Confluence celebrates 150 years

CONFLUENCE ― Confluence borough commemorates 150 years since its incorporation Saturday with a daylong celebration featuring live music, food, craft vendors, and activities for all ages followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.

"Folks seem pretty excited for Saturday," said Suzanne Ragan Lentz, president of the Confluence Tourism Association. "The town is buzzing. Lots of people working hard on different pieces from landscaping to creating a giant paper mache George Washington puppet."

Lentz said a group of committee members wanted to build on what was done for the Confluence 100th year anniversary.

"Last year, a couple community members realized the borough's anniversary was approaching. John Tressler put the committee together," said Lentz. "In 1973, Confluence threw a huge 100-year celebration over Labor Day weekend. One of the things the organizers left behind was a book commemorating the first 100 years of Confluence. The Turkeyfoot Valley Historical Society did a reprint of the book as a fundraiser a decade or so ago – keeping the history alive."

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Why 'Confluence'?

Confluence was named because of its location at the junction of the Casselman River and Laurel Hill Creek with the Youghiogheny River. The borough was incorporated in 1873 – two years after the railroad was completed. George Washington first explored the Confluence region in the mid-1700s and returned numerous times. His guide, Christopher Gist, told Washington the way the three waterways converge – the Casselman and Youghiogheny rivers and Laurel Hill Creek – reminded him of a turkey's foot. Washington referred to the valley as the "Turkeyfoot area" in his writings.

The community now is also known for its recreational venues and attractions that bring visitors from all over. Passing through Confluence is the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail, part of a 335-mile continuous non-motorized corridor from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.

The trail parallels the Youghiogheny River. The river is known for some of the best whitewater boating in the Eastern United States as well as its scenery. The 2,840-acre Youghiogheny River Lake is just south of town that attracts boaters.

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Festivities planned

"We have a Confluence 150 Organizing Committee consisting of residents, members of the Confluence Borough Council, local business owners, and civic organization leaders (Confluence Volunteer Fire Department, VFW, Lions Club, Boy Scouts)," Lentz said. "Jennifer Gross, manager of Somerset Trust, and I, co-owner of Tissue Farm, are the co-chairs of the organizing committee. Our first meeting was in November 2022. We started by meeting monthly, then every other week, and for the past month every week."

Confluence 150 festivities begin at 11 a.m. with an opening ceremony in the town park. The ceremony will include the Confluence VFW Color Guard, speakers including Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Stefano, and the ceremonial burial of a time capsule.

Concerts in the park bandstand begin hourly starting at noon. Entertainers include Stoney Creek Bluegrass and Seldom Scene Players. Somerset County Community Band will also be performing.

Performances will continue until 8:30 p.m. when a lantern parade, led by a George Washington puppet, will escort followers to a designated fireworks viewing point. The fireworks display, presented by Somerset Trust Co., will be launched at 9 p.m. near the confluence of the Laurel Hill Creek and Youghiogheny and Casselman rivers.

There is a 150th Car Show sponsored by the Confluence Lions Club and a corn hole tournament. Registration for both begins at 11 a.m. The corn hole tournament begins at noon. The car show will present awards at 3 p.m.

Visitors can get creative at the Confluence Creative Arts Center’s Art in the Park from 12-4 p.m. Children, teens and adults are invited to stop by and paint, print, craft, and create at multiple craft stations suitable for all ages and abilities. There will be extra-special, family-friendly arts and crafts with a nod to the town's history.

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Jeff Clevenger has worked with the historical society several times with French and Indian and George Washington reenactments. He is setting up a small reenactment tent "Two Days in the Life of Washington: Passing Through the Turkeyfoot May 19-20, 1754," in the park for the day and talk about Washington's trip through Confluence.

Food and craft vendors, horse-drawn wagon rides, a Casselman Valley Dairy milk wagon, and steam tractors are some of the activities at the town square. The Turkeyfoot Valley Historical Society will conduct walking history tours. Birth records from Price Hospital, courtesy of Dr. Price’s daughter Mary Aukerman, will be available for viewing, along with a historical timeline of Confluence’s history at Tissue Farm in the former Mountain Chevrolet building at 446 Latrobe in Confluence.

"Confluence is an incredible small town with a deep history and many people who care about the community," Lentz said. "I'm so grateful to be a part of this place and be able to help plan this community-based 150 event."

Additional event information can be found at www.confluence150.org.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Confluence celebrates 150 years with festival Saturday