Darlington, Beaver County History and Air Heritage Museums (Thurs., 6/31/25)

July 29, 2025/Prentiss Orr

What’s The Deal With Darlington?

Greersburg Academy in Darlington was the school where noted educator William Holmes McGuffey once attended. He was the original author of the landmark textbooks the McGuffey Reader. (Photo by C. Prentiss Orr original photos)

Blink and you might miss the turn-off from Constitution Avenue that heads northwest from Chippewa, PA, in Beaver County. Never heard of Chippewa? Then you’ve likely never visited Darlington, an even smaller town of maybe 300 residents where the Little Beaver Historical Society manages three very distinctive museums. The most historic of the lot is Greersburg Academy, a stone schoolhouse William McGuffey once attended. Who was McGuffey? He was the man who wrote and published the once most popular American textbook for children, a series of “readers” which sold more than 120 million copies from 1836 to 1961. Just down the street is a giant warehouse now filled with curious relics of local industry and agriculture too expansive to describe succinctly. Yet a few highlights include an original computer the size of a refrigerator (it once helped Crucible Steel process its payroll,) a rare historic video of mill guards attacking peaceful strikers, and hundreds of industrial tools, household products, and antique toys few modern mill workers might recognize today. Another smaller industrial museum features historic glass, ceramic and steel products made in the area. Over 3,000 Native American historical items are available for viewing too. Darlington is the real deal; it’s all been assembled by volunteers working on a shoestring budget. A visit to this tiny village is mind-blowing in its scope and breadth of more than 200 years of American history.

To find Darlington, PA, take PA-65 N to Rochester, then PA-51 N (Constitution Blvd.) past Chippewa, and look for a sign for Darlington on your right. That’s Salem Church Rd. which will lead you to take a left onto Market Street. For a GPS setting, enter 710 Market Street, Darlington, PA., 16115. The little town has a grocery store for food and drinks, but on most summer weekends, local volunteers sell burgers and dogs on an aptly sized, industrial grill. Also nearby is the Air Heritage Aviation Museum at the Beaver County Airport which features 11 historic aircraft of various types. It is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.