Around Randolph Township and Guys Mills

The first frontier settlement in what is now Randolph Township took place in 1795 when a handful of brave pioneers overcame incredible odds to settle in the Pennsylvania wilderness. Slowly Randolph became dotted with small clearings, followed by self-sufficient farms. Ambitious tradesmen sold services, and scores of businesses sprouted up. Schools and churches followed as the crossroads of Guys Mills, Black Ash, Mount Hope, Brawley Stand, and Hickory Corners flourished, attracting men of influence. Rev. Timothy Alden, founder of Allegheny College, was pastor of Guys Mills Congregational Church. Famed abolitionist John Brown walked six miles to church in Guys Mills. During the great oil boom, John D. Rockefeller investigated the town's oil wells. Pennsylvania senator Raymond E. Smith resided here. Black Ash's Clint Brown enjoyed a 15-year major-league pitching career with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox and held a major-league record.

Cheryl Seber Weiderspahn is a lifelong local history enthusiast with an intimate understanding of the region. Around Randolph Township and Guys Mills features rare, never-published photographs from the personal collections of area residents and the Crawford County Historical Society