James Cleveland Memorial

Some places I want to visit are not as easily accessible as others when it comes to finding Pennsylvania's vast historical sites. One such places is the James Cleveland Memorial. Most people has never heard of it and the few who have are probably avid hikers in central PA.

There are two ways to reach the trail head to the James Cleveland Trail. The first and most popular way is off of PA 144 between Pleasant Gap and Centre Hall by following Greens Valley Road. The second and older way is off of PA 192 along what is now private property. The trail was made by local boy scout groups and maintained by them. The part of the trail that goes towards Rt 192 from the summit is older and not routinely traveled.

On a cool May afternoon, a friend of mine and I decided to go for a hike and visit the memorial and took the lesser used route from PA 192. There is a small pull off where the trail head is marked. No posted signs or anything was to be seen so we obeyed the “no motor vehicle” sign and left the car and started our hike.

The first part was back an old farm lane. After a few hundred yards we came to a crossing over a small stream. Not until our way back did we realize that is where the trail ended/started. We continued up the lane until we came to the mountain and started our hike up the steep climb up Mt. Nittany. My GPS eventually took us to the right direction and we met the well blue blazed trail. The trek up the mountain was strenuous and we were glad to have a cool day to hike.

Towards the summit the trail became more rocky and we came to a small boulder field were people had stacked some rocks to form small towers. The vista from this point was pretty impressive. James was an early air mail pilot and on May 24^th1934, he wreck into the side of Mt. Nittany. There was a small fire pit and logs around to sit. Unfortunately our climb was cut short by the sudden fall of hail. We continued our climb a few hundred feet and came across the James Cleveland Memorial obelisk and rock tower with plan wreckage. The memorial is in a small pine grove and very peaceful.

We proceeded to hike back down the mountain trying not to fall forward. The trail is only 2 miles one way and I would like to visit the other side of the mountain sometime.

Egg Hill Church

    

     There is a church in Potter Township, Centre County that has been a "hot spot" for paranormal investigators and thrill seekers alike. For a good ghost story a perfect setting is needed, and Egg Hill delivers that setting. First, the church is in a remote site. Secondly, it is old; built-in 1860.Thirdly, it looks creepy; made of unfinished pine on a stone foundation. Finally, it hasn't been in regular use since the 1920's. So lets recap, a church in the middle of nowhere that has not been regularly used and is undoubtedly visually eerie, no wonder so many stories have circulated about it being haunted.

    The most well-known story about Egg Hill is of the supposed mass murder that took place their. The story is ever evolving and is not very consistent. That being said, the story I have gathered goes like this. At the turn of the century in the 1800's, the pastor at that time killed his whole congregation and disposed of the bodies in the near by woods. Other stories say that the pastor only killed the children of the parish. He reportedly would kill them one by one under mysterious circumstances and got away with the murders. Then one day fretting that he would be discovered, he hung himself in the church. These are the largest circulated tales but many other versions exist. I could not find any records of any mass deaths in the area at the time when the church was regularly used. Again this little church just seems unfortunately in the right place for urban legends. Stories include: a murder, phantom bell ringing, apparitions hovering in the near by grave yard, and spirits following your car home as you leave. Normally I am an avid believer in paranormal happenings; however, in this instance very little factual evidence could be found to credit the claims made about Egg Hill. If Egg Hill has any supernatural happenings at all, I believe they reside in the cemetery beside the old one-story church.

     My many experiences at Egg Hill have been pretty fruitless. I have been to this location in the day time to get a better idea of the surroundings and at night. I do admit that it does give off a weird vibe even in daylight. Many of the old grave markers are worn and unreadable. The church is locked from the outside and "No Trespassing" signs mark the outside of the building. During my nighttime experiences, there have been eerie noises coming from the church. They could be easily dismissed as the building settling. However, some unexplainable voices have come from the cemetery while taking pictures that I can not explain. Overall if there is any paranormal activity at this location I believe it minor and in no way related to the folklore about Egg Hill.

    The easiest way to get to Egg hill is to take Rt. 144 north from State College and make a Left on Upper Georges Valley Rd. Approximately after 1 mile you take a right on Egg Hill Rd. The church is about a mile up the hill. A warning that he property is Privately owned and Permission is needed to be on the grounds. Although, most of the church and graveyard is visible from the road.