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| Elias Boudinot |
Did you know that the city of Philadelphia owned land in Centre County for 140 years?
This story begins with one man, Elias Boudinot, lawyer, statesman, and former director of the U.S. Mint. Born in Philadelphia in 1740, Elias quickly gained prominence in his chosen career of attorney-at-law and then as a state representative of New Jersey during the American Revolution. Following America’s independence, Elias was appointed director of the federal mint in Philadelphia by President George Washington.
So how does Centre County fit in with all this? Later in his life, Elias dabbled in land speculation. His appreciation for trees mixed with a devotion to help those in need must have convinced him to purchase roughly 12,000 acres (about 19 sq. miles) on the south side of the West Branch of the Susquehanna in what is now Burnside Township. Upon his death in 1821, Elias bequeathed the tract to the city of Philadelphia with the stipulation that the land be used to benefit the Fuel Fund, a charity to provide stove fuel to the poor during the winter.
This story begins with one man, Elias Boudinot, lawyer, statesman, and former director of the U.S. Mint. Born in Philadelphia in 1740, Elias quickly gained prominence in his chosen career of attorney-at-law and then as a state representative of New Jersey during the American Revolution. Following America’s independence, Elias was appointed director of the federal mint in Philadelphia by President George Washington.
So how does Centre County fit in with all this? Later in his life, Elias dabbled in land speculation. His appreciation for trees mixed with a devotion to help those in need must have convinced him to purchase roughly 12,000 acres (about 19 sq. miles) on the south side of the West Branch of the Susquehanna in what is now Burnside Township. Upon his death in 1821, Elias bequeathed the tract to the city of Philadelphia with the stipulation that the land be used to benefit the Fuel Fund, a charity to provide stove fuel to the poor during the winter.
While done out of love for his home, managing this remote tract would be a challenge for city officials. Sources seem to indicate that they were uncertain about what exactly to do with this gift. Some wanted to sell the lands outright as they had no apparent value, while others wanted to hold onto the land to see what the future would bring.
Reaching the “Boudinot Lands” or “Philadelphia City Lands” as it was later called, was a hurtle unto itself. Over 170 miles, much of it mountainous, lay between Philadelphia and the remote territory. Accessing this isolated location would have been quite the venture. Wagon roads and canal boats were the only means of transportation until a railroad connection from Philadelphia to Snow Shoe became available in 1865. What would become PA Route 144 between Snow Shoe and Renovo did not exist until the early 1930’s and continues to be the only paved road through the area to this day. In the year 1869 alone, it cost $500 for officials to visit the location from Philadelphia, that’s over $9,500 in today’s money.
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| A map of Burnside Township in 1861 showing the Philadelphia City Lands. Image Retrieved From: AncestorTracks.com |
The second half of the 19th Century saw a logging boom within Pennsylvania and the forests of Penn’s Woods were quickly falling to the unrelenting advance of lumbermen. Councilmen of the city were probably glad they did not dispose of the lands earlier, as the tract contained a plethora of timber resources, including the much sought after white pine.
By the early 1860’s, the tract was open to timbering leases. However, it’s apparent that logging was managed with some conservation practices in mind to ensure the future of the tract. Restrictions were placed on what trees could be harvested and the minimum size that could be felled. Agents of the city oversaw the operations and could enter the lands at any time to ensure the conditions of the lease were being upheld.
Though the tract was not completely spared from the saws of lumbermen, its forests were still something to behold. Forest Leaves, a periodical published by the Pennsylvania Forest Association, provided a description of the tract in 1887. The author remarked that the tract’s “matured and vigorous growth of trees” towered over the denuded landscape around it. It was also noted that, at the time, the City Lands contained, “the largest body of fully-matured hemlock in Centre County.” It was the author’s hope that the tract would be, “at least one area in the state which shall serve to perpetuate an exact idea of an absolutely primitive wilderness.”
Those stands of mature hemlock would not last long after the writing of that article. After exhausting much of the state’s white pine, lumbermen turned their attention to the majestic hemlock. By 1897, the tract was yielding over $2,000 annually for the Fuel Fund. In the void left by the pines and hemlocks, hardwoods such as oak and chestnut continued to grow. According to city records, this timber was severely hampered by wildfires and illegal cutting. Addressing this problem was hindered by monetary constraints combined with the extreme distance between the city and the land.
In May of 1890, a solution to these challenges was found. City officials leased a portion of the tract to the newly formed Spruce Run Park Association to operate as a game preserve. Leasing the property held several advantages. First, it helped offset the associated expenditures and taxes by creating a source of revenue for the city. In addition, as part of the agreement, the club would also help protect the tract from forest fires, trespassers, and illegal timber cutting.
Under the guidance of Superintendent George Boak of Pine Glen, members of the association built two club houses along Spruce Run and a dwelling for the land’s watchman. Deer and bear were reported as being naturally abundant throughout the tract. Over twenty miles of trout streams also flowed through its steep hollows. In the 1898 fishing season, the club caught 1,740 trout and stocked 15,000 in return. It was a true sportsman’s paradise.
Within the first decade of the 20th Century, city officials began to sell parcels of land from the tract. What prompted these sales is unknown, but it is safe to assume that the timber at those locations had been exhausted, making the land’s value limited. One sale included 2,793 acres purchased by the Department of Forest and Waters, now the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), at $2.00 per acre.
It wasn’t until October of 1961 that the Pennsylvania Game Commission purchased the approximately 8,000 remaining acres of the Boudinot Tract from the city. This acquisition later became a part of State Game Lands 100, ensuring that the land will continue to be utilized for conservation and recreation for generations to come.
Sources Available Upon Request
Though the tract was not completely spared from the saws of lumbermen, its forests were still something to behold. Forest Leaves, a periodical published by the Pennsylvania Forest Association, provided a description of the tract in 1887. The author remarked that the tract’s “matured and vigorous growth of trees” towered over the denuded landscape around it. It was also noted that, at the time, the City Lands contained, “the largest body of fully-matured hemlock in Centre County.” It was the author’s hope that the tract would be, “at least one area in the state which shall serve to perpetuate an exact idea of an absolutely primitive wilderness.”
Those stands of mature hemlock would not last long after the writing of that article. After exhausting much of the state’s white pine, lumbermen turned their attention to the majestic hemlock. By 1897, the tract was yielding over $2,000 annually for the Fuel Fund. In the void left by the pines and hemlocks, hardwoods such as oak and chestnut continued to grow. According to city records, this timber was severely hampered by wildfires and illegal cutting. Addressing this problem was hindered by monetary constraints combined with the extreme distance between the city and the land.
In May of 1890, a solution to these challenges was found. City officials leased a portion of the tract to the newly formed Spruce Run Park Association to operate as a game preserve. Leasing the property held several advantages. First, it helped offset the associated expenditures and taxes by creating a source of revenue for the city. In addition, as part of the agreement, the club would also help protect the tract from forest fires, trespassers, and illegal timber cutting.
Under the guidance of Superintendent George Boak of Pine Glen, members of the association built two club houses along Spruce Run and a dwelling for the land’s watchman. Deer and bear were reported as being naturally abundant throughout the tract. Over twenty miles of trout streams also flowed through its steep hollows. In the 1898 fishing season, the club caught 1,740 trout and stocked 15,000 in return. It was a true sportsman’s paradise.
Within the first decade of the 20th Century, city officials began to sell parcels of land from the tract. What prompted these sales is unknown, but it is safe to assume that the timber at those locations had been exhausted, making the land’s value limited. One sale included 2,793 acres purchased by the Department of Forest and Waters, now the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), at $2.00 per acre.
It wasn’t until October of 1961 that the Pennsylvania Game Commission purchased the approximately 8,000 remaining acres of the Boudinot Tract from the city. This acquisition later became a part of State Game Lands 100, ensuring that the land will continue to be utilized for conservation and recreation for generations to come.
Sources Available Upon Request
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