George Washington and his time in Ellwood City Monday, February 22, 2010 12:30 PM - On this day, February 22 in 1927, Congress convened to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, who was born in 1732. Washington, the commanding general of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, went on to serve as the nation’s first president from 1789 to 1797, and in time, our nation’s capital would be named after him. Everyone understands these facts about Washington, but what many do not understand is his unique knowledge of the vastness of the American land. Washington took pride in his journey through the American landscape during his surveying career and the French and Indian War. Early on, he realized that the West was a land of opportunity, and he believed that the colonies had more in common with one another than with Great Britain. His surveying career brought him to many locations around the western Pennsylvania area, including Ellwood City. During the winter months of 1753, Washington began his surveying trek, as well as a diplomatic mission for the governor of Virginia. Washington would have been just 21-years-old when traveling through Ellwood City, so he was accompanied by his brothers and the known surveyor and mapmaker at the time, Christopher Gist. Gist was with Washington through most of his travels and is said to have saved Washington's life twice. According to EllwoodCityMemories.com, George Washington came into Ellwood City in 1753 while surveying the area. Supposedly, Washington and company stayed a considerable amount of time in what is now known as the North Side of Ellwood City. The legend goes on to say that Ellwood City local Moses Matheny was given a handsaw by the future President’s survey crew. Some say that this exact saw was used in the construction of the Matheny Inn – a tavern once located at Rock Point completed in 1837 by Moses’ son Aaron Matheny. Historians believe Washington's objective for traveling through Ellwood City, as well as other similar locations, was to continue surveying and persuade the French to stop building forts in the Ohio Valley, an area claimed by both the French and the British. Some say that his 'knowledge of the land' gained from his journey through western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley helped win him Presidency some 30 years later. On this day, 278 years ago, George Washington was born. Today, the country remembers all his endeavors during the Revolutionary War and as the first president of the United States, but a select few may actually reflect on the historic legend of George Washington’s time in Ellwood City.