Kertes, Chew steer Westmoreland County meeting to Hanna's Town

Westmoreland County commissioners moved their Thursday public meeting from the courthouse to Historic Hanna’s Town, bringing county business to the site that served as the county’s initial seat of government. The session took place at the visitors center as part of the semiquincentennial celebration.

The commissioners handled routine business items, including awarding contracts and approving personnel actions. They also heard public comment from a half-dozen residents and presented proclamations.

Historic Hanna’s Town

Historic Hanna’s Town dates back to 1773, four years before the United States revolted against its British lords. Sean Kertes said, "We have great history in this county. I want to come here more often, maybe every other year," while Joanna Moyar said, "Having a meeting here is symbolic of our government’s history" and, "This is a place where people gave their opinions and aired their grievances, and we still do that."

The setting gave the meeting a direct connection to the county’s first seat of government, which operated at a local tavern before the Revolution. Historic Hanna’s Town is operated by the Westmoreland County Historical Society, and the county also held a public meeting there in 2023 for the county’s 250th birthday.

Westmoreland County History

Doug Chew said, "For me, coming here reminds me of the rebellious nature of our Westmoreland County ancestors and a precursor of our Independence. We should try and come back here regularly," after the commissioners acknowledged the work done by Joanna Moyar, director of interpretations and collections for the historical society. For residents, the meeting showed county government using the historic site for actual business, not just a ceremony.