Guyasuta (1720-1794), "Crosses Standing in a Row", a leader of the Seneca Tribe whose hunting ground included the Sharpsburg area, served as George Washington's guide during a 1753 survey of the point. he later represented his people in negotiations with the British settlers. During his later years, he settled in the area now known as Guyasuta Reservation and probably buried in the area now occupied by the north end of the Highland Park Bridge.
This statue is the third to occupy this site. The first was part of a large fountain manufactured by the J.L. Mott Company and given by H.J. Heinz circa 1896. That fountain was hit by a car in 1930 and replaced by a second statue from the original mould which was knocked from its concrete base in 1983 by a truck. This bronze replica of the 1930 statue was produced by Karkadoulias Bronze Art Company and installed in 1986. While the sculpture is not modeled in the likeness of Guyasuta, his name has long been associated with it.
Henry John Heinz (1844-1919) came to Sharpsburg in 1849. For nearly 40 years, he grew vegetables in the fertile soil of the surrounding Allegheny River flood plain. During that time, he resided in Sharpsburg, taught Sundah School in the Grace Methodist Church (15th Street) and became a highly respected member of the community. In the late 1800's, he relocated his rapidly growing company to its current location on Pittsburgh's North Side, leaving behind numerous gifts to the community, including a playground and a ballfield and the elaborate metal drinking fountain topped by a life-size sculpture of an Indian which stood at this intersection until 1930.
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