Peters Tutors

About Peters

About fifteen miles south of the downtown area, Peters Township, Pennsylvania, is an affluent suburb of Pittsburgh in Washington County. The township was first settled in the years following the French and Indian War and was named after William “Indian” Peters. There appears to be a bit of debate as to whether Peters was a Native American, probably Shawnee, or a white man who traded with the tribes in the area. In the years after the American Revolution the federal government found itself deep in debt because of its war expenditures. To raise money, it began taxing distilled spirits, a prime commodity in western Pennsylvania and for the farmers of Peters Township. Because it was difficult to ship their grain east over the Appalachian Mountains to markets in New York, farmers converted their grain to whiskey for easier transport. When the government levied a nine percent tax on their whiskey they rebelled. The farmers argued the tax was unfair, partly because they felt underserved. They had repeatedly asked President George Washington to protect their farms from Native American warriors who often invaded into Pennsylvania. The farmers also desired easy access to the Mississippi River to be able to ship their products south. Uprisings took place throughout the western counties of Pennsylvania with tax collectors often facing the brunt of the violence. Angry farmers would sometimes tar and feather government agents or ride them out of town on a rail.

Finally, in 1794, Washington sent 11,000 militia men into Pennsylvania, essentially squashing the rebellion. Most of the rebels, however, vanished into the wilderness with only two of the rebellion’s leaders convicted. They were subsequently pardoned by Washington and, in 1802, the federal tax on whiskey was rescinded. Farmers continued to make whiskey for many years afterward and the distillery established by Phillip Wigle, one of those who received a pardon from Washington, is based in Pennsylvania and still distributes spirits throughout the world. In fact, Wigle’s maintains a tasting room in downtown Pittsburgh. As for Peters Township, it remained a community of scattered farms and sparse population until after World War II when the township expanded with a five-fold growth in permanent residents. Today, Peters Township is an upscale residential community with median household incomes exceeding $105,000 a year.

It’s certain that a Peters Township tutor will be able to get you caught up on your most difficult academic subjects so you can take some time away from the books to enjoy the attractions and amenities in Peters Township and the surrounding area. Acquired by the township in 1996, Peters Lake Park is 189 acres with a lake, fishing pier, kayak launch and boat ramp. The park also features a three-quarter mile hiking trail along the lake through a heavily wooded area. It’s an excellent place to view wildlife and enjoy a peaceful walk. For more hiking or biking, the Arrowhead Trail offers a 3.5-mile path.

For a blast from the past, the 12-room Enoch Wright House in Peters Township was built in 1815 and today acts as a museum and National Historic Site. Acquired by the Peters Creek Historical Society in 1972, the house and museum contain artifacts and memorabilia from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also features a Native American arrowhead display and an exhibit about Pennsylvania coal mining. The house has recently been renovated to look as it did when it was built complete with period furniture.