Activities

Festival of Lights

We celebrate the Christmas holiday season by hosting the Festival of Lights at the Chapter House. Trees and lights are given to individuals and organizations that in turn decorate the trees and donate them back to the Festival. The trees are put on display at the Chapter House where they can be purchased at any time during the event. The trees that are purchased can be picked up the last day of the event. The proceeds of this event are used for the maintenance and restoration of the Chapter House. The Laurel Highlands Chamber of Commerce started the Festival of Lights in 1989 in the basement of the Elks' Club. In 1990, it was relocated to the Chapter House, but was still hosted by the Chamber until 1997 when the Braddock Trail Chapter began to host the event. The photo shows decorated trees flanking the elegant fireplace in the living room of the Warden Mansion during the 2002 season of the Festival of Lights.

Constitution Week

We celebrate Constitution Week by having the mayors of Mount Pleasant and Scottdale sign proclamations.

American History Month

We generally celebrate American History Month in February with mayoral proclamations. In recent years, however, the American History contest winners read their essays in front of the chapter members, their parents, and teachers.

American History Essay Contest

We conduct the American History Essay Contest for students in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 in all local schools and sanctioned home-study programs. Each year a selected topic for use during the forthcoming academic year is announced. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. Chapters send one winning essay from each of the four grades to the state chairman for judging on the state level.

Annual Donations

We make annual donations to various projects sponsored by the State and National Societies.

Children of the American Revolution

Braddock Trail Chapter sponsors the Peggy Shaw Society, Children of the American Revolution. Peggy Shaw Society has been reorganized in 2009 and is now active. Contact Senior Society President, Carol Pack Urban, for more information.

Cemetery Work

Some members assisted in clearing off the old "AlteMenist" Cemetery in Bullskin Township, Fayette County, under the direction of James F. Loucks of Scottdale, caretaker. Two Revolutionary soldiers are buried there: Abraham Stauffer and Joseph Sherrick, ancestors of several Chapter members.