Castanea Brick & Tile Co. (Clinton County)

This small locomotive, often called a dinkey,
is hauling clay from the mines to the Castanea brick works

    Castanea is the Latin name for chestnut. The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once a hearty tree that thrived across Central Pennsylvania, especially on the steep rocky ridges of Bald Eagle Mountain. In 1871, the village of Castenea was established across Bald Eagle Creek from the city of Lock Haven. The story of Castanea, like many small communities throughout the region, mirrors that of the ill-fated chestnut tree, as in both cases there are few reminders of what once was.     

Central PA's Forgotten State Forests

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. 

Lost To The Depths: The Story of the Frank H. Goodyear (PA Wilds)

 

The Frank H. Goodyear

        Sinnemahoning is a name synonymous with the PA Wilds region of Pennsylvania. The name’s origin lies with the Lenni Lenape word "Achsinnimahoni" meaning  at the stony lick. You would think that such a unique name could be found no where else. Yet, there is another Sinnemahoning hundreds of miles away and 300 feet below the surface of Lake Huron. How it arrived there can be tied back to one man and the empire he built in the rugged Pennsylvania wilderness.

The Watchman Printing House (Centre County)

 

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Bellefonte was once the home of several news periodicals. Some of the names that once graced the headlines included, American Patriot, Daily News, True Democrat, Centre Farmer, Bellefonte National, Centre Democrat, and the Centre Magnet. What were once frontline newspapers are now relegated to the archives. Analyzing these periodicals and their content gives us a cross-section of what society was like at the time. Today's scoop focuses on one such paper and its editor who became a target of the United States government.     

Rocks and Rapids vs. Steam and Steel: The Story of Steamboats on the Susquehanna River

The Rumsey Monument overlooking the Potomac River
Author's Photo

Standing high above the Potomac River in Shepardstown, West Virginia sits a monument to a man and a machine of his own design. While many are probably aware of this revolutionary machine, few probably know this gentleman by name. So how does this pertain to Central Pennsylvania? When his invention made its way to the region, it inadvertently set in motion a new era for transportation.

The Lost Elk of Centre County

A Rocky Mountain Bull Elk
Photo Retrieved From:https://www.fws.gov/

    Elk Creek, Elk Gap, and Elk Street are all locations that can be found amongst the ridges and valleys of southern Centre County. These names are remnants of an era long since passed, when the magnificent bugle of a bull elk could be heard echoing across the ridges. According to some sources, it was here that 140 years ago that the last native elk was killed and a species that had once prospered across the state was gone forever. Following their demise, it was thought that their absence would be permanent. However, an effort in the early 20th Century found elk once again roaming the region. Sadly, their return would only be temporary as they would disappear once again even quicker than the first time.

Now You See It, Now You Don't: The Death of the American Chestnut in Central Pennsylvania

A century old chestnut stump
Author's Photo

    "Now you see it, now you don't!" is a phrase that often accompanies a stage magician's vanishing act. A card or coin is visible one moment and if by magic, disappears the next. At the end of the act, the object reappears much to the amusement and disbelief of the crowd. However, no magician could match the vanishing act that occurred in the early 20th Century. Instead of a coin or card, a much beloved symbol of the forests and landscape, the American chestnut, vanished and no amount of magic could bring it back.