Bushy Run Battlefield president strives to keep history alive

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Bonnie Ramus knows the importance of keeping history alive, and she’s spent the last 10 years working in a top spot to help preserve it at Bushy Run Battlefield.

“I just love the history of the area, I love working with the people. … The park is beautiful, so I love being at the park,” said Ramus, president of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society Inc. “It’s just a whole gambit of things.”

The society’s goal is to generate support for Bushy Run Battlefield in Penn Township while assisting in the development of historical and educational programs in accordance with an agreement between the society and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which owns the battlefield.

The battlefield holds a trove of history and is the site of a historic battle between Native Americans and the British during Pontiac’s War. The 1763 battle, which landed the British a victory, was seen as a critical turning point in the war. It prevented the capture of Fort Pitt while restoring lines of communication between frontier and eastern settlements.

For Ramus, of Harrison City, that history called to her.

“I’ve always loved history,” she said. “I grew up in Allegheny County, my parents were from Braddock, so when I found out that Braddock was actually a person when I was in grade school, it kind of sparked my interest.”

When her family eventually moved to Westmoreland County, Ramus was drawn to Bushy Run because she was “just fascinated by the history.”

Ramus first started volunteering at the battlefield in 2005. She served as interim president of the heritage society in 2011 and was elected to the post in 2012.

Since then, Ramus said one her biggest projects is ensuring the society stays afloat financially. Ramus noted, while the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission maintains the park, the society is responsible for paying utility and garbage bills.

To raise money, the organization hosts fundraising events and accepts donations.

“It’s been tough this last year because everything had to be virtual but we’ve come a long way,” Ramus said.

The battlefield has been closed to visitors since the Wolf administration shut down state-owned facilities a year ago in an attempt to stop the spread of covid-19. Rather than not engage with members of the community, Ramus said volunteers moved several events online including a basket auction, a children’s Christmas party and a colonial cocktail hour.

While Ramus said the park is still not permitted to host major events, they were ready to welcome visitors back on April 30.

“We’re finally there so we’re excited,” she said.

As things seemingly creep back to normal, Ramus will continue with tasks she has dealt with over the past 10 years, including overseeing the society and maintaining a relationship with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Looking forward, she hopes to continue work to attract younger generations to the park.

“The community, we try to get them involved as much as we can, getting the younger kids in so that the history doesn’t die,” Ramus said.