The Clara Price Murder (Centre & Clearfield Counties)

Clara Price's cenotaph
Author's Photo

    You never quite know what might be just around the next bend, which is especially true if you happen to find yourself on scenic Route 879 near the small river town of Karthaus. Not more than a half-mile from town sits a monument to a horrific tragedy. Stopping to investigate will find the end, rather than the beginning, of a story about a young girl who traveled this same route over a century ago and never made it around the next bend.

Ferney Mountain Railroad (Clinton County)

Remnants of the Ferney Mountain Railroad along Ferney Run
Author's Photo

    Ferney, Clinton County is a place probably few have heard of and even fewer have actually been to. Hidden away on the north bank of the West Branch of the Susquehanna between Hyner and Farrandsville, Ferney joins three other remote hamlets on that side of the river, Richie, Glen Union, and Whetham. 

    Today, all of them are mere collections of seasonal camps with few permanent residents. You don't just happen to pass through these places, reaching them requires visitors to leave the safety of paved roads and cell service and navigate a narrow gravel road sandwiched between the railroad tracks and river bank.

Benner Cemetery (Centre County)

Benner Cemetery
Author's Photo

     Lying just out of sight from the busy streets and shopping centers of State College, is a small family cemetery. Though quaint and humble, one resident of this cemetery, along with his descendants, helped to make Centre County what it is today. His name was General Philip Benner.

The Pepper Hill Fire (Cameron County)

The plaque commemorating the eight men who perished
fighting the Pepper Hill Fire.

Situated along scenic Route 120 in Cameron County, sets a quaint roadside memorial. Here, the tragic story of eight men and their sacrifice came to a close. To find the beginning, one must look upon the steep rocky slopes of a terrain feature with a peculiar name, Pepper Hill.

Eddy Lick Splash Dam (Centre County)

 

Eddy Lick Splash Dam still clings to the present day
Author's Photo

     Pennsylvania’s lumber heritage is a fascinating era to research and explore. No matter where you may live within Penn's Woods, there's probably a logging connection somewhere to be found. Many remnants of this era remain to tell this story. One of which lies hidden along Eddy Lick Run in the wilds of Sproul State Forest. 

Cottage Hill/Highland Street Tunnel (Clearfield County)

Highland Street Tunnel
Author's Photo

     Cottage Hill Tunnel, also known as the Highland Street Tunnel, is a remnant of one of this region’s most interesting railroads, the Buffalo & Susquehanna (B&S). What began as diminutive 10 mile logging railroad grew exponentially into an industrial giant of more than 400 miles. Today, little remains of this vast railroad empire. However, the tunnel and other scattered remnants continue to tell its fascinating story.

Jacksonville Lime Kiln (Centre County)

 

The Jacksonville Lime Kiln in 2018
Author's Photo

Though almost unrecognizable now, this lime kiln along Walnut Street in Marion Township was once typical of those used throughout rural Pennsylvania during the late 18th to early 20th Centuries. While sadly in poor condition, the kiln still provides a glimpse into the region’s agricultural past.