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This is one of 20 historical caches along the Butler Freeport Community Trail, formerly the Butler Branch of the Western Pennsylvania Railroad. So grab your passport, provided in the cache box, enter the keyword. Then attend an event or send to the address on the passport to purchase a trackable, custom geocoin. Any questions, please e-mail president@butlerfreeporttrail.org
THIS SERIES OF CACHES ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE VIA THE BUTLER FREEPORT TRAIL. There is plenty of parking at each trailhead. DO NOT DRIVE ON THE TRAIL, you may hike or bike to each cache. Passports are now downloadable on www.butlerfreeporttrail.org
Great Belt sits in Jefferson Township. The first permanent settlement of this township was made in 1796 by Irish native Patrick Graham, of Westmoreland County. He visited the glades in 1795, selected land and the following year constructed a log hut near the west line of the township. He then returned to Westmoreland County for his wife Elizabeth (McKee), a daughter and two sons. In 1798 his son Patrick was the first white child born in the township. The old pioneer died in 1844, in his ninety-seventh year.
The village of Great Belt started to build in 1870 during the completion of the railroad. Before the village was laid out, a hotel was erected by M. and P. SHIELDS. The post office known as Coyle’s was established at this same time with Michael Sweeney as the first Postmaster and L. Heidrick as the second. It is located in the northeastern part of Jefferson Township. Postmaster Sweeney also began a general store in 1870 and carried it on until 1880, when L. Hartenstein became owner. The L. Hartenstein & Company enlarged Sweeney’s building. Mr. William Reddick was a partner and worked in the mercantile business since 1874. Mr. Emery Collins was a clerk for the firm.
Lewis Hartenstein of L. Hartenstein and Company at Great Belt was born on a homestead farm Jefferson Township, Butler County, in 1846. He remained with his parents, Henry and Augusta Hartenstein old residents of Butler County, until 1873. Mr. Hartenstein received a common-school education. In the fall of 1863, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Infantry, and served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Resaca, New Hope Church, Smyrna Church, the siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and many others.
In 1876, Mr. Hartenstein engaged in the mercantile business at Great Belt, keeping a general store. His business ability and good judgment insured success, and he did a large and prosperous business. He had the only store at Great Belt; employed three clerks received most of the business in the area around Great Belt. He dealt largely in produce, and in addition to his other duties, was the third Postmaster of Coyle’s Post Office, ticket and express agent. Mr. Hartenstein a vigorous and growth oriented man laid the foundations of a winning business career.
He was married, in 1874, to Miss Caroline E. Divener, of Millerstown, Donegal Township, Butler County, daughter of Henry and Theresa Divener. The Diveners were also early residents in Butler County. Mr. and Mrs. Hartenstein have two girls Clara and Mollie. The family attended the German Lutheran Church of Hannahstown. Politically, Mr. Hartenstein is a Republican. Shown is a sketch of the Hartenstein residence from the 1895 Butler County History.
The J.M. O’Neil store and a machine shop were in evidence by 1875. Great Belt included about twenty houses, one church, one store, one hotel, one carriage and blacksmith shop, one saddle and harness shop and one shoemaker's shop. By 1879, it also contained several mercantile establishments.
In 1876 David Kirk and Richard Dilworth, oil operators from Pithole purchased the Gottlieb Wolf farm and laid out lots in and around Coyle’s Station of the Butler Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Richard Kirk had supervised the completion of the Great Oil Duct from Pithole to the Allegheny River in 1865. This area became known as Great Belt because it was situated in the “Great Oil Belt.” The oil field crews worked out from this point. The elevation at the Great Belt depot, track level, is 1,260 feet above sea level, being fifty-nine feet higher than at Saxon Station, or about the same elevation as Saxonburg.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Great Belt was organized February 25, 1877 with the completion of a church building begun in 1876 and eight members. The cost of the building was $1,500.00. This building was almost overturned by the frost forcing up the foundation which was insecure. The trustees of the society, Samuel Caldwell, John Henrickson and Levi Heidrick, repaired the damage at considerable cost. By 1883 the membership had increased to 14. Within ten years the building was moved away, and the society disbanded.
Two doctors were registered with Butler County for the village of Great Belt P.S. Duff (H) in 1863 and George G. Atkins in 1881.
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