How Slippery Rock Got It's Name. Or is it?

Many tales are told about the origin of the name "Slippery Rock". Some scientists have even identified the particular moss, which combined with the clay and silt washing over it, creates the "slippery rock" in the creek. Some say George Washington was fleeing natives in the area and chose to dash across the Slippery Rock Creek to safety. The pursuing native, losing his footing on the rocks, misfired, and the father of our country was spared. This story is true, but the location is false! A minor protest in the early 1970's led some local institutions to change their logo to show a settler slipping on a rock. In any case, the rocks are indeed slippery, and the unusual name has been a distinction enjoyed by its citizens for many years.

As an interesting sidebar, the name "Slippery Rock" originally referred to the post office, located at Etna Furnace south of the present town. According to local legend, the post office was loaded into a wheelbarrow and moved to Centreville in the middle of the night and the federal government was never notified. The town came to be known as Slippery Rock in order to match its newly acquired and more conveniently located post office.

The "So Called" Legend

Legend has it that in colonial times, soldiers were being chased by the local Seneca Indians. The troops, wearing heavy boots, were able to cross the creek, but the Indians, wearing moccasins,
slipped on the rocks in the creek bed. Thay named it Wechachochapohka - " a slippery rock. "

In one version of this tale, George Washington is the colonial who benefits from the Indians slipping on the rocks. Washington did spend time in the area, but his place in this story is generally believed to be apocryphal.

The question to ask yourself is, "How would natives of the land for thousands of years, just go around slipping on rocks they have been running over for all those years?"

Why is the little town of Slippery Rock so famous?

The school and its football team have gotten all sorts of national publicity because some people thought Slippery Rock was a funny name. Obviously, it still is, but the football team isn't a national rival nowadays.

The fame of the Slippery Rock football team, the Rockets, dates back to 1936, when a playful sports writer "proved" that this team deserved the title of Best in the Nation. There was a
dispute as to whether Pittsburgh or Minnesota should be ranked No. 1. The Rockets beat Westminster 14 - 0, which beat West Virginia Weslyan 7 - 6, which beat Dequesne 2 - 0, which in turn beat Pittsburgh 7- 0, which beat Notre Dame 26 - 0, which beat Northwestern 26 - 0, which beat Minnesota 6 - 0. These comparative results to show that Slippery Rock should be No. 1.

In the 1950's, the University of Michigan public-address announcer began a traditon of giving Slippery Rock scores. The crowd reaction ( " The audience loved it." ) made an impression on an Associated Press writer named Dave Dials, who later adopted the practice when he hosted the Prudential College Scoreboard show on ABC. : Sometimes at the end of the show I found myself with a little extra time and they would give me the ' stretch ' sign," Dials, now retired, said from his home in Ohio. " One day I gave a Slippery Rock score, and the switchboard lit up. So the next week I made it a point to do it again. " Any time I had the time - and I generally found the time to do it - I would mention Slippery Rock. It got to the point where people expected it."

It may never be known if this is really "The Slippery Rock," or if this is how it received its name, but this rock is as likely as any other similar rock to be " The Slippery Rock."

This single rock is potentially the source for the name of a stream, a town, a university, on oil field, an oil sand from which the oil field produces, and a period of glaciation. And how many other single rocks are mentioned weekly on National television during the football season?

Native History around Slippery Rock

This area of western Pennsylvania was in contention during the French and Indian War, and in the years preceding. Many captives from the eastern settlements were brought to native encampments and villages in this area. Two early historical mentions include the notes of Christopher Gist, on his 1753 journey through Pennsylvania with George Washington, and the records of Christian Post, a Moravian missionary employed by the colonial government to make peace with the Delawares.

Both men mention the "Kuskuskies", who were of the Delaware clan, and numerous villages and sites have been identified as Kuskuski. In relation to Slippery Rock's history, the maple sugar grove on Wolf Creek, two miles west of the present town, is identified as the Kuskuski village where Christopher Post signed a peace treaty with King Beaver and other native leaders. The site was once owned by Mrs. Emma Guffey Miller, a leader in Democratic politics, and later deeded to Slippery Rock University. Archaeological explorations conducted by the University have revealed that Upper Woodland natives camped at the site for brief periods of time for the purposes of hunting and gathering. They are not believed to have tapped the maple trees in the grove, but did leave evidence of their pottery, as shards have been unearthed. The site is multi-layered and is approximately dated at 1600 to 2000 B.C.

Around Cooper's inn, the town of Centreville grew. Because of its location midway between Butler and Mercer, this name seemed most appropriate. Early settlers included the Coopers; William Hill; John Reynolds, a tavernkeeper and justice of the peace; William Cross, innkeeper; Isaac Pearson, merchant; Peter Sowash, blacksmith; John McCoy; Dr. Eli G. DeWolf, physician; William Fleming and George Christy, tanners; Samuel Bard, tailor; Peter Uber, cabinetmaker; Samuel Kerr, representative to the legislature; Alexander Buchanan, cabinetmaker; and John Cross, brickmaker. Many of these names are still known in the area.

In Slippery Rock Township, formed in 1804 from Allegheny County, and the surrounding area, the McKees, Studebakers, Stillwagons, Snyders, Binghams, Weakleys, Christleys, Gills, Wolfords, Mayburys, Grossmans, Stewarts, Hockenberrys, Campbells, Coverts, McDeavitts, McJunkins, Wigtons, Morrows, Ralstons, Eliotts, McNees, Kellys, Wimers and Taggarts settled and prospered. Many of these families still thrive in the Slippery Rock area.

Famous People from Slippery Rock

When the school was founded in 1889, its first president was James E. Morrow. His granddaughter, Anne Morrow, later married Charles Lindbergh.

Wrestler Stan Dziedzic won a bronze medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Mrs. Emma Guffey Miller

Haunted Slippery Rock

Miller Auditorium

Slippery Rock University's Theater was named after Emma Guffey Miller, who is believed to be the ghost that haunts the place. There is often strange banging or pounding noises heard and when people go to see what the noise is, no one is there. The lights also flicker and go out during rehehearsals.

The students started the tradition of hiding "Baby" somewhere on the stage during performances to keep Emma from sabotaging the show. Baby started out as a whole baby doll, but has degenerated to a charred multilated head. It is rumored that if Baby is not present, the show will be a disaster.

North Hall

Emma Guffy Miller, the ghost of Miller Auditorium, was also said th have haunted North Hall at night. She has been seen by some crossing the sidewalks over to the hall, and watching over people in their rooms as they sleep. Many people have also unexplainably had their doors Open in the middle of the night, despite them being locked. It is thought to be good luck if she watches over you.

McConnell's Mill State Park

The old mill turned state park is home to many spirits who still roam the hills and Slippery Rock Creek. When the mill was operational a man who worked there always walked the same path to work. He carried his lunch in a box and a lantern. Rumor is the man died because of a malfuntion in the equipment. Some nights if you park your car right above th emill th eman can be seen walking down the hill to mill. He goes into the mill a light seems to be on and screams are heard coming from the mill.

There is also the spirit of a caretaker, Mose Whorton, who lived on the property from the early 1930's until his death around 1960. Mose lived near the mill, in a cottage that no longer stands, the only home he had known since he was 20 years old. Legend says that at the old mill in the dead of night, a honk of a car horn will summon Mose.