Pennsylvania

Submitted by: Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency

Quilters: Martha Washington Quilt Guild – Washington, PA

Overview of Washington County, PA Quilt Square, by Susan James, Martha Washington Quilt Guild

The centerpiece of our block is the Martha Washington Star, designed many years ago to honor our nation’s first First Lady, who was known for her exceptional quilting and sewing skills. Our guild, the Martha Washington Quilt Guild, chose this version of the star to represent our organization.

The Pony logo is the official logo of the PONY Baseball and Softball organization, which was founded in Washington, PA, in 1951. PONY stands for Protect Our Nation’s Youth, and its programs are designed to provide youth baseball and softball experiences that help young people grow into happy, healthy adults. Currently, more than 500,000 registered players compete in over 4,000 leagues across 40 countries. Every summer, Washington County, PA, hosts the PONY League World Series at Lew Hays Field, bringing hundreds of the best under-14 baseball players from around the world to compete for the PONY World Series championship.

The whiskey jug represents our county’s heritage and the Whiskey Rebellion, a violent tax protest that began in 1791 and ended in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington. The “whiskey tax,” proposed by Alexander Hamilton, was the first federal tax levied on a domestic product and served as an early test of the U.S. Constitution and the authority of the federal government. An uprising led by local farmers resisted the tax by attacking tax collectors and damaging property. The rebellion ended in 1794 when George Washington personally led a large militia force to quell it, resolving the conflict without further bloodshed. It remains the only time a sitting president has personally commanded troops in the field and demonstrated the federal government’s power to enforce its laws.

Every year, Washington County, PA, holds a countywide celebration of its historic covered bridges. The county is home to 23 covered bridges; the oldest, the Erskine Covered Bridge, dates to 1845.

The keystone is Pennsylvania’s state symbol, chosen to reflect the state’s central location among the original thirteen colonies and pivotal role in the founding and development of the United States. Pennsylvania served as a vital link between the industrial North and the agricultural South and the keystone is representative of that geographic position as well as the state’s economic and political stability during the early days of our nation.