(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a suggestion for a future installment, please email gtrcity@triblive.)

A fast-growing bedroom community and the largest municipality within Penn-Trafford School District, Penn Township was established in 1855 — the next-to-last township to be created in Westmoreland County.

Situated in the west-central region of the county, the township was incorporated after the development of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It came from land formerly in Hempfield, North Huntingdon and Franklin townships. Today, the area is home to just over 20,000 people, an increase of nearly 90% since the 1960s, when the total population was 10,702.

After its founding, a portion of land from Penn Township was carved out to create Penn Borough, a .2-square-mile community just south of the township. It was incorporated in 1865.

Nearby Trafford Borough, founded in 1902, was named by George Westinghouse after Trafford Park in Manchester, England. More than 3,300 people live in the borough, which is 1.45 square miles.

Big changes are ahead for the area. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in October 2021 announced an interchange will be built at Route 130 in Penn Township. It remains unclear when construction will start, but the commission anticipates work will not be finished before 2026.

Here are 10 unique things to do in the Penn Township area:

Trafford Performing Arts Center

Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review Cast member Kaitlin Cliber of Oakmont rehearses a musical scene with fellow cast members during a dress rehearsal this summer for “Once Upon a Mattress” at the Trafford Performing Arts Center.  

Visitors looking to support the arts can check out the Trafford Performing Arts Center, home of the Theatre Factory.

A nonprofit dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the performing arts in Westmoreland County, the center at 235 Cavitt Ave. presents theatrical dramas along with kid-friendly productions. It also hosts an annual summer camp for children and workshops for youth.

Upcoming events include an “Acting through Song” master class and evening concert with actress Kara Lindsay on Sept. 16. For more information, visit www.thetheatrefactory.org.

Bushy Run Battlefield

Tribune-Review Dave Graham of Ohio portrays a colonist who was captured by Native American Lenni Lenape forces during the Battle of Bushy Run reenactment earlier this summer.  

The Bushy Run Battlefield Visitor Center and Museum tells the story of the skirmish between British and Native American forces during Pontiac’s War in 1763, and the role of this British victory in maintaining control of North America. Guided and self-guided tours are available along with museum exhibits maintained by the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society formed in 1980.

The site holds a two-day reenactment of the battle each year, the first weekend in August. Reenactors portray British soldiers and Native Americans and simulate musket fire and tactical movement on the battlefield. Each day of the reenactment represents the engagements that occurred during the two-day fight.

Other events throughout the year include a car cruise, Paws in the Park, Charter Day, haunted hayride, tea and open-air market on the fourth Saturday of every month during the season.

The historic site is located at 1253 Bushy Run Road. Admission ticket prices range from $3 to $5; children younger than 3 and active military members and their immediate family enjoy free admission.

Penn Area Library

Tribune-Review Austin Camp of Harrison City selects a piece to glue onto his Pokeball terrarium while making the craft with his mom, Jean Camp, at “Level Up! A Club for Gamers” in January at Penn Area Library.  

Located next to the Penn Township municipal building, the Penn Area Library at 2001 Municipal Court had humble beginnings 50 years ago inside a home in Level Green. The Level Green Library organized in 1970 and was incorporated as the Penn Area Library in 1972.

A Keystone Grant of $200,000 in the late 1990s helped to fund an expansion into the current 9,000-square-foot building. Today, the library is home to story time events, summer reading activities, poetry contests, a teen zine club and craft classes.

The library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Trafford cannonball

Tribune-Review This cannonball in Trafford was once fired into the hillside at a former Civil War proving ground in the area.  

Visitors to Trafford’s Westmoreland Park on East Edgewood Avenue can check out an unusual remnant of the past — a cannonball displayed on a pedestal.

The cannonball was shot from the side of a train into what was once the nearby Wall’s Station Naval Proving Ground, a testing site for artillery during and after the Civil War.

The cannonball was recovered in the early 1900s, weighs more than 1,000 pounds and is 20 inches in diameter.

According to a plaque in front of the cannonball, it was first found by a man named Richard Custer and his son-in-law, John O. George, in the early 1890s. It was later moved to the George family home on Cavittsville Road by a team of horses.

Trafford mural

Julia Maruca | Tribune-Review A mural in Trafford Borough showcases the history of the town.  

Locally inspired images are immortalized in a mural above the Trafford municipal building.

Titled “Windows to the Future,” the mural illustrates buildings in downtown Trafford, along with a train, a bearded young George Westinghouse hurrying down the street and a man fishing in B-Y Park.

Though the original Westinghouse foundry that once anchored Trafford Borough no longer stands, many Westinghouse employees once lived in the town.

The mural was painted by Berry Breene through the Sprout Fund Community Murals project in 2010.

A newer “Wings Across Westmoreland” installation, located below the larger mural, is a fun selfie spot.

Claridge Volunteer Fire Department’s fish fry

The Claridge Volunteer Fire Department’s fish fry is renowned in the area for tasty Lenten meals.

During the spring season, visitors can enjoy beer-battered, broiled or spicy broiled fish dinners with a roll, coleslaw and french fries or baked potato for $15 each.

A fish sandwich is $13; popcorn shrimp meals are priced at $10. Additional sides range from $1 to $8.

The fish fry — proclaimed Westmoreland County’s favorite fish sandwich in an unofficial poll — supports the fire department, 2307 Balogh St.

Penn Township Municipal Park

Courtesy of Brian Montgomery Hungry for a catch, a great blue heron competes against evening anglers at Penn Township Municipal Park in October 2020.  

Located near the township municipal building at 2001 Municipal Court, the Penn Township Municipal Park is home to a variety of sports facilities and recreational opportunities.

The park includes a fishing pond, tennis court, dog parks, walking paths, baseball fields and batting cages, dek hockey, sand volleyball and basketball courts, skateboard park, football and soccer fields, concession stands, picnic facilities and permanent restrooms.

The Warrior Wonderland playground at the site was built in 1996, and the surface was upgraded in 2012.

A bench in the park is dedicated to Carson Rudick, a Penn Township boy who died from rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare tumor, in 2009 at the age of 5. Carson’s Hope, a charitable organization created by Carson’s parents, raises money for pediatric cancer research and organizes an annual fishing derby at the pond.

Penn Township Fall Festival

Tribune-Review Jensen Beene of Boy Scout Troop 236 takes a selfie with actor David Newell, who portrayed Mr. McFeely on the popular children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” during the Penn Township Fall Festival parade in 2016.  

In September, the municipal park comes to life with a massive fall festival. This year’s event will feature a car cruise, pumpkin pie and chili contests, along with carnival festivities.

Festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. Sept. 15 with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. On Sept. 16, visitors can enjoy a 10:30 a.m. parade, a 12 p.m. car cruise and listen to live music. Sept. 17 will feature the Penn-Trafford High School Band’s performance at 3 p.m. and other musical performances.

Throughout the festival, attendees can enjoy craft, food and community booths.

Grandma’s Country Oven Bake Shoppe

Julia Maruca | Tribune-Review Grandma’s Country Oven Bake Shoppe is known for its monthly pie specials and homemade pastries.  

Home to cake, cheesecake and pastry specialties, Grandma’s Country Oven Bake Shoppe is located on the grounds of the former Schramm’s Farm Market at 1004 Blank Road. The shop makes custom cakes, cookies, pies, cupcakes and more, all from scratch.

Owner Kathy Young has run the shop for 32 years at its current location. The shop boasts a new “Pie of the Month” every month and offers themed cookies for each season. School-themed teacher’s apple cookies are popular this time of year.

The Gift Shoppe at Grandma’s also has candles, balsamic vinegar and olive oil, candy and biscotti, while the Grandpa’s Antiques section showcases antique furniture and items.

Penn Trafford Area Recreation Commission

Tribune-Review Senior Stretch instructor Midge Culig works out with her class at the Penn Township Municipal Building earlier this year.  

For those looking to fit some exercise into their schedule, classes run through the intergovernmental Penn Trafford Area Recreation Commission take place in facilities across the township, though many are held in the Penn Township municipal building.

The commission works with five communities in the Penn Trafford area to offer recreational activities for residents of all ages, including everything from dance classes for toddlers to stretch and strength classes for senior adults.

Upcoming classes include a Dive Into Musical Theater program for youth ages 6-12 starting Sept. 25, a cardio kickboxing class for adults beginning Sept. 5 and a beginner spin bike class for seniors starting Sept. 14.

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