William Cunningham, Burnside Cemetery, Burnside The first time I traveled Route 219 between Dubois and Ebensburg, I discovered a road rich with history that many are unaware about. That journey included a visit to a Medal of Honor recipient, a local folk figure and the only covered bridge remaining in Clearfield County. Note: More about … Continue reading In the Line of Duty: William Cunningham
Location where the unidentified lady was discovered. Photo: Standard Speaker (Hazleton, Pa) August 10, 1973 Note: Before I start, I want to clarify the name of this Jane Doe. In most places she is merely noted as Luzerne County Jane Doe. I have added the year 1973 to her name for two reasons: 1) her … Continue reading Unsolved: Luzerne County Jane Doe 1973
Leonard Rhone. Centre Hall Arriving in Centre Hall, I turned onto West Church Street and soon saw the cemetery on the left side of the road. Making a left turn onto North Willow Avenue, I made an immediate right onto the sacred grounds of the Centre Hall Reformed and Lutheran Cemetery, which is known by … Continue reading Leonard Rhone’s Picnic
Looking westward on the Juniata River toward Thompsontown Station (on the left bank) Note: Newspapers at the time interchange Thompsontown Station and Thompsontown in their reporting. To keep things organized, I will refer to the wreck location as Thompsontown Station, which was the stopping place on the Pennsylvania Railroad where the wreck happened. I stepped … Continue reading The 1864 Fast Line East Train Disaster
The Thousand Steps In October 2010, I made my first ascent up the side of Jacks Mountain, following the man-made stone stairwell to the vistas high above Jacks Narrows. By the time I made it to the top, my legs were screaming in pain and my mind was shattered. I had been mentally and physically … Continue reading Hiking The Thousand Steps
Fog fills the hollows of north-central Pennsylvania The idea of a lost valley – a valley where extinct animals still roam – has been a fascination of many authors and filmmakers over the years. Looking at my bookcase, some of my favorite novels involved these lost worlds: Journey to the Center of the Earth (Jules … Continue reading Shoemaker’s Lost Valley
The Pennsylvania Rambler 