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A quick look at back issues of The Beaver County Times from that era shows a steady back-and-forth of
opinions and emotion. Some residents were all for the bypass, which was designed to end what had
become the worst traffic bottleneck in the county. Others felt the project would virtually destroy the
Freedom community, specifically the business district.
As it turns out, both sides were correct to an extent. When the bypass was completed, traffic through
Freedom became a breeze. This was mainly because traffic no longer actually went through the town,
but whizzed past it on the new four-lane highway.
Unfortunately, that new-found ease of travel came at a cost. The entire length of Third Avenue was
completely transformed, with the new bypass plowing directly over the graves of 117 buildings, which
had previously comprised the towns business district. It was a massive price to pay, and it changed
the entire perception of Freedom from a main street town into a hillside, bedroom community.
The bypass project wasnt the first time the Freedom community made a sacrifice in the name of
progress. Did you know that Freedom used to have First and Second avenues along the riverfront?
These were 19th century streets that paralleled Third Avenue, and which were lost to the Conway Yards
development and the increased level of the Ohio River caused by dam construction.
The loss of those streets left Third Avenue as virtually the only flat land in the community. It also cut of
the town from what had originally been its source of pride -- the Ohio River. Today, those in Freedom
who would like to walk down to the river have but one option -- a dreary, double-underpass that
extends from the foot of Eighth Street below the highway and railroad operations. Its a far cry from
the early days of town, when the river was the be-all, end-all for the community.
The story of Freedom is actually the story of two distinct towns, separated only by a small stream. It is
also a story that traces back to our old friends the Harmony Society. In 1831, a man named Barnard
Muller emigrated from Germany and settled in Economy, where he joined up with the Harmonists. He
became known as Count Maximilian, and almost immediately he began causing dissension within the
ranks of the society.
In 1832, Muller decided to break away from Economy and found his own collective. He purchased the
land around the village of Phillipsburg -- todays Monaca -- and set up shop. This necessitated the
relocation of the gigantic Stephen Phillips and Jonathan Betz boatyard, which was at the time a very
lucrative enterprise. Phillips & Betz didnt have to look far to find a new home for their operation, as
directly across the river was a vacant stretch of riverfront land.
This land was owned by Gen. Abner Lacock, one of the most pivotal early settlers of Beaver County.
Lacock had originally purchased the majority of land where Freedom and East Rochester now stand
and was slowly selling of parcels to be developed.
The boat builders bought 101 acres of land for a sum of $2,000 to build their new yards and a town
around it. A May 17, 1832, headline in the Beaver Argus newspaper announced the venture. It was
reported that the sale was completed on a Monday, the town laid out on Tuesday, and 14 houses had
been built by Friday -- a pretty impressive work ethic, even by todays standards.
Meanwhile, to the south of Dutchmans Run, another land purchase was made. Riverboat Capt. William
Vicary purchased 39 acres around his stone mansion, which he had built in 1826. He laid out a new
town, which would be called Vicary. It seems that many of these early settlers were not without a
sense of self-importance, since so many of our local places were named for them originally.
This town would be incorporated in 1867 under the name St. Clair. Although Freedom and St. Clair
were merged in 1896, it is still easy to see the line which separated them, that being Dutchmans Run.
In fact, only Third Avenue connects the two former towns.
By 1833, Freedom had over 300 residents. As the boat yards flourished, building lots were bought up
and by 1837 that number had grown to more than 600. The fast-growing town revolved around the
river, with the yards putting out boats at a rate of three per week. These ranged from massive
steamboats to smaller canal packet boats.
Other industries in Freedom over the years have been the Freedom Casket Co. and Freedom Oil Co.
Freedom Casket operated along the waterfront for nearly a century, before finally closing its doors in
1974. Freedom Oil eventually became Valvoline Oil, and surely many older residents can vividly recall
the smell of oil which permeated the entire Freedom area for decades.
Prior to 1974, the Third Avenue business district of Freedom was as self-contained and diverse as any
in our county. On both sides of the street were businesses -- including banks, restaurants, drug stores,
barber shops and shops to fit every conceivable need of the residents. By 1976, it was all gone --
victims of progress.
While it would be difficult for any town to overcome that loss, Freedom has persevered.
Today, Freedom is a tight-knit community whose residents speak passionately about their hometown.
While much of the early history has been trampled by progress, it seems the pride has remained
unscathed.
Jeffrey Snedden is a local writer, researcher and historian. If you have any questions, comments or
suggestions for future Histories & Mysteries columns, contact Snedden at
historiesandmysteries@yahoo.com. Each week, he will choose a few new topics and update past ones
with readers' notes and questions.
Jeffrey Snedden is a local writer, researcher and historian. If you have any questions, comments or
suggestions for future Histories & Mysteries columns, contact Snedden at
historiesandmysteries@yahoo.com. Each week, he will choose a few new topics and update past ones
with readers' notes and questions.

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A quick look at back issues of The Beaver County Times from that era shows a steady back-and-forth of

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