2017-22
Sizerville Pennsylvania
Emporium Pennsylvania
Port Allegheny
Campground: Sizerville State park. 50
amp electric. Water close to site. Heavily forested, campsites are
nicely paved with mix of grassy sites and trees scattered around the
campground and picnic area. Seasonal swimming pool. No cell phone
service, no internet, no Tv signal.
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| Sizerville St Pk, Electric only, though I got a site next to a water spigot |
Distance Traveled: 79 miles
Time to move on after spending a
pleasant two weeks in the Tioga Pa area. The drive across hwy 6, the
northern route across Pennsylvania was uneventful, I didn't stop at
the Pa Lumber Museum, but would have had time to do so. Traveling
through a small community called Sweden Valley and then heading south
into the Susquehannock State Forest. My ever faithful Google maps
directed me as I half expected along more rural routes, as there
aren't many major roads through this mountainous country. I ended up
on narrower and narrower country roads with small cabins tucked deep
in the surrounding forest. Finally driving two miles along a dirt
road before coming back out to civilization somewhere around Keating
Summit onto hwy 155, along with resurfacing the road, half of a
bridge was being rebuilt directly in front of the entrance to the
state park. Perhaps not as uneventful as the day started out.
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lots of bridges being rebuilt in region
this one was next to the Sizerville St Pk entrance |
Note; saw numerous bridges
closed/being rebuilt and lots of State roads being repaved. Must
have had some serious flooding in the region in the past year or
so....
It felt good to get to my campsite and
back onto a modern, nicely paved campsite, surrounded by grass and
trees nicely spaced so as not to be hanging over the camper. The bad
news, no internet (occasionally one bar), no cell phone and no Tv or
radio signals. I'm really in the wilderness.
The closest town is Emporium, six miles
away. I will investigate it this week, though can't imagine how a
small town like this ever came to exist in such wilderness. Already
unhappy that they have parking meters throughout town. Something I
think is a disservice to the visitor and to the owners of shops.
Though the fee for one hours parking is only 10 cents and two hours
is a quarter. A very reasonable fee for parking. About a block
south of the main street are free parking spots.
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The old Sylvania Building
home of the original radio tube manufacturing
and lightbulbs |
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was hoping to get a tour inside the old
factory, but it wasn't in the cards |
Some notes on Emporium:
 |
Lady Justice, with eyes
wide open |
- Lady Justice there are actually two, one inside the courtroom and one on top of the Courthouse clock tower.
She is two of only 6 known Lady Justices with her eyes wide open,
not wearing a blind fold. So if you are traveling through Emporium,
be aware, Lady Justice can see and judge what you are doing...
- The dynamite used in the building
of the Panama Canal was manufactured here.
- Sylvania and the introduction of
radio tubes had its start in Emporium and of course light bulbs.
During WWII the town was known as “Girls Town” because Sylvania
and other businesses were run by women. Sylvania left the area in
the 1960's.
- One of the few remaining
businesses are two lumber yards that manufacture frames for
furniture. Unfortunately the Chinese have over recent years been
able to produce cheaper frames using composite materials. Only the
Amish currently purchase real wood for their products.
- Due to the low filing fees for
divorce and the number of uncontested divorce filings, Emporium is
considered the “divorce capitol” of Pennsylvania.
I must say I've enjoyed reading some
interesting books as if my own travel adventures aren't enough. The
most recent books have taken me to Maine which of course I was
visiting at the time, The southwest a thousand years ago when the
Anastasi populated the cliff dwellings and my most recent book, Love
Potion Number 10 by Betsy Woodman took me on a journey to India in
the 1960's. A delightful book with endearing characters.
I've also got a backup of Dvd's for
times like this when I have no communication signals and I have to
chuckle thinking of a time when my good friend Patrick and I would
watch videos each week. He would usually pick them, but occasionally
I would get one. Patrick would howl at how bad the movie was. I
remember one movie that I had selected was about a Russian water polo
team.... it really was a bad film.
Elk Country Visitor Center/ Benezette
Pennsylvania
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| numerous blinds to view elk in the area |
Well it's time for a little touring so
I'm heading out to do a loop tour along the Elk Scenic Drive.
Numerous maps, brochures and Elk State Forest maps all tout the story
of Elk being re-introduced to Pennsylvania. At one time before the
“white man” arrived, it is believed that there were over 100,000
elk in this region. Having been wiped out by the European settlers,
along with eliminating the river otter, beaver, mountain lion,
fisher, Osprey and falcon. We have not been good stewards of this
land. Coal mining destroyed fishing along the rivers in this area
and the forests were all cut down.
Thanks to conservationists who began to
realize the devastation that had taken place, a turning point took
place around 1913 when the beaver (a pair of them) were brought over
from Wisconsin. Later, the elk would arrive (starting with around
50) from the Yellowstone and Grand Teton area. The CCC's replanted
trees and after the hunters organized and developed a plan to help
the elk survive things are back on track. Well, with about 1,000 elk
now living and surviving in Pennsylvania along with the usual hunting
season taking place to keep the elk population at sustainable levels
that is.
I think the elk are pretty smart
because I sure didn't see any of them out and about. It may be the
time of season, who knows. I was up pretty early and drove to
numerous viewing areas. Pretty scenery, but no elk to be seen. The
main visitor center is having a huge weekend extravaganza. With
vendors, food, local crafts for sale, presentations on the elk of
course, but don't expect with all those hordes of people and cars to
see an of the famous elk. I don't think I'll be attending....
Oh I did see 4 white tailed deer as
they gracefully ran across the road in front of me, climbing up a
hillside in perfect formation. Relatively small deer but a joy to
see. I'll wait till I get back out west to see the elk and buffalo
and other big game animals in natural settings, or maybe even another
trip through Alberta Canada where I saw lots of elk, bear, and moose.
Lynn Hall in Port Allegheny
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| Lynn Hall, under renovations |
To me, this was the trifecta of touring
experiences. Architecture, restoration in progress, personal tour by
the owners/renovators. I couldn't ask for more. The
builder/designer of Lynn Hall was Walter Hall who began building the
structure in the 1930's. At the time, this was a fairly wealthy
region. Walter designed in the Organic Architecture style, which
would later be called the Prairie Style by Frank Lloyd Wright. And
that's where the connection becomes so interesting. Wright designed
the famous “Falling Water” Home but the owners were having second
thoughts about building. The son of the owners of Falling waters
happened to travel north through Port Allegheny where he first saw
Lynn Hall. He knew the builder of it had to build Falling Water.
And that's how Walter Hall became the contractor, along with his
select workers ended up constructing Falling Waters. Frank Lloyd
Wright visited Lynn Hall and one can see similarities in both
designs. Of course Lynn Hall was designed and constructed by Walter
before Falling Water was started. Although not an architect, he sure
captured the Organic architecture style.
The new owners of Lynn Hall were kind
enough to stop construction on their building efforts to give me a
tour of the once grand residence/restaurant/dance hall. Any student
of architecture would enjoy seeing the original plans, the current
state of the building and the restoration efforts I was able to see.
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the guest house, currently the owners using
will become a Air-B&B |
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| view of guest house overlooking main building |
The horizontal lines, placement of long
expanses of windows, built-ins and fireplaces, even a natural spring
that once fed various water features inside and outside the house.
All gradually went into deterioration over a 35 year period after the
place closed in the 1950's. In recent years, two sets of owners have
undertaken the restoration process. The current owners, two guys
from Florida, have begun hopefully the final phase of reconstruction.
Having put in 6 months of work installing a new roof and heating
throughout. They should be in fine shape to complete inside projects
well into the winter months. And with luck, it will be open to the
public next year/Spring?
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| various shots of Lynn Hall |
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| all new heating installed |
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| so much work to be done on interior |
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| pictures of work crew used on Falling Water site |
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| Walter Halls work crew at Falling Water |
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| restoration project, in progress |
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| Corning glass blocks used throughout |
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| an experimental Corning Glass panel used in Lynn Hall |
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| thanks guys for a great tour |
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| future views from new bedroom project |
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| future bedroom project, second floor |
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flooring got damaged in the ballroom
before new roofing completed... will become private living quarters |
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| all new radiant heating installed |
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| once the main ball room, dancing |
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| an on-sight spring once fed this water feature |
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| great lines on building |
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| already planting and redesign of outdoor water features |
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main entrance to the original dining room, ball room
hotel section was never completed |
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| this was my kind of exploring and discovery |
Needless to say, this was a fun week
for me. Thanks to a great Pennsylvania Visitor Center (1st one on hwy 99 after exiting NY into PA) Experience back in Tioga
Pennsylvania for directing me to Lynn Hall and many other great
places to explore in Pennsylvania.
More photos:
Emporium and surrounding area
Lynn Hall photos
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