Carmichaels is, and always has been, one of the more significant towns to exist in Greene County. At times in the past, it was known as Carmichaeltown, and it serves as the major “urban” center of the eastern portion of Greene County.
Once swamp land and an area that was scattered with small lake, the Native Americans first called that region home, but from the mid 1600s to the second half of the 18th century the land was largely vacant.
Thomas Hughes patented a track of land where Carmichaels now stands, which he called old town. In 1780, he traded that land to James Carmichael for a parcel of land in what is now Jefferson, and Carmichael would move to “Old Town.” James Carmichael is the man that gave Carmichaels its name.
When the town of Carmichaels was laid out, the town square was the focal point, and everything spread from there, with Market Street running north and south, and George Street running east and west. The square was first known as “The Diamond” and all the original lots bordering it were given a frontage of 50 feet and ran 100 feet deep to a narrow alley.
In 1853, Carmichaels was incorporated into a borough at the Court of Common Pleas in Waynesburg and the first election of official was held in 1855.
The image shown here is from a small CDV or Carte De Visite photograph made of a sketch of Carmichaels. Both the sketch and the photographic image of it date to around the time of the Civil War and was produced and sold by Rogers Photography. The image is small, just a little over 2 inches by 4 inches long and shows a view of Carmichaels with the Greene Academy as a major focal point in the foreground.
The Greene Academy began life as an Episcopal Church built around 1790. A cemetery was once located behind the building, but now many of the markers are gone. This cemetery was the final resting place of the very James Carmichaels for whom Carmichaels is named. In 1810, a brick extension was added, and the building became the Greene Academy, the first institution of higher learning west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Please keep an eye out on the Greene County Historical Society Facebook Page and website for information about our Christmas Open House, winter presentations, and our 2024 open season!
