Ghost Town of Bennington

Bennington Cemetery

 

     Traveling from Altoona to Gallitzin, you can still see some remains of nearly 100 old coke furnaces that follow the road. The furnaces were part of a small operation that mined iron from the nearby valley. With the need for labor in the area the town of Bennington was founded in 1846. The town was at its peak during the construction of the Gallitzin tunnels and began as a shanty town to house the migrant workers. The Pennsylvania Railroad and the Blair Iron & Coal Company,later Cambria Iron Company, were the primary employers of the town and encouraged growth of the town. Life was especially hard during the winter and the town was only reachable by train during the winter months. The only road at that time, Sugar Run Road, was impassable in winter conditions. On February 18^th, 1947 one of the largest train disasters took place on the Bennington Curve; the wreck of the Red Arrow. Over 20 people lost their lives and even more were injured. It was later found during an autopsy, that the engine-man was blind in one eye and did not see a train on the same track that was running late.

View Looking Towards Altoona

      All that remains of the town now is a small cemetery, a few remnants of mining, and coke furnaces. The cemetery is reachable by car. Take Rt. 22 to the Gallitzen exit then take the first right. Then take the 2^nd left back an old forest road and then parallel to the train tracks. The cemetery is marked and it is a few yards up a hill from the parking area.

Royer Mansion & Cemetery

Royer Mansion

      Many small communities in the early 1800's had an iron furnace in Pennsylvania. The village of Royer was no different. Samuel Royer and his family, by which the town was named, settled a short distance south of Williamsburg PA on what is now Route 866.

      Their original home had accidentally burned down and the second home was built in 1815 which still stands today known as the Royer Mansion. Across the street from the mansion, the Springfield Furnace was built to smelt iron. descendents of the Royer family lived in the home up until the death of Carrie Hartman which was the wife of Samuel Royer's grandson. The house was later sold to the fish and game commission and then purchased by the Blair County Historical Society in 1984. The mansion is occupied by a Tennent in the upstairs who maintains the property. The downstairs of the mansion is like walking back in time with little changes from its original decor. Tours and various events are still held on the property to this day.

Spring House

      Besides being of historical interest, the Royer Mansion has acquired a paranormal interest as well. Stories are told of ghostly children laughing outside the adjacent spring house and apparitions seen in the windows of the mansion. One witnesses story even claims that the spirit of Carrie Hartman gave a tour of the mansion to unsuspecting tourist. They later called the Blair county historical society to praise how well the tour went. However, they found out that the tour guide had taken ill that day and no one from the society was on the property to give the tour they experienced.

      The Mansion is used throughout the year for local gatherings and events namely the Halloween ghost story tellings and haunted tours. To have a tour of the building simply contact the Blair County Historical Society.

      The ghost stories don't end with the mansion, the Royer Cemetery has a few as well. Royer Cemetery sits at the base of Lock Mountain between Williamsburg and Hollidaysburg. Stories have circulated about shadow people and mysterious lights seen through the cemetery. 

Royer Cemetery

The Bedford Coffee Pot

     Along the Lincoln highway/Rt. 30 many roadside attractions used to litter the side of the road. Many of the tourist traps that sat along American's first coast-to-coast highway have been torn down or are now privately owned. However, in Bedford one of the old attractions still stands. On the Bedford county fairgrounds a huge coffee pot sits just a few yards from the highway. The Coffee pot was originally owned by the Koontz family and operated as a service station. Through the years the building became unkempt and almost burnt down. The building was marked for demolition until a government grant was given to restore and move the coffee pot from its prior location to the county fair grounds. Today people can still stop and get a glimpse of the roadside giant at the entrance of the fair grounds.