National Park Service Friendship Hill U.S. Department of the Interior Friendship Hill National Historic Site
CHRONOLOGY OF FRIENDSHIP HILL
December 23, 1785 Land which was to become Friendship Hill was warranted to Nicholas Blake by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
May 27, 1786 Title to the warrant was sold by Nicholas Blake to Albert Gallatin.
1789-1791 "Brick House" under construction. Gallatin moved into the unfinished house in 1789 with his new bride, Sophia, who tragically died that October.
"Frame House" addition constructed to make room for Gallatin's growing family. 1798 Gallatin married Hannah Nicholson in 1793 and their first child, James, was born in 1798.
"Stone House" addition completed by Albert Rolaz in preparation for Gallatin's return 1823 from Paris. A year later the "Stone Kitchen" was constructed as the final addition during Gallatin's ownership.
May 27-28, 1825 Throngs of people flocked to Friendship Hill to see General Lafayette, who came to visit at Gallatin's invitation.
May 26, 1832 Gallatin sold Friendship Hill to Albin Mellier, Jr., another immigrant, who engaged in a number of speculative ventures around New Geneva.
1841 Friendship Hill visited by Sherman Day, a compiler of county histories, whose sketch (above) is the earliest known illustration of the main house.
March 15, 1843 Friendship Hill sold at sheriffs sale to Charles and Frederick Tennig, Mellier's creditors.
September 27, 1858 Friendship Hill conveyed by Tennig's to Mellier's heirs (Amadee Adelaide and Marie Mellier).
July 8, 1859 Friendship Hill sold by Mellier's heirs to John Littleton Dawson, local congressman, who later became noted for his sponsorship of the earliest version of what became the Homestead Act of 1863. The house and grounds underwent considerable refurbishment and became one of the finest estates in Fayette County.
December 19, 1898 Friendship Hill transferred from Dawson's heirs to Charles E. Speer, prominent Pittsburgh banker and financier who was married to Dawson's daughter, Sarah.
January 7, 1910 Speer's wife sold Friendship Hill to Josiah Van Kirk Thompson, a prominent Fayette County coal baron and banker, who used the place as his country estate.
1927 Concerned local citizens organized the original Friendship Hill Association to restore the privately owned house and open it to the public. During the depression years little was done. However, by 1937 tours were begun in cooperation with the owners, continuing until the 1960's.
July 11, 1938 Ownership of Friendship Hill was transferred to the Laradef Company owned by J.V. Thompson's son, Andrew A. Thompson.
(Continued on Back) 1941 Evelyn Thompson, Andrew's daughter, moved to the estate and established a dairy operation.
October 16, 1951 Sherwood and Evelyn (Thompson) Martin acquired the title from the Laradef Company. The Martins were active in the Chestnut Ridge Fox Hunting Association and built a modern dairy complex.
Late 1950's A bill was introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature to establish Friendship Hill as a state historic shrine, but the bill did not pass.
1965 Friendship Hill was designated a National Historic Landmark and was again opened to visitors.
April, 1978 Representative Austin J. Murphy introduced a bill to establish Friendship Hill National Historic Site.
November 10, 1978 Public Law 95-625 authorized Friendship Hill National Historic Site.
Summer, 1979 Arson fires extensively damaged portions of the main house and destroyed the nearby gardener's cottage.
January, 1980 Title to the property was passed to the National Park Service.
Spring, 1981 Contemporary Friendship Hill Association formed to support and assist the National Park Service in the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of Friendship Hill.
Various studies and planning documents required for restoration were completed. 1980-1985 These included the Historic Resource Study, Historic Structure Report, Historic Furnishings Report, Environmental Assessment, and General Management Plan.
Emergency repairs were made to stabilize the house. A temporary visitor center was 1982-1987 constructed as well as a maintenance building. The park was also open to the public on a part-time basis.
Restoration began with increased funding levels as Friendship Hill became a priority 1987 for the America's Industrial Heritage Project with a 3 year $6 million restoration effort.
1987-1992 House restoration went into high gear as well as the construction of a ranger residence. Plans for a multi-media exhibit system and wayside exhibits were implemented by the Harper's Ferry Design Center, and park grounds were developed.
October 31 and A grand opening celebration was held for the completely restored Gallatin House. November 1, 1992
Friendship Hill National Historic Site 223 New Geneva Road Point Marion, PA 15474