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Boquet, Pennsylvania

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Boquet is an unincorporated community in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, it has historic significance as the site of the Battle of Bushy Run during the American Colonial Era. Some historical buildings remain from the early 19th through early 20th centuries.

Etymology

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It is commonly accepted that Boquet was named after General Henry Bouquet, a British army officer of the 18th century. His name was sometimes spelled Boquet.[1][2][3]

The community lies along the original route of the Forbes Road, the military road created by a British/colonial force under British General John Forbes to displace the French from Fort Duquesne in 1758.[4] (It was the second road into western Pennsylvania, the first having been Braddock's Road in 1755.) Within a few years of its creation, the segment of Forbes Road that Boquet would come to be located upon was removed several miles to the south.[4] The Battle of Bushy Run, part of Pontiac's War, took place at a site on the newer, more southerly route of Forbes' Road.[5]

History

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There were some small businesses in the community in the 19th century, including a hickory handle factory.[6]

In the 1880s, Boquet had a post office; however, it lacked a railroad station of its own.[7]

The local telephone company was incorporated in 1905, and had two directors from Boquet.[8]

Landmarks

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Possibly the most significant landmark in the Boquet area is the Greensburg Jeannette Regional Airport.[9]

Just over a mile's distance from the community lies the site of the Battle of Bushy Run, an important part of the Pontiac’s War.[5][10] Re-enactments of the battle are held annually on the first full weekend of August.[11]

Boquet is home to numerous historical buildings from the 19th century, including a former whiskey bonding house and mansion, built of cut stone in 1818,[12] which has since been remodeled into a home.

There are also two historic Christian churches nearby: Denmark Manor United Church of Christ in Export,[13] and St. Barbara Roman Catholic Church in Harrison City.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Armor, William Crawford (1872). Lives of the Governors of Pennsylvania, With the Incidental History of the State, from 1609 to 1872. James K. Simon. p. 493. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  2. ^ Boucher, John Newton; Hedley, Fenwick Y. (1918). Old and New Westmoreland, Volume 1. American Historical Society. p. vi. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  3. ^ Year Book and Directory of the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh, Pa. Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. 1904. p. 34. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  4. ^ a b History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, With Genealogical and Personal History, Volume 2. Walworth. 1906. pp. 192–193. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Navarro, Meghan A. "Virtual Exhibitions: Indians at the Post Office: The Battle of Bushy Run". United States Postal Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved May 22, 2026. Early in 1763, the Delaware had begun to attack settlements near Fort Pitt, drawing the infamous Colonel Bouquet back there to defend it. Indian scouts observed Bouquet's army marching west along Forbes Road and, upon hearing this, the forces surrounding Fort Pitt chose to temporarily end their siege and attack Bouquet and his men before they arrived. The attack resulted in a victory for the British. Bouquet and his forces relieved the garrison at Fort Pitt, lines of communication from the frontier were restored, and Pontiac's War turned in favor of the British
  6. ^ Boucher, John Newton (1906). History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Volume II. Dalcassian Publishing Company. p. 403. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  7. ^ Bullinger's Postal and Shipping Guide for the United States & Canada. 1881. p. 107. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  8. ^ Annual Report, Pennsylvania. Dept. of Internal Affairs. 1910. pp. 783–784. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  9. ^ Tomasic, Megan (September 28, 2021). "Penn Township airport a 'gem of the community'". Tribune Live (Pittsburgh). Retrieved May 21, 2026. Originally established in 1969 by the Frey family, who purchased a farm and excavated the land to build a runway, the airport has been a hidden asset to the community.
  10. ^ Boucher, John Newton; Hedley, Fenwick Y. (1918). Old and New Westmoreland, Volume 4, Pages 623-1050. American Historical Society. p. 941. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  11. ^ "Bushy Run Battlefield, Pennsylvania: 250th Anniversary Events: Tentative Schedule of Events". bushyrunbattlefield.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2026. 2:00 PM – Battle Reenactment
  12. ^ Boucher, John Newton; Jordan, John Woolf (1908). A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Volume 4. Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 401–402. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  13. ^ "Denmark Manor UCC". United Church of Christ. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  14. ^ "Saint Barbara Roman Catholic Church". Retrieved May 21, 2026.

40°22′53″N 79°36′08″W / 40.38139°N 79.60222°W / 40.38139; -79.60222

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