Brumbaugh Homestead

      While a few friends and myself were on our way to go fishing in Raystown Lake, we decided to make a detour trip to an old home I had heard about. Heading north of Marklesburg on Route 26 we made a right hand turn on Weller Road. Traveling back the dirt road we approached a small turn-around area and parked our car. Off in the distance we could make out the top of a building through the trees.

View of Fireplace

      There was not much left of the Brumbaugh home when we got closer. It was once the grand home of Jacob Brumabugh who purchased the land in the early 1800's. The area is also known as the Timothy Meadows Farm due to its location. The oldest part of the stone building was built in 1804, and later several other additions were made to the 2-story house. Some historians believe the homestead was used later for the James Creek Congression.

View inside the Homestead

      The homestead is now just a stone shell with a few old wooden beams and the remnants of a fire-place. Nature is slowly reclaiming the property. If you decided to visit this location, please be respectful of this piece of history.

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