Revelton Ghost Town (Clinton County)

 

    

Revelton Iron Furnace
Author's Photo

    Hidden behind a curtain of hemlock and pine lies a portal to the past, a time when Central Pennsylvania’s vast industrial potential was being realized. During that era, much of the region was still relatively untamed. Extracting these sought after resources would require the determination and expertise of a unique breed of men. In the wilds of Clinton County, a short broad gentleman known as “The General” would exhibit all of those qualities, along with many more colorful ones, while taming this rugged country.

The Wreck of the Red Arrow (Blair County)

 

Passenger cars and engines lay scattered over the embankment
Image Retrieved From: https://www.gendisasters.com/

Seventy-seven years ago today, the premier Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train the Red Arrow crested the summit of the Alleghenies at Gallitzin, Cambria County on its dash to New York. From here, the entire 12 miles to Altoona would pit the train against gravity. Engineer Billig leaned out the cab window into the foggy night. Behind his engine were fourteen cars full of passengers, many of whom had been lulled into slumber by the gentle rocking of the train. Ahead was Bennington Curve, the first of many that snaked the tracks down the mountain. Engineer Billig had taken many a train around this curve in the past, so it was to his surprise when he felt the engine begin to heel over, followed by the earsplitting sound of the train being ripped apart. 

Howard Brick Works (Centre County)

    It's remarkable how something so unassuming like an old worn brick could tell such a fascinating story. Many of these bricks show a great deal of character, having survived over a century of wear from people and time. These bricks are quite symbolic of the community that is stamped upon them. The borough of Howard, now in its its second century, has been shaped by the same forces, yet remains just as strong and durable as these simple red bricks.