Gilfillan Farm
From Working Farm to National Historic Place
Original Settlers
The Gilfillan's embarked on their journey to America from Scotland via Northern Ireland and arrived in 1772.
Alexander Gilfillan (1745-1836) settled in Allegheny County in 1780 and secured one of the original land patents for 412 acres where St. Clair Country Club is located today. His son, John (1784-1859), farmed the land. This area is highlighted in yellow in the map to the right.
Alexander's grandson and John's son, John (1826-1885) purchased the Adam Patterson land grant in 1849, which was made up of 135 acres. This area is highlighted in green on the map to the right.
Alexander Gilfillan (1745-1836) settled in Allegheny County in 1780 and secured one of the original land patents for 412 acres where St. Clair Country Club is located today. His son, John (1784-1859), farmed the land. This area is highlighted in yellow in the map to the right.
Alexander's grandson and John's son, John (1826-1885) purchased the Adam Patterson land grant in 1849, which was made up of 135 acres. This area is highlighted in green on the map to the right.
A Growing Family
As the Gilfillan family grew, new property was purchased and old property was sold and divided.
Gilfillan Property
1898
Gilfillan Property
1945
A Growing Community
As Upper St. Clair became more and more residential, the Gilfillan farm land that had grown so much since the 1780's started to change. By 1979, only 75 acres of the original farmland remained under the ownership of the Gilfillans. At that point, they chose to sell 60 acres to the Township of Upper St. Clair to establish the Gilfillan Park. After the sale, only 15 acres remained.
Gilfillan Property
19592
Gilfillan Property
19802
Gilfillan Farm becomes a National Historic Place
Also in 1979, Upper St. Clair resident Betsy Kunkle submitted the paperwork to have the remaining 15 acre Gilfillan Farm recognized on the National Register of Historic Places by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Historical & Museum Commission.1
The National Register is the official Federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Registered properties have significance to the history of their community, state, or the nation.
The National Register is the official Federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Registered properties have significance to the history of their community, state, or the nation.
