On April 18, 1795, Pennsylvania State Governor Mifflin, by an act of legislature, was authorized to appoint two commissioners to survey and lay out towns at Presque Isle, at the mouth of French Creek, at the mouth of the Conewango Creek, and at Fort LeBoeuf. These towns became known as Erie, Franklin, Warren and Waterford, respectively. Later in 1795, General William Irvine and Surveyor Andrew Ellicott, along with soldiers and other surveyors arrived in what soon would be called Warren to lay out the streets, inlots, and outlots. It was then that the town at the confluence of the Conewango Creek and the Allegheny River be called “Warren,” in honor of General Joseph Warren, a surgeon and Revolutionary War General who was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.

The Warren County Historical Society, 210 Fourth Avenue, Warren, PA, will commemorate Warren’s Founders’ Day with displays of artifacts relating to the early days of Warren, including antique land surveying equipment and charts, and early maps of Northwestern Pennsylvania in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Also on display will be the journal of Celoron de Blainville who, in 1749, claimed the area for the French. There will be portraits of General Joseph Warren, an image of General William Irvine, portraits and journals of other surveyors and explorers, and much more. The Founders’ Day exhibit will run from April 3 to April 19, 2023, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. 

In addition to Warren’s Founders’ Day Exhibit, the Warren County Historical Society Board of Directors will sponsor a raffle with Seven Chances to Win! First prize is $500.00 cash, along with amazing prize packages such as, “The Indoor/Outdoor Golf Package,” and “The Foodies & Festivities Package.”  Tickets are only $5.00 each and are on sale now at 210 Fourth Avenue, Warren, PA.  The raffle drawing will take place on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 4:00 PM at the Historical Society.

Contributions to the Warren County Historical Society Warren’s Founders’ Day Raffle were made by Baldy’s Indoor Golf, Blueberry Hill Golf Course, Paula Bogart, Sue and Ike Borland, John Bowler, Cable Hollow Golf Course, Cornerstone Lounge and Family Restaurant, Robert Duffy, Elk Township Historical Society, Mark and Pat Evans, Freedom Investment, Michelle Gray, Jackson Valley Golf Course, Key Bank, Marcia Kleinert, Kwik Fill, Brookie LaVigne, Lowe’s, Chris and Diane Payne, Pellegrino’s Italian Food and Market, Peppermill Family Restaurant, Betty Sanford, The Shed Museum & Gift Shop, Tall Oaks, Targeted Pet Treats, Warren Tire Center, and Laura Whitten.