Trough Creek State Park

Balance Rock

Trough Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania’s smaller state parks but that doesn’t stop it from having some of the best views and natural attractions. This rustic state park is situated in the middle of Huntingdon County and just a short distance east from Raystown Lake. The over 500 acre park offers camping, fishing, hiking, picnic areas and even and old stone mansion you can rent.

Through Creek was founded like so many other state parks in Pennsylvania. Early pioneers trying to get ahead in the late 1700’s built small iron furnaces and cleared land to conquer the new frontier. In the 1930’s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC camps) were made to employ young men and revitalize the land that was stripped from its resources. Later many of the CCC camps were made into the state parks we have today.

Paradise Furnace

     The area of trough creek attracted the attention of the iron master Rueben Trexler in the early 1800’s. The area was rich with iron, trees, and water to power mills; everything needed for a profitable iron smelting business. Trexler built his first furnace in 1818 and later built the Trough Creek Furnace that increased production. In 1832, John Savage leased the furnace and renamed it the Mary Ann Furnace and built a forge. The furnace production died down for a few years until the American Civil War. At that time iron was in high demand again and the furnace flourished again.. The son of Rueben Trexler, Horatio, took over his father’s furnace and renamed it Paradise Furnace after the war. By the early 1900’s the Iron production had taken its toll on the surrounding land. The forest had been depleted to make charcoal and floods and forest fires were prevalent and the area was vacant.

Side view Paradise Furnace

     In the 1930’s many young American men were unemployed due to the Great Depression. One attempt to correct this problem was the building of Civilian Conservation Corps(CCC). This allowed young men to learn new skills, earn some money, and fix the ecosystems that were destroyed by tree and mineral stripping. The CCC camp S-57 of Trough Creek was also known as Camp Paradise Furnace and built Trough Creek State Park. The state park officially opened in 1936.

So what makes Trough Creek unique compared to other State Parks? Well this park has plenty to offer in its rich history in the iron industry; as well as, many natural landmarks. Paradise Furnace still exists and can be visited today.

Paradise Cemetery

     The Furnace still stands about 20 feet tall but part of its wall has fallen in. Across from the furnace the original Iron Master’s home sits atop a hill overlooking Paradise Furnace. The Iron Master's mansion, Trough Creek Lodge, was renovated and available for year round renting. A short walk along Cemetery Trail will lead you to Paradise Cemetery. Along this trail remains of the mill can be found if you look hard enough. Paradise Cemetery is an old pioneers cemetery with mainly fieldstones marking the graves of the interments. Rumor has it that an Indian was buried in one of the corners of the cemetery. Tales tell of the Indian's ghost haunting the cemetery at night.

Looking down into the mine

     Another part of man’s mark on trough creek can be visited at the Ice Mine. The mine was believed to be dug by early pioneers prospecting for iron ore. No iron was found but unintentionally a fascinating geologic area was made. The Ice Mine is believed to work when cold winter air seeps into the mountain above the mine in the winter. During that time the air is collected and through the summer the cold air escapes down the mountain and into the mine. This allows freezing temperatures in the mine during the summer and through condensation ice to form on the roof of the mine even through the hottest summer days. This is a great spot to stop after a long hike to cool off.

Rainbow Falls

     A short distance from the Ice Mine, one of the most visited places in Trough Creek is Balance Rock and Rainbow Falls. Along Trough Creek Drive, before the Ice Mine, there is a small pull off to the right to park. Directly across from the parking area if you look upwards you will see Balance Rock hanging over the Great Tough Creek. Following Balanced Rock trail down into the gorge, you first have to cross the creek over a suspension bridge. Continuing up the trail Rainbow Falls is seen to the left of the trail. The best time to see this waterfall is in the spring or fall when the water level is at its max. During the summer months the stream feeding into Rainbow Falls tends to dry up. After passing Rainbow Falls a short hike up the hillside leads you to Balance Rock. After thousands of years of erosion, Balance Rock was cut from the different rock around it and appears to dangle over the gorge below.

Balance Rock

     Another geographical wonder is Copperas Rock. This out outcrop of rock was also made by years of erosion and many different rock layers can be seen. Trough Creek Drive will take you past Copperas Rock on your way to Balance Rock and the Ice mine. Some Folklore pertains to Copperas Rock. Some believe Edgar Allen Poe visited this area and after seeing the many ravens that live in the rock formation he was inspired to write one of his most known works. No real factual evidence lends creditably to this claim but it is still fun to think about.

Trough Creek Sate Park is a great place to plan a day visit or camp for a long weekend. The many sights, hiking trails, and fishing is enough to make any outdoors person happy. The easiest way to reach Trough Creek is by taking route 994, Old Plank Road, and watching for the signs direct you to Trough Creek. 

Inside the Ice Mine

Along Balance Rock trail

The Suspension Bridge

Lost Resting Places : Benner Cemetery

Benner Cemetery

My next installment of Lost Resting Places is not as “lost” as ones before that I've  visited. Benner Cemetery however has only just recently been accessible to the public.  For many years, Benner Cemetery was on land owned by the Rockview Penitentiary near State College. In 2010 a new land agreement was drawn up and ownership was transferred over to The Pennsylvania State University. That being the case, it was just asking for me to explore.

The cemetery gets its name from one of it’s most notable interment, General Phillip Benner, and his family. General Benner is noted as the first Iron Master of what is now Centre County. Besides being an accomplished Iron Master, he went on to build multiple homes in Bellefonte, a few stores, gristmill, and other structures. He later  became a civic leader in the community and founded the Centre Democrat newspaper in 1827. General Phillip Benner wound then pass away in July of 1832. The cemetery today stands in an open field with huge trees surrounding its perimeter. A stone fence encompasses the graveyard’s entirety. The only way in is a stone staircase that goes over the wall. Some graves have fallen over and some are illegible, but people still visit and leave flowers.

          To get to Benner Cemetery, take the Shiloh Exit off of I-99 and head north. A short distance a State Game Lands(SGL) sign welcomes you and a pull off stands to the right. Just after the pull off, there is a small area to park on the left hand side next to a foundation of an old structure, which is about 200 feet from the SGL sign. Follow the path into the woods and eventually it will lead to an open field. Benner Cemetery will be on the left located along the path. It is very hard to miss with the huge trees surrounding it. As always, please be respectful.

Children's Cemetery - Mt. Etna PA

    

  If you have ever heard the name Mt. Etna, you probably think of the old furnace that is now under the care of the Blair County Historical Society. Of those familiar with the site, very few know about Children's Cemetery. The cemetery above Mt. Etna is now in complete disarray and has not had many visitors over the past hundred or so years. From what little information I could discover, they placed the cemetery far up the hill from Mt. Etna due to the outbreaks of small pox and disease in the 1850's. Most of the graves are unreadable or broken, but few that still stand and date from 1832-1859. 

   

  To get to the cemetery I had to use what little information I had, as well as, satellite images. After planning our course, my friend Dakotah and I made our walk through tall weeds, thorns, and brush. The Cemetery at one time had a wire fence enclosing it. Once we arrived there was only a small 4 foot by 2 foot gap in the brush to enter the Cemetery area. It was an eerie feeling stepping into the old cemetery. The trees and dense brush surrounded the site and only let a small amount of light into the hollowed ground. We didn't think to bring a flash light in mid day; nevertheless, we were able to read and get a few photographs of the remaining stones.

      After paying our respects we left the old cemetery. I began to wonder on our way back to the car how many those graves were unmarked and how long had it been since the last people had been to that old cemetery. It is a shame that so many of these old resting places have fallen out of the community's knowledge. I can only hope that my writings will keep these bits of our history alive for future generations.