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| A log that once made up the dam still survives in the stream The north abutment lies in the background Author's Photo |
Connections to the past can be found in all sorts of places. While some are easy to spot, others lie hidden in remote corners of our Commonwealth waiting to have their stories told. One such relic can be found in the wilds of Sproul State Forest. Though unassuming at first glance, it tells the story of one community's industrial heritage.
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| The Boche 77 at the Bellefonte Courthouse and W. Harrison Walker Photo Retrieved From: Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive |
After four horrific years, the "war to end all wars" came to a close on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918. World War I as it became known, introduced the world to a level of death and destruction previously unseen. Approximately 16 million lives had been lost during the conflict, almost 2% of the world's population at that time. In the United States, who had only joined the conflict the year before, 205,690 service members returned home suffering from wounds of various degrees. Another 116,708 never made it back.
The following year, Armistice Day was established by President Woodrow Wilson as a day to remember those who had served and lost their lives in WWI. As part of this remembrance, monuments and statues were erected in communities large and small across the country. Some of these dedications were comprised of military equipment captured from the enemy on the battlefields of Europe.
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| The ruins of the infamous dam that caused the Austin Flood |
The town of Austin in wonderfully rugged Potter County is known for dam that almost wiped it off the map over a century ago. The Austin Dam Disaster still stands as the second worst dam failure in Pennsylvania's history and the sixth deadliest dam disaster in the United States. Even before the dam completely failed, it exhibited several warnings that disaster was unavoidable. Sadly, all of these warnings went unheeded by the town and the paper company responsible for its construction. However, it appears that while the dam was sending signals of impending disaster, a gentleman in black appeared out of nowhere to offer a warning from beyond the grave...
North-central Pennsylvania is a haven for all sorts of wildlife, from the majestic bull elk bugling from the hollows to the shy songbirds that call from the tree tops. Few places can top such diversity and natural beauty. However, there is one species that few people, save the most seasoned sportsmen, have probably seen. More elusive than an old whitetail buck or cagey fisher, this animal has never been successfully captured and probably never will....
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| This small locomotive, often called a dinkey, is hauling clay from the mines to the Castanea brick works |
Pennsylvania's logging era is a fascinating topic to not only study, but also to explore. While the logging camps and and mill sites have largely faded away, one remnant will be with us for generations, the vast network of logging railroad grades. Construction of these grades enabled lumbermen to haul out millions of board feet of pine, hemlock, and hardwoods to sawmills across the state. Many of these grades have now been converted into roads or trails, but the vast majority remain undisturbed to follow wherever they may lead. One such location provided a poignant reminder of just how dangerous it was working on a logging railroad.
Since November is Native American Heritage Month, I thought it would be interesting to explore the Native American influences within out state forests. For anyone that has spent time wandering these forests, their natural beauty and recreational opportunities make them a true gem. The state forest system in Pennsylvania is comprised of 20 forests that cover 2.2 million acres and span 50 of the state's 67 counties.
