Was a glass whiskey flask discovered locally in an old log cabin produced at the time of the Whiskey Rebellion?

It's not a mystery of historic proportions such as, say, Who killed JFK? But producers of the "History Detectives" series on the Public Broadcasting Service feel it is worthy of a 16-minute segment on the hour-long show.

A production crew was in Pittsburgh June 16-19 to film at the Oliver Miller Homestead in South Park.

	Staff members from Oregon Public Broadcasting and Lion Productions, based in New York, spent two days at the Oliver Miller Homestead and other area sites filming a segment of the PBS show "History Detectives." Click photo for larger image.

The site, settled in 1772, is a pioneer landmark and Whiskey Rebellion site and is a popular spot with visitors.

The episode is scheduled to air in late August or early September on WQED TV.

The PBS series, now in its fourth season, has appeal for mystery buffs and history buffs.

As a detective show, it uses traditional investigative techniques and modern forensic technology to solve historical mysteries.

As a history show, "We use an object to tell a piece of unknown American history," said associate producer Eric Slade, of Portland, Ore.

The 1794 Whiskey Rebellion was an organized rebellion among farmers of the new country against a new and hated federal tax on whiskey-producing stills. President George Washington's quick suppression of the revolt marked the first time the U.S. government used military force to exert authority over its citizens.

On June 17, such details were filmed as they were given by William Hogeland, author of a new book on the subject, to show co-host Gwen Wright.

There were many takes.

"It wasn't perfect. Let's do it one more time," Ms. Wright said as they re-enacted their "discussion" outside the homestead's Stone House at least six times while cameras rolled.

For the next scene, one frequently interrupted by the decidedly 21st-century sounds of cars and airplanes, the pair stood beside a whiskey barrel from the time.

When Ms. Wright, a professor of history at Columbia University, showed him the flask, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based author said, yes, it was common in those days to carry a personal flask for spirits.

Visits to the former Mingo Creek Church, in Finleyville, which served as a rebel meeting site, and the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center in the Strip District rounded out the afternoon of filming.

The next morning, the crew shot the episode's opening scene at a log cabin in Eighty Four, where an Oaklyn, N.J., woman found the glass flask in the 1960s.

Filming concluded at the homestead with the assistance of the Oliver Miller Homestead Associates Acting Troupe, which gets lots of practice in period costume acting as guides and docents at the site.

Phil Haines, of Scott, played William Miller as he was served a writ by U.S. Marshall David Lenox, played by Tom Noonan, of Swissvale.

The writ demanded 250 silver pieces as a fine for Mr. Miller's failure to register his still.

When farmers in nearby fields heard arguing, they fired shots at the departing officers, subsequently deemed the first shots of the rebellion.

Filming concluded with George Washington on horseback, inspecting soldiers from the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, which helped crush the rebellion.

Those soldiers, dressed in copies of attire from the Revolutionary War period, included Walt Cormack and his son, John, both of Bridgeville, and Mr. Cormack's son-in-law, Dave Faiello, of Scott.

As for the mystery -- is the flask that era? -- you'll have to tune in to find out.

Check newspaper listings for the official air date of the PBS show. The Oliver Miller Homestead is open from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. every Sunday through Dec. 10. Special events sometimes change the hours. The homestead is on Stone Manse Drive in South Park. Admission is $1. Call 412-835-1554 or visit www.15122.com/OliverMiller.