Less than an hour outside of downtown Pittsburgh sits a piece of Western Pennsylvania that has come back to life, welcoming visitors to experience just about every aspect of life in the early 20th century. Travel back in time - to 1910 - when you stay at this historic village near Pittsburgh.
More than a century ago, miners worked alongside Buffalo Creek, mining and shipping limestone for use in the steel and other industries. Employees, however, had to trek through difficult, unpaved roads for miles to get to work each day.
In an effort to improve productivity and support employees, Pittsburgh Limestone Mining Company built Yellow Dog Village, housing for its employees. In return, the employees swore to never form a union against their employer.
Yellow Dog Village thrived for decades as the miners built a tight knit community. The Great Depression, however, ended the village's prosperity and, from then on, it changed names and owners, eventually becoming abandoned.
That all changed when Joseph Meyer, a retired history teacher, purchased the property in 2015 and determined to transform it into an educational village that would provide visitors with the hands-on-experience, under the guidance of experienced craftsmen, of living in the past.
All guests at Yellow Dog Village live in period houses and are charged with responsibilities similar to those who lived in the rural village in the early 20th century. Guests will raise their own food in the gardens and...
Learn how to make traditional American food, such as buttered noodles, pot pie, buffalo meals, and cornbread. Guests also discover how to preserve the fresh food they've made without access to modern conveniences like a refrigerator.
You may also work in the Carpenter Shop, where you'll learn how to build and repair such doors, windows, and other essential household items.
Perhaps the most important lesson behind Yellow Dog Village is how to create sustainable living by living off of the grid, using traditional construction techniques, and gathering food from "close to home."
Yellow Dog Village welcomes guests all year around for one-day, weekend, and five-day workshops. Internships, apprenticeships, and work/study programs may also be available to eligible visitors.
Address:
Yellow Dog Village
#126 MAK Square
Worthington, Pa 16262
724-297-3773
Click here for more information.
Turn back the pages of time when you visit Yellow Dog Village, an historic village near Pittsburgh. You might also want to check out these historic villages that are also near Pittsburgh.
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