Henry Overholtzer, his family and many acquaintences moved from Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Westmoreland County in 1800. Henry, who died in 1813, built a fulling mill and a small distillery with a capability of 6-8 gallons/day.

West Overton, Pennsylvania Atlas Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1876. Submitted by Ted R. Hazen 08/2009.

Henry's son, Abraham, having modified his last name to Overholt, continued to operate a large farm, two distilleries and a grist/flour mill as a Mennonite entrepenuer. He was the maternal grandfather of Henry Clay Frick, who became well known in the coal & coke industry in Pittsbourgh & Allegheny County.

Although this was only a few miles, in some types of inclement weather, mud and snow, it may as well have been 20 miles. Breaking down, broken wheel or axle, in one to two feet of mud left little to doexcept wait for a wheelwright or neighbor to help rectify the situation.

The popularity of "Old Farm" whiskey necessitated in the tearing down of the old mill & distillery in 1859 by Abraham and his son, Henry Stauffer Overholt, resulting in this present structure.

The earlier distillery had been rebuilt once before in the early 1800's, to facilitate increased production. The result of the enlarged distillery was 200 gallons/day, up from 8 gallons.

Old Overholt was never made at the West Overton Distillery, but rather at the Broadford operation overseen by one of Abraham's sons.

In 1854 Jacob S. Overholt, already in partnership with his father and brother, Henry Stauffer Overholt at the West Overton Distillery/Mill, ventured out with his cousin, Henry O. Overholt to start another distillery at Broad Ford on Jacob's Creek. This is Abraham Overholt's home at the distillery.

When Abraham died in 1870, both the Broadford operation and the West Overton (now known as A. Overholt & Co.) schuffled through several hands before settling with grandson, Henry Clay Frick. This building is the stock barn on the Overholt farm.

This brick barn is supposedly the largest brick barn in Pennsylvania. Henry Clay Frick's daughter, Helen Clay Frick purchased the Abraham Overholt Homestead and six adjacent out buildings in 1922, including the spring house, the birthplace of her father, and 12.7 acres of land for $14,000.

The mill and distillery were purchased by Helen Frick in the 1920's and by 1930, the mill/distillery building had become a museum, operating as a branch of the Westmoreland-Fayette Historical Society. The West Overton Village now owns all 18 structures of the original village with plans for future preservation.