Philip Burtner was working with Felix Negley at the Negley grist mill and fulling mill on Bull Creek at [what is now] West Tarentum in the late 1790’s, having first met when they were scouts during the Indian skirmishes in Western PA during the Revolutionary War. He met Negley’s sister, Margaret, and they married in Pittsburgh in Dec. 1800. The Burtner’s began their married life as squatters in a small cabin along Little Bull Creek in what would eventually become Natrona Heights. Burtner farmed the land until he could legally purchase it. After having nine children in that cabin they began construction on a stone house in 1818, completing it in 1821. One more child, John Negley Burtner, was born to Philip and Margaret in the new stone house in the summer of 1821.
Philip and Margaret’s youngest son, John Negley Burtner, died in 1833 and they chose a small knob on the farm, in view of the house, as the family cemetery.There are only about 60 grave stones in the cemetery, but many additional graves are unmarked.
Four generations of the Burtner family lived in the stone house until the 1960’s, with only fireplaces for heat, no running water and minimal electricity when power lines came to the area.When the last resident moved out, the house fell into disrepair.
In 1972, the original plans for the Allegheny Expressway - Route 28 were drawn in a way that called for the Burtner House to be demolished to make way for the road. However, members of the community petitioned then-Gov. Raymond Shafer to declare it an historic landmark.With a wrecking ball poised at the doorstep, the governor declared the Burtner House an historic landmark and state engineers flew to the site in a helicopter just in time to stop the demolition. Highway officials redrew the plans for Route 28 to spare the historic home.
Each year the Burtner House hosts two main events: a Strawberry Festival in June and a Harvest Festival in October, with the house open and colonial re-enactors located to tell guests the history.Tours are also given every third Sunday from July to September and appointments can be made for other dates.
DO NOT park on Burtner Hill Rd. – pull into JV Manufacturing and there is a set of wooden steps leading to the cemetery.Be courteous and do not block the employee’s cars.
BYOP Please replace exactly as found so everyone can enjoy.