of Washington, PA
History of the House and David Bradford
David
Bradford was a successful lawyer, businessman, and Deputy
Attorney General of Washington County. Construction of his
house on South Main Street began in 1786 and was completed in 1788.
His home reflected his high social standing, not only by its size, but
also
by its fittings. The magnificent mahogany staircase and the
interior wood finishes show remarkable craftsmanship. The
stone for the exterior was quarried near Washington, while the interior
decorations came from the east and had to be transported across the
mountains at great expense. It was, and is again today, an 18th Century
architectural showpiece. This was all the more striking at
the time, because Washington consisted largely of small, rustic, log
buildings. During restoration of the house, a tunnel was discovered
that appears to have led to what was then a steep ravine nearby. It is
thought that this tunnel was constructed to provide a means
of escape if this obviously wealthy house came under attack.
David Bradford and his family lived in this house from 1788 to
1794. However, his residence was cut short because of his involvement
in the Whiskey Rebellion. Local residents and landowners had
longstanding grievances, caused in substantial measure by their
isolation on the frontier. There were many land title
issues, caused by competing title registries in both Virginia and
Pennsylvania, and a host of absentee landlords (including George Washington). There were
no local federal courts, which necessitated prolonged and
burdensome trips to Philadelphia for trials. The area was still in
danger of Indian attacks. And to make matters worse, the
federal government imposed a high excise tax on whiskey. This
tax was particularly onerous because the cost of shipping local grain
to
the East for sale was very high. Local farmers could sell their grain crops for more (and lessen their shipping expenses) by converting their grain into
whiskey. So high taxes on this product were seen as a blow
directed principally at frontier communities like Washington.
When federal tax collectors appeared in the area to collect
these taxes, local mobs drove them off and worse (including tar and
feathering one poor official). In 1794, President George
Washington decided that the new federal government could not tolerate
such lawlessness and ordered 13,000 troops to the Washington
area. Upon learning that he would be arrested, David Bradford
fled south to Spanish West Florida (which is present-day
Louisiana). He took up a new life there and, in 1797,
completed a home in St. Francisville. His wife, Elizabeth, and children
joined him shortly thereafter. Eventually, David Bradford received a pardon for his role in the Whiskey Rebellion.
The house had its hard times. It suffered its greatest damage when converted into a furniture and coffin store in the early 1900's. (Note the interesting second-floor windows in the photo on the right. You can click on this photo to see a larger version.) In 1959, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
assumed
control of the house and supervised a restoration back to its original 18th-century
design. The house is again furnished as it would have been at the time it was built. The furnishings also reflect Bradford's place in
society. Landscape work in the rear of the house led to the discovery
of an old
well. It was repaired, and a well house characteristic of
Bradford's time was constructed. This fine example of
gracious frontier living is complemented by a garden of plants, herbs
and
flowers, typical of the 18th-century.
The Bradford House is owned by
the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
and is managed by local volunteers for the Bradford House Historical Association,
a 501(c)3 charitable corporation.
This site is maintained by our volunteers. This page was revised
March 29, 2008
.