Lost Resting Places: Askey Cemetery

     

     While out and about in Centre County, I came across a small cemetery outside the town of Moshannon. Askey cemetery is a small unassuming cemetery; however, it has a haunting reputation. Many years ago a car accident took place near the cemetery and a young man died. It is said that the young man that lost his life haunts the perimeter of the cemetery. Another tale tells of a coal miner who was hung in the cemetery for spying on the mine bosses. The cemetery also holds stories of weird things happening like strange lights, sounds and shadows. An old man in a gardener’s outfit and a young girl who died in a fire has also been seen in the cemetery. One of the weirdest accounts is of a demonic deer that chases off intruders late at night.

      During the day, the cemetery is a peaceful and quiet and was a great place to stop and take a walk during my adventures through Centre County. Please be respectful of the cemetery and it’s interments if you decided to visit. The Cemetery is east from Moshannon following Route 144 on the left.

The Coburn Tunnel aka Beaver Dam Tunnel

Western Portal

     In a scenic area of Centre County, I happened to stumble across an old tunnel on my way to Poe Paddy State Park. The tunnel is just outside the town of Coburn and aptly named the Coburn tunnel. As I approached the western entrance, people were fishing and informed me it was an old railroad tunnel and used to be called the Beaver Dam Tunnel.

     Once I was home, I researched the tunnel and found out that a few other tunnels are in the area and will need to be investigated at a later date. The Beaver Dam Tunnel I accidentally found was constructed in 1877 and approximately 260 feet long. The tunnel was first used by the Lewisburg, Centre, and Spruce Creek RR (LC&SC). Later the ownership switched to the Lewisburg/Tyrone RR in 1879 and then again to the PA RR in 1915. In the 1960s the tunnel was abandoned but locals still use the area round the tunnel to fish, hike and party judging by the broken class and cans in the area. There has been talk to connect a few of the tunnels and old railroad beds in the area to make a Rails-to-Trails for hiking and biking, but nothing has been settled yet with property owners and financiers.

      You can’t have an old abandon tunnel without some sort of folklore surrounding it. There is a story of a man being hung at the entrance of the tunnel sometime before it was closed down in the 1960s. The story does say if someone else hanged the man or if it was a suicide. Since then, at night if you drive an ATV or motorcycle through the tunnel it will shut off halfway.

The Arrow on Tussey Mountain

     There is a huge concrete arrow onto of Tussey Mountain east of Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. The arrow was brought up in converstation many years ago with some friends, and this past spring I decided to go on a hike and look for it. From what i could recall, the arrow was about a half mile along a blazed trail bordering state game land. Once I arrived to the top of Tussey Mountain on Mountain Road, I pulled off and began my walk north along the ridge-line. The Hike was very rocky and leaves covered gaps between the rocks. I continued to follow the ridge on state game lands following the white blazes about 1/3 of a mile from the pull off spot. Eventually I stumbled into a clearing with a huge concrete arrow pointing east-ward. The arrow look to have been made in 3 sections and span about 20 yards. I was dumbfounded on how anyone could have built and pored this arrow without any access from the main road. I took a few pictures than made my way back to car.

     Once home, I investigated further into what this arrow was doing on top of a fairly remote mountain top. With a few hours of searching, I came across information that sounded just like what I found onto of Tussey Mountain. Before GPS and modern navigation methods, huge markers were placed on the ground for the Transcontinental Air Mail service. These markers provided a route for planes to follow during the day and even at night. During the night many markers had control sheds and towers with lights to help guide the planes. In 1920, the first United States coast-to-coast Air route was developed and by 1929 beacons and markers spotted the ground about every 10 miles. Only a few beacon houses and towers still exist. Many were dismantled during war times for their steel and when they became obsolete to modern navigation. More of the concrete arrows still survive but are slowly being taken over by mother nature.

     The arrow on Tussey Mountain was once part of Los Angeles to New York Airway on the Ebensburg to Philadelphia branch. To reach the arrow, Take Mountain Road east from Williamsburg, PA. From the opposite side, take Route 26 aka Raystown Road South of Huntingdon and just north of Marklesburg to reach Mountain Road.

Curtain Village & The Eagle Iron Works

     When you visit Curtain Village in Centre County, it’s like taking a walk in the past. Curtain Village, or The Eagle Iron Works, was a small town that sprang up around the iron industry. In 1818, Roland Curtain and Moses Boggs erected the eagle furnace in what is now Boggs Township. The 11,000 acres that they bought were abundant in hematite iron, limestone, and running water to power the operation. The iron produced was shipped by ground and canal until the Pennsylvania Railroad was established and helped to transport the more than 600 tons of iron a year. In 1848, the Eagle Furnace was replaced by the Pleasant Furnace and is today the last charcoal iron furnace in Central Pennsylvania.

      Centered around the Eagle Iron Works, Curtain Village became its own sustainable community. A mill and forge soon followed after the furnace was built and the property continued to grow to include a village for the workers. The village included homes, stores, a school and a church. From 1810 to 1921 over 60 structures were built-in Curtain Village. One of the most impressive is the Mansion that was built-in the Federal Style in 1830. The mansion has over fifteen rooms and ten fireplaces and serves as a visitor center now.

     Currently Curtain Village is accessible to the public. Many of the buildings still exist and are well
maintained by The Pennsylvania Historical and Museums Commission. The property opens on Memorial Day and guided tours are available on weekends.

     To get to Curtain Village, take I-80 to exit 158; Turn left onto Route 150 and then turn right at the sign.

Edgar Allen Poe's Visit to Central Pennsylvania

Eutaw House

Near State College Pennsylvania, there is a former restaurant with a lot of history behind it called the Eutaw House. The Eutaw House has been in existence for over two centuries. General James Potter, who was notably an aide to George Washington during the American Revolution, originally owned the ground where the building sits today. After Gen. Potter’s death, his children built a log cabin on his property. Later the log cabin would become the Eutaw House and go through a few more renovations. During its early years, the house served as a major inn for early pioneers and travelers. The house was named after the local Eutaw Indian tribe.

            As anyone could imagine with the Eutaw House being around for a few centuries, it has gathered some ghost stories through the years. Ghostly shapes have been seen in mirrors throughout the building. In the kitchen and restaurant, trays and plates have been known to flip over or fall off tables. Patrons and employees have seen apparitions and shadows move in the hallways and rooms. One story tells of a prisoner being shot or hung in the attic during the 1800s and a different story says that it was a tree at the corner of the property. During one of the early Indian raids on the Eutaw house, one Indian is said to have been hung on the large old tree. Hearing a rope “thud” or creaking noise has been reported near the tree to this day.

            Even with all the ghostly happenings at the Eutaw House, its most interesting story is the speculation that Edgar Allen Poe had once stayed the night at the Inn. Some early folklorists have written that Edgar Allen Poe had once visited the Centre County area and was even inspired to write a few stories such as the Raven during his travels through Central Pennsylvania. The only evidence that leads some credibility is the initial “EAP” that are carved into one of the oldest tables in the Eutaw House. Historians today doubt the legend of Poe’s journey to Centre County, but it makes for a good story nonetheless.

As for now the Eutaw House remains vacant without any intention to remodel or reopen. This landmark sits in Potters Mills at the intersection of Route 322 and Route 144. The house is still privately owned so please do not trespass.

Baughman's Cemetery

Flag and Tree in the Cemetery Center

      I would first like to say, for such a small cemetery this place has acquired a huge reputation. From research I have heard this site even called one of the 'top haunted cemeteries in the United States'. I believe reputation and word of mouth has made this location more of a tall tale; however some truth may lie in the claims.

Driving into Baughman's Cemetery

      Heading north from Tyrone, Pennsylvania on Old Route 220, I made a left turn onto Van Scoyoc Road. Approximately a quarter-mile ahead I kept left onto Baughman Cemetery Rd. I was now driving down an old gravel lane leading up the hill to the cemetery. The site is laid out in a circular fashion with a huge evergreen tree in the center. A small grounds-keeper shed sits in one of the far corners of the old plots.

Old Maintenance Shed

      So why is this place supposedly one of the most haunted locations in the U.S? Frist, there is a story of a person who hung him self in the treeline left of the entrance. The person's spirit is said to be seen hanging when the moon is out to light the woods. A phantom horse is also seen running briskly through the grave yard. Another claim is of ghost children playing and placing their hand prints on curious people's dirty or snow covered vehicles. The childlike spirits have also been known to play a game of Hide and Seek with willing ghost hunters at night.

Trees where spirits play games

      Having been to this area dozens of times in daylight and moonlight, I have had very few and unexplained occurrences happen to me. At night the cemetery does give you an eerie feeling, more so than other cemeteries I have visited at night. Even with very little evidence of a haunting, the stories in the community and internet continue to feed the eager ears of believers who want to get a glimpse of this 'famous' location.

Unique PA Festivals - Harts Log Day

   

     In the small town of Alexandria, Pennsylvania, a festival takes place annually on the 2^nd Saturday in October. The festival in many ways is similar to other autumn festivals in Pennsylvania. However, the history behind the town and the festival's name is unique.

      In the 1740's, an Indian trader named John Hart set up his trading post near present day Alexandria. Hart would use a hollowed-out log at his post to feed his horses while making trades. Through the years, the log he used became a landmark for early pioneers and was later referred to as Hartslog Settlement. In 1755, Hartslog Settlement and 400+ acres were bought by James Sterrat and in 1793, the town of present day Alexandria was laid out into blocks.

      Today the people of Alexandria continue to celebrate their heritage and autumn with the Hartslog Day Festival. Many hand-made crafts and venders line the main street through the town. Parking is free and available at both east and west entrances if you arrival early enough to get a spot. Local churches, organizations, fire companies, and other venders have great food throughout the festival. One local church even offers breakfast if you get their early in the morning. The festival is usually over sometime around 5-o-clock in the afternoon and is only a one days event. Alexandria is located just a short distance west of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.