and Presley Neville house, a chicken coop, a demonstration kitchen garden, a shed, privy, a still house, and a recreated cabin. Photo courtesy of Neville House Associates.
“This place is such a gem,” said Susan O’Toole, who has served as the president of the Neville House Associates since 2019. “I’ve always felt this was very important—that Woodville should be cherished, preserved for people to learn our history.”
Susan began volunteering at Woodville in 1985. In time, she joined the board of directors and served as vice president before taking on her current role.
“It becomes a real passion for you, you know. Every year, I learn something new! Raising my kids, I would take them there and they didn’t get the bug from me . . . but they would help out sometimes,” she said with a laugh.
Susan and her other volunteers with the Neville House Associates work to recreate life in southwestern Pennsylvania from 1780 to 1820. The Woodville property contains the John and Presley Neville house, a chicken coop, a demonstration kitchen garden, a shed, privy, a still house, and a recreated cabin. Woodville is the oldest house open for tours in Western Pennsylvania and it is mostly in its original condition.
“There’s a lot to learn from history,” Susan wisely said.
Woodville, as seen from the interior of the property.
One of Woodville’s stories overlaps with John Neville’s role in the Whiskey Rebellion.
Having previously served as a general the American Revolution, John Neville had amassed considerable acreage in the Chartiers Valley including approximately 1,200 acres of land that housed his primary residence, Bower Hill, which was situated just up the hill from Woodville. He had also earned an appointment as the local tax collector.
In the years after the American Revolution, the government created an excise tax on whiskey to help pay back debt from the war. To the farmers in Western Pennsylvania, the new whiskey tax that Neville was charged with collecting was unfair for a variety of reasons, and they began to organize in protest.
On July 17, 1794, Major James McFarlane led hundreds of militiamen to Bower Hill, with the intent of forcing Neville to resign from his position and turn over the tax records. Following a day long battle, they burned Neville’s house on Bower Hill, as well as the other outbuildings.
Fortunately, Woodville was spared, as it was occupied by Neville’s son Presley at the time of the incident. In the ensuing years, the home was occupied by only two additional families.
Some of the chickens at Woodville.
During a visit to Woodville, you can learn more about the history of the home, its role in the Whiskey Rebellion, and the story of its preservation and restoration . . . which brings us back to those chickens and the new porch.
The Neville House Associates recently received a Mini Grant from Rivers of Steel to help with the restoration of Woodville’s wraparound porch. Prior to this year, the original covered wooden structure was showing its age. Now restored using more durable modern materials, the porch retains its original appearance and should stand the test of time. With the continued preservation, the Neville House will remain an indoor/outdoor historical museum for people to experience and learn about for years to come.
Additional support for the porch was provided by Colcom Foundation, Schoonmaker Foundation BNY Mellon, Americana Corner, National Association of Colonial Dames of America Allegheny County Chapter, and Roman Family Charitable Trust.
The restored porch faces the road and wraps around one side of the home.
Programming at Woodville includes Whiskey Rebellion Day, cooking demonstrations and workshops, educational events for students, self-guided tours, and more, including the upcoming the Twelve Days of Christmas event on Sunday, December 15, 2024. To begin the evening, guests are welcome to join the Annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Old St. Luke’s Church free of charge. Afterward, at Woodville, experience how the Twelve Days of Christmas were historically celebrated by touring the site by candlelight from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Tours are $10 for adults and $5 for children. No need to register in advance.
To learn more about the mission and programming at Woodville, visit https://woodville-experience.org/.
About the Mini-Grant Program
Rivers of Steel’s Mini-Grant Program assists heritage-related sites and organizations as well as municipalities within the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area to develop new and innovative programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives. Funded projects support heritage tourism, enhance preservation efforts, involve the stewardship of natural resources, encourage outdoor recreation, and include collaborative partnerships. Through these efforts, Rivers of Steel seeks to identify, conserve, promote, and interpret the industrial and cultural heritage that defines southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is one of twelve supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Funding is provided via DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Environmental Stewardship Fund to Rivers of Steel, which administers the Mini-Grant Program.
