Tag: Pennsylvania

Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

U.S. Route 30, a route that has been nicknamed the ‘Lincoln Highway’ named after Abraham Lincoln, former President of the United States of America, begins in the town of Astoria in the U.S. state of Oregon and winds its way east through many U.S. states ending in Atlantic City in the U.S. state of New Jersey.  One of those states is Pennsylvania.  As it passes through Pennsylvania, it passes through the major cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and it passes through the town of Gettysburg, the town famous for a great battle of the American Civil War known as the Battle of Gettysburg.  Halfway between Gettysburg and Chambersburg new the town of Fayetteville is Caledonia State Park.  Caledonia State Park is a park that has hiking trails, fishing, and hunting, and it has a waterfall.  Yes, many parks has this, but it also has the Totem Pole Playhouse, a theater that has produced actors like John Ritter from the old television series ‘Three’s Company’, the centerpiece of the park is the Caledonia Iron Furnace.

The Caledonia Iron Furnace was built in 1837, and it was owned by Thaddeus Stevens.  The name of the furnace comes from the name of the county in Vermont where Thaddeus Stevens was born. It was destroyed by Confederate General Jubal Early and his men in 1863.  The furnace was rebuilt, and it continued to produce iron until it was closed in 1902, and it was then turned into a state park.  When you visit Caledonia State Park, you can see the furnace, and you can see the blacksmith shop where demonstrations take place.  In Caledonia State Park, every step you take in the park is a place where history took place.

Some of you are saying, “Wow.  I love state parks.  I love being around the trees and the streams and the waterfalls.  As for the old furnace, it is nice that it is preserved although it would be great to see it working.  There is one problem.  What is the problem?  There is no railroad here.  Therefore, you will not see my company here.”

Well, as you walk around Caledonia State Park, you will not see a railroad nor do you see any sign of a railroad being here.  If there is no railroad at the park, why visit?

As you visit Caledonia State Park, you will notice a few structures within the park itself.  Of course, you have the restrooms, and, of course, you have the old furnace.  Then you have the blacksmith shop.  Yes, a blacksmith does mend and heat metals here, but it was not always a blacksmith shop.  If it was not always a blacksmith shop, what else could it have been.  The blacksmith shop was once a trolley station.  A trolley station?  Yes, it was a trolley station.  The Chambersburg and Gettysburg Electric Railway.  Trolley service began in 1905.  The Chambersburg and Gettysburg Electric Railway made a stop at Caledonia State Park, and they built a small amusement park there.  The railway got its name from the fact that its purpose was to take passengers from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to visit the Gettysburg Battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The trolley line was built east from Chambersburg, and it took passengers as far as… Caledonia State Park.  Due to lack of funds and steep grades between Caledonia State Park, the section to Gettysburg was never built.  Service ended in 1926, and the amusement rides were dismantled.  Today, only the blacksmith shop and the Trolley Trail going west from the blacksmith shop are the only reminders of the trolley.

As mentioned, every step you take at Caledonia State Park in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania is a step where history happened.  That includes those on the Appalachian Trail which passes through the park.  If you walk along the Trolley Trail, every step you take will be a step where railroad history took place.

Caledonia State Park is located near the town of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Pennsylvania Route 233.  The park is free to visit, and it is open from sunrise to sunset.  The iron furnace and the Caledonia Waterfall can be seen from the road.  Although the trolley trail is flat, it is not paved making it difficult for wheelchairs.  You can get more information at https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CaledoniaStatePark/Pages/default.aspx.

U.S. Route 30 has many great sites along the road.  Caledonia State Park is one of them.  It may be famous for the furnace, but it was also a place where a trolley line came to an end.

The Red Lion Mile, Red Lion, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

What is the Red Lion Mile?

Some of you are saying, “I know.  It is a lion that is red and is a mile long.”

Well, that is not the correct answer.  What is the Red Lion Mile?  It is a rail trail in the town of Red Lion in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Some of you are saying, “Wow.  I did not know that.  I bet the town got the name because a red lion was once here.”

Even though the ‘red lion’ is the symbol of the town, it is not named after an actual lion.  It is named after a pub when it was settled in 1852 called the Red Lion Tavern, and that tavern is still in business today.

Today, the town of Red Lion, Pennsylvania is not served by the railroad, but it was once a major railroad town on the York and Peach Bottom Railroad and later the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad.  (It was commonly referred to as the ‘Ma and Pa Railroad’.”)  The town was a place of industry to include furniture and cigars.  As you walk along the rail trail, you will see some of the old factory structures.  The remaining structures have been converted into housing or businesses.  The old train station also remains, and it is the home of the Red Lion Historical Society.

The Red Lion Mile mainly runs west from the old train station located on Pennsylvania Route 24, and it is mostly paved.  Parking is available along the trail.  You can learn more about the town at https://redlionareahistoricalsociety.org/area-history/red-lion/red-lion-history/.

The Red Lion Mile: you may not see any red lions, but you will see the places that was once seen by those who once ran the trains through the town.

The Statue of Liberty, Dauphin, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Some of you are saying, “Wait a minute.  Something is wrong here.  The Statue of Liberty is in New York, not Pennsylvania.”

Well, the most famous statue was erected in 1886 by New York City locals in New York Harbor and welcomed people who arrived by ship into the harbor.  Yes, it is the most famous Statue of Liberty in spite of the fact that the original Statue of Liberty is located in Paris, France.  What made the New York statue more famous?  Location.  Although the original statue is on an island on the Seine River in the middle of the city, the most famous one on an island in New York Harbor welcomed people entering into the United States of America.  When France wanted to bring the statue to New York, the United States government was opposed to it.  That is when New York City area locals stepped in to fund the bringing of the statue to New York City, and it has been a symbol of American freedom welcoming people into the Land of Freedom one of the world’s top iconic sites ever since.

Other Statue of Liberty’s were erected across the United States of America.  One of these statue was erected in the middle of the Susquehanna River in the town of Dauphin in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, a suburb of Harrisburg, the state capital.  Why the Susquehanna River?  The Susquehanna River is the longest unnavigable river in the United States of America which means that no ships pass by here.  The only traffic is that on U.S. Routes 22 and 322.  A statue was erected here in 1986 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the one in New York Harbor, but it was later destroyed.  Locals saw how significant that statue was and erected a new statue, and that statue stands today.  Now, drivers along U.S. Routes 22 and 322 can see a great icon along their journey through Pennsylvania.

Some of you are saying, “This is nice.  It is great that the people of France gave the Statue of Liberty to New York City, and it is great that the Statue of Liberty is a great icon not just for New York City and the United States of America, but for the entire world.  As for this one in the Susquehanna River, it is just a replica of the famous one.  Since this is just a replica of the famous one, I will not be using my liberty to see this replica statue.”

What is special about the Statue of Liberty in Dauphin, Pennsylvania?  As you drive along the highway and look out at the statue, you will notice what the statue was erected on.  What is it on?  The statue was erected on a piling of an old railroad bridge.  There was once a railroad bridge where the current statue stands.  Which railroad crossed the bridge is unknown at this point although it is upriver from the world famous Rockville Bridge, the longest stone arch bridge in the world and now owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway.

Now you can see that the Statue of Liberty in Dauphin, Pennsylvania is not just a replica of the famous statue and a symbol of American freedom, but the statue has a little bit of railroad history attached to it.

As mentioned, the original statue made with plywood and Venetian blinds was erected in 1986, but it was blown off the piling by strong winds and destroyed in 1992.  Locals later erected the current statue you see today, and it was made with steel.  The man who erected the original replica remained silent for many years until 2011.  He happened to be a local lawyer who erected the statue as a prank.  He had no idea that it would be a permanent and famous icon in the Susquehanna River Valley of Pennsylvania.

The Statue of Liberty of the Susquehanna Valley is located in the middle of the Susquehanna River west of the city of Harrisburg, and it can be seen from U.S. Routes 22 and 322.  Be advised that there is no pull-off on the highway to view the statue so you will need to be mindful as you drive on the highway.  (We do not want to see anyone getting stuck in the rear bumper while seeing the statue.)

The Statue of Liberty stands for American freedom.  Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Statue of Liberty stands on a piece of railroad history.

The Mechanicsburg Museum, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The town of Mechanicsburg in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania is a suburban town of the capital city of Harrisburg.  How did the town get its name?  The town was established before the automobile so it did not get its name from automobile mechanics.  The town got its name from the fact that it was a town were Conestoga wagons were repaired.  When the Cumberland Valley Railroad came to the town, the town became a major stop for the railroad.  Today, the Norfolk Southern Railway owns the railroad line, and the trains no longer stop here, but the old train station, the freight house, and the stationmaster’s house remain, and they are all part of the Mechanicsburg Museum.

The Passenger Train Station was built by the Cumberland Valley Railroad in 1867.  It remained a passenger station until 1952.  Today, the exhibits tell the history of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and how the town was a great benefactor to the towns growth.

The Stationmaster’s House was more than just the home of the stationmaster.  It was an office for Adams Express, a company that was one of the early companies before the Railway Express Agency, and it was also where baggage was stored.  Today, the home is furnished with furniture the way it was furnished back in the day when the train station was active.

The Freight Station is across the tracks from the Passenger Station and Stationmaster’s House.  This is the second Freight House for the town that was built in 1886 that replaced the original one built in 1874.  It was here where the locomotives received water and wood.  There was a side track here where the trains were able to stop for a long time.  The track was removed after freight and passenger serviced ceased.  Today, it houses exhibits that are about the town of Mechanicsburg itself.  The exhibits do change over time.

All three structures were to be demolished, but the Mechanicsburg Museum Association rescued the buildings, and they remain under their ownership today.

The Mechanicsburg Museum is located at 2 W. Strawberry Alley in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania just one block north of the intersection of Pennsylvania Routes 114 and 641.  It is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00pm to 3:00pm.  The complex has the three structures.  Admission is free, but they gladly accept donations.  The structures are wheelchair accessible.  You can read more into the Mechanicsburg Museum Association and read more about the museum at http://www.mechanicsburgmuseum.org/index.html.

The town of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania has automobile mechanics today.  It also has the Mechanicsburg Museum.  It is a great place to see the history of the town.

City Island Railroad, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Harrisburg, the capital city of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, is not known a city that is on many lists of cities to visit, but it should be.  One of the city’s famous suburbs is Hershey which is known as the Chocolate Capital of the World and is where the Hershey Chocolate Company was founded by Milton Hershey, and the company is still headquartered there today.  What about the city itself?  Of course, the State Capitol is here, but it also has great museums like the National Civil War Museum and the Pennsylvania Fire Museum.  The downtown area rests along the Susquehanna River, the longest unnavigable river in the United States of America with its beginnings in the U.S. state of New York passing through the east central region of Pennsylvania past Harrisburg before it continues into the U.S. state of Maryland and into the Chesapeake Bay.  South of the city, there are four dams which forms the scenery around Harrisburg today.  One of the things formed by the four dams is City Island located in the middle of the river.  What is special about City Island?  Well, it is a playground for the city, and the Harrisburg Senators, a professional minor league baseball team affiliated with the Washington Nationals, have their stadium here.  If you visit Harrisburg, you will be totally amazed  with a visit to City Island.

Some of you are saying, “This is wonderful.  I love chocolate.  The city of Harrisburg is probably a great city.  As for City Island, it is just an island in the river that is just another tourist destination.  Therefore, I will not bother visiting this island.”

What is special about City Island in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?

When you arrive in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, particularly if you arrived crossing the Susquehanna River, the very first thing you will notice is that many railroads pass through here.  The electrified section of Amtrak has a terminus here.  There are many railroad arch bridges across the river, and the famous Rockville Bridge, located in the suburb of Rockville, is just north of the downtown area.

This brings us to City Island.  What is special about City Island?  As mentioned, the baseball stadium home of the Harrisburg Senators is on the island.  The Walnut Street Bridge, an old steel truss street bridge that is now a pedestrian bridge, connects people with downtown and the western suburbs.  It is the home of the ‘Pride of the Susquehanna’, a riverboat that is a pleasure to ride as you get great views of the river as well as the downtown region.  It has a miniature golf course, a carousel, and it is the home of the Harrisburg Beach Club.  As you enter City Island, there is an important crossing you must make.  What is that crossing?  The first thing you will see is the City Island Railroad.

City Island is walkable for most people and is mostly wheelchair accessible, but the City Island Railroad is a great way to see the island.  It is a miniature train pulled by a replica of an American Civil War era steam locomotive.  A ride on the train takes you around the stadium.  It takes you past the miniature golf course and beach club.  You pass by the dock of the Pride of Susquehanna.  Most important, you get great views of the river during your entire ride.

The City Island Railroad begins at the Walnut Street Station which is a short walk from the parking lot and Walnut Street Bridge.  If you visit City Island, it will be a great compliment to your visit.

The City Island Railroad runs mainly in the summer months.  It is located on City Island which is accessible from the Market Street Bridge which crosses the river between downtown and the western side of the river.  Admission is required to ride the train.  There is parking available.  It is mainly free, but you may pay for parking during stadium events.

The city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has many great places to see.  The City Island Railroad is worth your visit.  You will be glad you did.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Washington, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Pennsylvania is a state known for many things.  It was in this state where the United States of America was established in Philadelphia.  It is the home to the Chocolate Capital of the World in Hershey.  Oil was discovered in this state near Titusville.  It is a state known for coal mining, and it is also known for the steel industry in cities like Bethlehem and, of course, Pittsburgh.  It is also the home of many railroad sites of which one of them happens to be south of Pittsburgh.

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pennsylvania.  Yes, it is a trolley museum in Pennsylvania hence the name.  What is special about the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?  Of course, it has trolleys.  It was established by dedicated volunteers along an old trolley line that connected Washington with Pittsburgh back in the days when the trolley was in operation.  Much of the collection are trolleys that operated around the Pittsburgh region.  Yes, a few of the trolleys can be ridden year round when the museum is open weather depending.

So, what is special about the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?  It is run by people who dedicate their lives to keeping the memories of trolleys alive.  When you visit the museum, you will be truly glad that they did.  A ride on a vintage trolley takes you back in time.

With the opening of the new visitor center featuring interactive exhibits and a climate controlled trolley display center, you can now visit the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum all year round.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is located at 1 Electric Way in Washington, Pennsylvania just minutes from Interstate 79.  The museum hours vary throughout the year, but the trolleys only run in the warm months.  Everything in the museum is wheelchair accessible.  You can get more information at https://pa-trolley.org/.

What is special about the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?  The only way to truly answer that question is to visit.  During your visit, your questions will be answered.