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| 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 18th, 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.
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| 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 2nd 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.
Find anything interesting at Bennington? Im going with infrared some night. See what happens. Lots of children burried there. Even for that time period.
ReplyDeleteHey! I have some family buried back in that cemetary...Is it okay to go back and just look...or do I have to have permission?
ReplyDeleteYou can just go back. Take a bigger vehicle as it is back in the woods and although the road is maintained you should probably have four wheel drive.
DeleteI just visited family graves on 10/03/18. Rough road from Tunnel Hill Rd and a fairly steep walk in the cemetery, but well worth it.
ReplyDeleteThe original Iron furnace and later beehive coke ovens are on the other side of the Main Line railroad tracks. The village died around 1912 if I recall correctly but there were still people living nearby into the 90's (last guy had a shack in the woods on the other side of Rt 22), with most having their property purchased but the state for the new highway in the 80's. You can still see a portion of the old Sugar Run road where these residences were if you watch along the right side of the road as you descend the mountain on Rt 22. The road remnant is between where the terrain rises from the summit and the power line. Lots of treasures in that area if you look around.
ReplyDeleteWhere can I get information f those who died in Benningto. My grand father John Wesly Crawford was born in Benninton and like to learn more.
ReplyDeleteTry the Gallitzin American Legion Post, The Sons of the American Legion takes care of Bennington Cemetery, A lost of the graves, people who are buried. You great grandparents my be listed.1840 -1888 the only Cemetery in the area.
ReplyDeleteTry the Gallitzin American Legion Post, The Sons of the American Legion takes care of Bennington Cemetery, A list of the graves, people who are buried. You great grandparents my be listed.1840 -1888 the only Cemetery in the area.
ReplyDeleteI always could see the graveyard as we drove up route 22 towards Gallitzin summit. My Dad pointed it out.
ReplyDelete