The Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study a confl uence of industry, culture and landscape

January 2009

THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA HERITAGE AREA FEASIBILITY STUDY

Prepared By: SEDA-Council of Governments Community Resource Center 201 Furnace Road Lewisburg, PA 17837

January 2009

C A

SEDA-COG P T Tom Grbenick, CRC Director Alison Stevenson, Program Coordinator Jeanne e McBryan, Planner & GIS Specialist Brian Auman, RLA Amy Davis, Program Assistant

T F M Pat Arduini David ‘O o’ Kurecian Andrea Bashore Pam Mabus Gary Bloss Forrest McLintock Caru Bowns Andrew Miller Jim Charles Jessica Newell Bob Deff ner Deb Owens Dennis DeMara Dave Ramsey Daniel Greene Dawn Raszecewski Be e Grey Alf Siewers Becky Hagenbaugh Ed Slavishak Stuart Hartman Linda Sterling Helen ‘Sis’ Hause Vanyla Tierney Barbara Heintz Erica Shames Cindy Inkrote Marty Walzer Kathy Jeremiah Kim Wheeler Barb Johnson Jim Wilson Sandra Kehoe-Forutan Angela Zimmerman Jean Knouse

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VII

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2 - THE MIDDLE SUQQUEHANNA REGION 11 CHAPTER 3 - HERITAGE GOALS 49 CHAPTER 4 - INTERPRETIVE THEMES 27 CHAPTER 5 - FUTURE WORK: THE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN 141

APPENDICES 153

APPENDIX A - REGIONAL INDUSTRIES ECOMONIC PROFILE 155 APPENDIX B - REGIONAL PROFILE - POPULATION BY ANCESTRY 178 APPENDIX C - REGIONAL RELIGIOUS PROFILE 190 APPENDIX D - HISTORIC DEMOGRAPHICS 192 APPENDIX E - HISTORIC RESOURCES - PROPERTIES LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 196 APPENDIX F - HISTORIC RESOURCES - PROPERTIES ELIGIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 200 APPENDIX G - TASK FORCE MEMBERS & ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS 209

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 210

iii iv E S v E S

Study Overview Themes

The Middle Susquehanna Region is an unpretentious but proud Located in the heart of Pennsylvania at the confluence of the place where history and heritage run through the land and its Susquehanna River, the Middle Susquehanna Region possesses a people. This is the place where the waters of the North and strong sense of place built out of its long history, distinctive landscapes West Branches of the Susquehanna River meet and begin their and authentic communities. journey to the Chesapeake Bay. Around this physical confluence of rivers, so too have the stories of Pennsylvania converged. As a prerequisite for designation, the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program asks each of its regions to identify a primary theme centering Over the past twelve months, the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area on one of the eight industries significant to the development of Task Force has overseen this feasibility study. Extensive fieldwork, Pennsylvania. Transportation is the industry that has defined the research, and interviews have been undertaken to answer two Middle Susquehanna story from its earliest days. underlying questions. From Native American trails, to canals, railways and roadways, this First, “does this region have sufficient historic, cultural and natural region, with its natural highways along the river and through the resources to merit heritage area designation?“ valleys, has served as a hub for travel and transportation.

Secondly, “is there enough capacity and support within the regional Through this region and through transportation, connections were community to successfully carry out heritage area development?” made between the natural resources of the land, the industries that utilized them, and the distant markets that needed them to build and The answer to both of these questions has been found to be a strengthen a young nation. resounding “YES.” In countless ways, the identity of this region has been formed by the Approval of the recommendations made by this feasibility study evolution of transportation and movement by different peoples around will allow the five counties of the Middle Susquehanna Region to the river confluence. Numerous transportation-related elements and be designated as a Pennsylvania State Heritage Area. It will be the features are still visible today. thirteenth such area within the Commonwealth and will play a critical role in tying the themes and regions of Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas Transportation will be the primary theme of the Middle Susquehanna together thanks to its diverse industrial past and central location. Heritage Area because it has been the most pervasive and important to regional development. However, six of the other seven historically significant industries were also important here and will be interpreted as secondary themes of industrial diversity and interdependence.

These other industries - agriculture, lumber, iron, machine & foundry, coal and textiles - fed each other and helped build the charming and distinctive river and valley towns that give the region such a strong sense of place today.

vi Resources & Capacity

In accordance with the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program, this Heritage Area designa on and development will bring a unifi ed theme study evaluates the current state and development potential of five to the preserva on and promo on of these important resources. There goal areas within the region: is widespread support from regional organiza ons and residents to seek designa on. The numerous local organiza ons will be embraced as • Economic Development ac ve, on the ground partners who will play a cri cal role in heritage area • Education and Interpretation development and project implementa on. • Recreation and Open Space • Cultural Conservation Next Steps • Partnerships Upon review and approval of this study, the project team and task Each goal area is currently being addressed to varying degrees force are prepared to enter into the next phase of work - developing throughout the region. More often than not, the goal areas are targeted the Management Action Plan (MAP). The MAP will lay out a long by a range of local organizations at the community or possibly county- range plan for heritage area development and will identify or establish scale. The benefit that a designated Heritage Area will provide will be the organization who will be responsible for managing the Middle to address these five areas through a coordinated, regional effort. Susquehanna Heritage Area. It is estimated that the MAP will take 12- 18 months to complete. There are countless opportunities to enhance and interpret historic, cultural, and recreation resources throughout the region. The Middle Conclusion Susquehanna Valley boasts an impressive inventory of over 4,000 historic structures, proper es, and districts listed on or poten ally eligible This feasibility study presents the case for designating the Middle for the Na onal Register of Historic Places. Many of these sites are Susquehanna Heritage Area. The region’s history is rich, its resources championed locally by historical socie es, community non-profi ts, or by are plenty, and its people are motivated. Based on the findings of the municipali es themselves. this study, it is the recommendation of the project team and task force that the Middle Susquehanna Region receive approval for For recrea on enthusiasts, there are roughly 100,000 acres of state parks designation as a Pennsylvania State Heritage Area. and forests and over 36,000 acres of state game lands that off er year round enjoyment of its rugged and natural beauty.

Culturally, the region boast dozens of small towns and villages with diverse ethnic backgrounds that are revealed and celebrated through food, fes vals and local architecture.

vii

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The Middle Susquehanna Region is a charming, unpreten ous, calming Yet when the connec ons between past and present are made clear, our and pastoral place. It is composed of landscapes with long histories lives are enriched and, through heritage, we can be er grasp the meaning of human se lement, industry and innova on. The heritage that has and nuances of the places around us. shaped this region is rich with physical and cultural elements that deserve recogni on and celebra on. For this reason, a feasibility study has been Historic structures and features convey their signifi cance when they are conducted to designate the Middle Susquehanna Region as a Pennsylvania interpreted and used to tell the stories and lessons of the past. Regional State Heritage Area. heritage is something to be preserved, valued and celebrated. Whether at fes vals and museums or through research, wri ng and visi ng historic Past cultures, their ac ons, beliefs and values all ac vely shaped the sites, the act of celebra ng the past keeps it alive and protects it for future world around us, making “heritage” a pervasive force. At the same me, genera ons. Improved opportuni es to understand and celebrate the past we o en fail to understand the infl uences of heritage in our daily lives so can also serve as an incredible catalyst for contemporary revitaliza on of it is also a highly elusive and tricky thing to reveal. communi es; residents develop stronger emo onal es to a place when they understand its heritage and know its stories. For those making decisions that will direct the future and development of an area, possessing and understanding that area’s history and The past is imbued with opportuni es for individuals to gain deeper development is highly advantageous. Learning about a place’s history, understandings of their own heritage and of themselves. For visitors, however, can be challenging. Heritage connec ons are not always heritage tourism is a way to explore and learn about a new place more recognized or understood by the general public, even when the physical fully, and o en leads to longer and more meaningful interac ons with a remnants of the past are right before our eyes. Historic elements are place. For these, and many other reasons, heritage connec ons are worthy o en interwoven into the everyday fabric of places around us so that they of signifi cant a en on and enhancement - making be er connec ons to remain eff ec vely invisible to us un l they are brought to our a en on. the past creates be er places for today and tomorrow.

Each new genera on relates to the past in new and changing ways. In today’s world, the mobility of modern society acts as a double-edged sword with regards to heritage resources, preserva on and heritage tourism. On one side, society is becoming less rooted over me as people move farther from their homes and communi es than have past genera ons. As a result, many individuals are not steeped in the history of the places in which they live. They become less likely to carry on the tradi ons of those places and may be less aware of the valuable historic places and resources around them. When historic resources are not recognized, interpreted, and shared with others, they can fall into neglect and may eventually be lost.

Covered bridges are just one of many historic resources that lend charm and character to the Middle Susquehanna Region

Introduc on 1.1 Conversely, a great deal of travel is carried out by today’s mobile society. As one of the original 13 colonies in America, Pennsylvania, has witnessed Heritage tourism is on the rise as people have more opportuni es to a long history of na onally signifi cant events, cultural se lement and explore and learn about new places and new cultures. Older genera ons dispersion, and industrial development that helped fuel the growth of the in par cular display a strong interest in learning more about their own country. With such a lengthy and rich heritage, it is fi  ng that Pennsylvania heritage and their ancestors. Communi es and regions with visible has become a na onal leader in heritage development and programming. heritage connec ons can capitalize on those interests and build niche As a na onal leader, the me has come to appreciate and share the markets created by heritage tourism. heritage of the Middle Susquehanna Region, one of Pennsylvania’s most precious, but unpreten ous heartlands that has ed the commonwealth together and fueled its growth for over two hundred years.

The Middle Susqhanna Heritage Area, outlined in red, can make cri cal connec ons with other Heritage Areas in Pennsylvania. Source: Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program Manual, PA DCNR 1.2 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study

Heritage Planning, Programming & Development

Historic resources come in many forms, from wri en texts and Heritage areas tease out the signifi cant historic themes of a region, photographs, to historic buildings and even large scale landscapes. They and where they can be experienced. In turn, the areas encourage can be studied, enhanced and shared in many ways. There are good local organiza ons to pursue studies and heritage-linked projects reasons for ac vely pursuing heritage programming and development; that will enrich the lives of residents and visitors through educa onal to start, heritage resources inform the character and quality of a place. opportuni es, a rac ons, and recrea on. The comprehensive, regional Ac vely maintaining connec ons to heritage enriches the life and vitality approach of Heritage Area Programs also promote greater collabora on of a community. Connec ons can be made to heritage in a myriad of ways; within a region; localized groups with similar interests are encouraged they can be made through research and historic preserva on, at fes vals, to band together and partner to create higher-caliber heritage based house museums or on walking tours. They can be made through lectures experiences. or hands-on educa onal programs, watching a play or living history event, reading a plaque or interpre ve sign, or by exploring an old building or The Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program structure found in the middle of the woods. The Pennsylvania State Heritage Area Program (PHAP) was established in The development of a heritage area takes a comprehensive look at the 1992 and is currently administered under the Department of Conserva on extant resources and preserved culture and tradi ons that a region has and Natural Resources (DCNR). It is structured to provide economic to off er. More o en than not, preserva on and heritage planning has development for designated areas through cultural conserva on, occurred at the local level, with individual proper es and structures having improving and crea ng opportuni es for heritage learning, enhancing been iden fi ed and preserved opportunis cally. Since the American connec ons to recrea on and open lands, and capacity building through preserva on movement began in the 1970’s, over 80,000 proper es and regional partnerships. To date, there are 12 state-designated heritage more than 1.4 million individually signifi cant historic resources have been areas in Pennsylvania, fi ve of which are also designated at the na onal iden fi ed na onwide and placed on the Na onal Register of Historic level. Places. The Heritage Area Process Among these resources are hundreds of historic districts that have been established to protect areas with many individual resources that together display high levels of historic integrity. Yet even the Na onal Register Feasibility Study historic districts tend to func on at a neighborhood or community scale and do not address historic signifi cance and heritage connec ons in a ↓ mul -faceted way throughout a region. Management Ac on Plan

This is the role of the heritage area. Whether it is called a historic area, park, region or corridor, each heritage area a empts to understand and ↓ reveal the stories of the region. Each one considers how the region or Heritage Area Designa on & Development corridor developed, what its extant resources are, how they might be experienced across the region today, and how that experience might be ↙ ↓ ↘ protected and enhanced for tomorrow. Management Implementa on Special Studies & Grants Grants Project Grants

Introduc on 1.3 PHAP is structured around the industrial heritage of the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania’s heritage areas are defi ned as being mul -county in scope. PENNSYLVANIA HERITAGE AREA PROGRAM They are areas that exhibit heritage resources that are signifi cant at the INDUSTRIES OF SIGNIFICANCE state and some mes even na onal level. Beyond the core industrial Agriculture themes of each area, regional cultures, folkways, natural resources and historic events are also celebrated and revealed. Heritage explora on Coal and learning is a natural complement to recrea on, relaxa on and explora on of Pennsylvania’s many unique communi es, landscapes and Iron & Steel scenic places.

Heritage Area Programs seek to build connec ons between heritage, Lumber recrea on and educa on and, despite being a statewide program, the real energy behind each heritage area is actually (and necessarily) driven Machine and Foundry by local apprecia on and desire to protect, enhance and share a region’s resources and history with residents and visitors alike. Oil

Eight industries have been defi ned by the state program as having Tex les signifi cance to the development of the Commonwealth and the na on. From iron to agriculture, the 12 designated Heritage Areas within Transporta on Pennsylvania have collec vely dealt with and revealed elements of each of the eight industries iden fi ed by PHAP. However, from a geographic * bold text indicates an industry of signifi cance within the Middle perspec ve, the designated areas form a rough “doughnut” around the Susquehanna Region state with a large, unincorporated void in the center, which the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area designa on seeks to rec fy and fi ll.

Although it is not yet designated within the state program, this central por on of the state has a rich and diverse history, both from an industrial and cultural perspec ve. Indeed, the Middle Susquehanna Region developed as a major transporta on corridor within Pennsylvania and actually supported seven of the eight PHAP- designated industries within its boundaries. Only the oil industry did not play a signifi cant role in the shaping of the region. Because of its geomorphology, its central loca on within Pennsylvania, its ongoing importance as a travel corridor, and its diverse industrial heritage, the Middle Susquehanna Region can play a unique role in tying the exis ng state heritage areas together and establishing cri cal links between their themes, stories and physical loca ons.

Seven of the eight historically signifi cant industries are represented within the Middle Heritage Region, including transporta on, tex les, agriculture, and iron (Clockwise from top le , respec vely) 1.4 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Feasibility Study Process

It has been the purpose of this feasibility study to determine the poten al The task force dialogue has led to the recommenda ons and framework for the Middle Susquehanna Region to be designated as a state heritage for understanding the Middle Susquehanna Region that are presented area through its merit and viability. Merit is demonstrated through within this report. Findings from extensive fi eldwork and research between the integrity of historic, natural and cultural resources throughout the monthly task force mee ngs have been compiled into an inventory of region and the opportuni es that exist for heritage-based interpreta on resources that are listed and mapped within the appendices. A full list of and experiences. The viability of the heritage area depends on the local task force members and represented organiza ons may also be found in support, ac ve par cipa on and capacity to manage, maintain and the appendices to this document. develop a heritage area program. There has been signifi cant and growing support for entry into the program at the local and state level since the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area feasibility study applica on was submi ed in 2005.

SEDA- Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has carried out the feasibility study work program using a combina on of in-house staff and volunteers. Pennsylvania Heritage Area Eligibility In 2007, SEDA-COG ini ated the heritage background phase of the feasibility study through a summer-long research program conducted by Regions wishing to par cipate in the Pennsylvania Heritage Area professors and students from local universi es. This group developed an Program must meet the following criteria: historical narra ve of the region detailing the major periods, events and trends that have shaped the region into what it is today. • Must a have a strong industrial theme based on one or more of the following industries – coal, oil, iron and steel, In January 2008, the Heritage Area Task Force was formed to oversee lumber, tex le, transporta on, machine and foundry the study. Within the group were representa ves of many regional and agriculture. stakeholder organiza ons including museums, historic sites, local universi es, historical socie es, tourism promo on agencies, downtown • Must be mul -county in size. organiza ons, chambers of commerce, recrea on authori es and the • Must have natural, cultural, historic, recrea onal and state parks program. This group provided invaluable insight regarding scenic resources of State or na onal signifi cance. historic, natural and cultural resources and engaged in an ongoing • Have a broad-based public and private partnership and discussion about the industrial heritage and signifi cance of the region. regional coali on suppor ng the project. The Task Force remains ac vely engaged in working towards Heritage Area designa on and development. • Must demonstrate a local commitment and leadership capacity to undertake heritage area planning and development

Source: Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program Manual, DCNR

Introduc on 1.5 Report Contents

The subsequent body of this report details the fi ndings of the feasibility Transporta on is recommended as the primary industrial theme for the study. region, but it is also shown that many opportuni es exist to interpret sub-theme rela ng to agriculture, lumber, coal, machine and foundry, CHAPTER 2 tex le and iron heritage. Complementary sub-themes including folkways and cultural tradi ons are also introduced for considera on. Chapter 4 Chapter 2 presents an overview of the Middle Susquehanna Region. concludes with an overview of some of the exis ng places and future Described are the major features of the region and how the area fi ts projects that could be developed to share the primary and sub-themes into the larger geographic context of the state. A qualita ve descrip ons of the Middle Susquehanna Region and presents several op ons for of the region’s character is followed by an historic narra ve rela ng to structuring visitor experiences and wayfi nding within the region. heritage themes of statewide and na onal signifi cance. The historical narra ve reveals the diverse industrial and cultural heritage of the region CHAPTER 5 and provides an overview of how that heritage remains visible within the landscape today. Chapter 5 looks ahead and outlines the next step in the designa on process, the Management Ac on Plan (MAP). This future work plan sets CHAPTER 3 the stage for heritage area theme refi nement, interpreta on planning, and organiza onal development. The role of the MAP is to develop a In Chapter 3, the region is analyzed to show its poten al to meet the business plan and iden fy or establish the agency or organiza on that will primary objec ves of the State Heritage Area Program. Economic oversee the heritage area upon designa on and to provide that agency development is the over arching goal of the program, yet it can only with a long-range work plan for the heritage development of the region. be achieved and maintained through a balanced approach to cultural conserva on, educa on and interpreta on, recrea on and open space Based on the fi ndings of this study, it is the recommenda on of the planning, and partnership building. As signifi cant factors in heritage area project team and task force that the Middle Susquehanna Region receive planning, this chapter also addresses the current state and direc on of approval for designa on as a State Heritage Area. tourism and planning in the region while also considering broader state goals for smart growth and contextually sensi ve planning.

CHAPTER 4

Subsequently, Chapter 4 makes recommenda ons for the framing of the Middle Susquehanna Story- how the physical confl uence of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna River spurred transporta on, movement and growth both inside and outside of the region and how transporta on and the coming together at The Confl uence is conceptually refl ected in the convergence of so many diff erent peoples, industries, events and natural resources within the area.

1.6 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study

II - T M S R The Middle Susquehanna Region covers fi ve coun es straddling the confl uence of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna River II - T M S R: Character and History Regional Overview

The Middle Susquehanna Valley, including Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Mount Carmel. While not situated on or along the Susquehanna, these and Montour and Columbia coun es, has contributed signifi cantly to both numerous other villages and hamlets are and have historically been linked state and na onal development for over two and a half centuries. Major to the life and commerce of the region’s riverfront communi es. Cast in cultural groups that have se led in the region include the English, Welsh, the larger framework of the region’s open spaces, the authen c, small Scotch-Irish, German, Irish, Polish, Italian and other culture groups have town ambience of the se lements impart a truly memorable character to le an indelible mark on the Valley landscape. Their presence has been what is commonly referred to as The Valleys of the Susquehanna. evidenced in the area’s se lement pa erns, town designs, architecture, social, religious, cultural and educa onal ins tu ons. For centuries prior to European se lement, Na ve Americans le their mark as refl ected in many place names in and around the region.

These cultural infl uences are all linked to the region’s dominant landscape features, including its forested mountain ridges and broad valley farmlands. Indeed, the famed Ridge and Valley landscape of the Middle Susquehanna Valley makes a powerful impression on fi rst me visitors and it is uniquely iden fi able within Pennsylvania and the United States. Connec ng everything within the envisioned Heritage Region is the Susquehanna River. Here, where the West Branch and Main Stem merge, the river broadens on its fi nal course to the Chesapeake Bay.

The region is further dis nguished by the prolifera on of small riverfront towns, each with its own dis nc ve iden ty, history, and cultural tradi ons. Within mere miles of each other one can fi nd a rich mix of towns and villages in addi on to the central City of Sunbury. Nowhere else on the Susquehanna will one fi nd such an eclec c mix of riverfront neighborhoods, parks, and main streets within such close proximity to one another. The envisioned heritage region encompasses over 20 riverfront communi es.

Important towns and villages also were se led away from the river within each of the Middle Susquehanna coun es. These included the agricultural valley towns of Miffl inburg, New Berlin, Middleburg, Freeburg, Map of the Susquehanna River Watershed, with the Middle Susquehanna McEwensville, and Turbotville, and boom towns such as Shamokin and Region outlined. Created by Karl Musser based on USGS data.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.11 “The Susquehanna River is unique and memorable. No other What is true of the Susquehanna heartland in general is perhaps more place has the look and feel of the Susquehanna Valley. Within pronounced and readily experienced in the Middle Susquehanna Region mere hours, visitors may connect to an extraordinary range of than any other area within the larger watershed. The Middle Susquehanna experiences. The intertwining of physical geography, ci es and Valley is dis nguished by the diversity of its people, places, industries and towns, forests and countryside with the meandering path of livelihoods. With anthracite coal towns, conserved state park, forest and the Susquehanna, creates a special sense of place – something game lands, and rich limestone farmlands, the region boasts a diverse uniquely memorable and increasingly rare.” and interdependent heritage of localized industries.

-Susquehanna Greenway: A Vision for Connec ng Communi es to the River These place-based industries were each connected and supported by successive developments in the transporta on industry. Moreover, the region exudes the richness and fullness of the Susquehanna Heartland Story—a story linked to varied and interconnected themes. The themes include Na ve American history, fron er se lement and discovery, intellectual life, cultural and religious diversity, tolerance and rebellion, diverse farming, anthracite coal mining, iron ore mining, forging and manufacturing, lumbering and wood products manufacturing and shipping, tex le produc on, and the history of transporta on.

Collec vely, these themes paint a true and comprehensive portrait of the Middle Susquehanna’s heritage. To live, learn, and explore this story is the objec ve of this eff ort. Heritage area development provides a vehicle for weaving together the over arching theme of “transporta on at the Susquehanna Confl uence” with the varied elements of Na ve Americans and European se lement, agriculture and forestry, mining and manufacturing, and modern-day health care and educa on.

The regional heritage will become the founda on for future development that is sustainable, built upon regional assets, and respec ul of regional tradi ons—innova ve and enriching development that will shape the life experiences of residents and visitors and the economic poten al of enterprises for decades to come.

The Susquehanna River sits at the heart of the regional landscape and its history of development

2.12 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study N H L

The Middle Susquehanna Region is a beau ful and scenic area, notable Driving through the region, one encounters many varia ons on the for its waterways, valleys, hills and ridges. The dis nc ve ridge and valley theme of rural landscapes. Union and Snyder Coun es off er fer le landscape of Central Pennsylvania was formed by upli within the past limestone valleys with rolling fl oors that are do ed with farmsteads and 65.5 million years, but the Susquehanna River is itself much older. It working agricultural lands and enclosed by forested sandstone ridges. predates even the origins of the Appalachians over 300 million years ago. The northern coun es- Montour, and the northern parts of Columbia In fact, the Susquehanna River system is generally believed to be one of and Northumberland Coun es, alternate quickly from gently undula ng the oldest in the world. farmlands to wild and rugged knob and ke le landscapes characterized by drama c and sudden changes in topography, steep, hillside farms and Glacia on is another geologic factor that has played a role in shaping the deep wooded hollows. regional landscape. Glaciers have overrun and receded from the region as far south as Selinsgrove three mes within the past 770,000 years. Glacial Compared to the immediate surrounding landscape and much of the deposits last crept into the northernmost sec ons of Columbia County greater Pennsylvania landscape, the Susquehanna River Valley provided during the Wisconsonian Period, approximately 17,000 to 22,000 years a rela vely passable and clear North-South route through the state. ago. When the glaciers melted, completely receding from Pennsylvania The juxtaposi on of traversable and compara vely impassable lands by 10,600 B.C., the Susquehanna ran 30 feet above current levels, forming has shaped se lement pa erns in the region and moved through from river islands and fer le terraces along its course. earliest mes.

What was le behind was the Susquehanna River Valley as it is seen today- Today, the forces which directed growth and development have made a a broad lowland of shale, limestones and glacial out wash and a natural las ng impression on the landscape through the unique resultant pa ern corridor cu ng indiscriminately along the ancient water gap through of dispersed river and valley towns surrounded by open lands bordered by steep and rugged ridges separated by long and narrow lateral valleys. ridges, and strung together by successive parallel bands of paths, canals, rails and roadways.

The regional landscape is marked both by forested ridges and riparian areas (le ) and rolling agricultural valleys (right)

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.13 T

One of the notable characteris cs of the Middle Susquehanna Region is Other communi es grew up within areas high in natural resources. how remote it feels despite its rela ve proximity to the major metropolitan Many of the remote valley towns, o en established by the Pennsylvania areas of Philadelphia and New York. The rural nature of the Middle Dutch, were located in places with good, fer le soils with easy access to Susquehanna Region is also highly dis nc ve. Other noted rural parts of streams and woodlands where families could live off the land in close-knit the Commonwealth, such as the Lancaster-York region, exhibit agricultural communi es. lands encircling mid-sized, highly urbanized ci es and spreading suburbs. In contrast, the Middle Susquehanna Region’s popula on is dispersed Other communi es grew quickly in response to industrial expansion and in a pa ern of communi es that range from very small, rural crossroad are best described as ‘boom towns’. The anthracite coal towns are the villages and valley towns to, at their largest, minor ci es that s ll carry a best example of these; popula ons soared through the 1920’s, but now small town atmosphere and off er authen c experiences. hold only a remnant of their former numbers. An unexpected benefi t of the major declines these towns experienced is that they have retained Towns grew in the region primarily at connec on points between their historic character and integrity. Several, including parts of Shamokin local resources and transporta on networks. Thus, most of the larger and Mount Carmel, appear like a faded snapshot of what they were at communi es are found along the river at the head of lateral valleys and their height in the early to mid 20th century. tributaries. From these posi ons, river towns served to connect valley industries and resources with distant coastal markets downstream.

Danville, in Montour County, is just one of many prominent and picturesque river towns in the region

2.14 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study H N

An abundance of natural resources spurred European expansion and region, have come to shape it. As suppor ve evidence for these claims, se lement in the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. Most se lers the signifi cant periods of se lement and regional development are and trade routes followed the waterways and surrounding lowlands. summarized in this report on the Na ve American and European ethnic These routes provided access to the resources found in close proximity to heritage of the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Region and take place one another within the region: mber and major hardwood forests; fer le before, during and a er European se lement. soils; iron ore; limestone; anthracite coal; and water power. Businesses and industries grew up around each of the resources and led to the The history and development of the Middle Susquehanna shows that it has establishment of many river towns and valley communi es throughout long been an area with confl ic ng personali es, at once a central hub and the region. an isolated fron er. Many have been drawn to and se led in the region by the opportunity of work and a new life free away from persecu on and Many industries fl ourished throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, an authority of a centralized government. The se lement of those people causing a rapid deple on of resources such as mber and iron ore and allowed the region to serve as a cri cal hub, bringing in resources for resul ng in the subsequent industrial decline throughout the region. manufacturing and sending out goods and services to major metropolitan Today, the Middle Susquehanna Region retains its roots to its industrial areas of Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. heritage and has much to off er in the way of cultural, natural and historic resources. By reviewing the historical narra ve of the region, from Na ve American mes to present day, it becomes clear that the region is s ll connected to its heritage and the unique mix of cultures, industries and life ways that converged in the region around the confl uence of the Susquehanna River.

The people of the Middle Susquehanna Region with their origins their contribu ons to the area formed the backbone of this rich cultural, historical, and industrial landscape. The fi ve coun es of the Middle Susquehanna Region share a rich social and cultural history beginning in the mid eighteenth-century that is best refl ected in themes of transporta on, intellectual life, and living from the land. The region’s architectural heritage is rich and largely intact, and is further diversifi ed by the range of residen al, ins tu onal, commercial, agricultural, and industrial building types within the area.

The following historical narra ve points toward the diversity of the region, through geography, industry, and demography. While other por ons of Pennsylvania and even the United States cannot claim such diversity, the region boasts a unique conglomera on of ethnici es and cultures that, Canoes were used by Na ve Americans to travel from the fi rst forma ons of the poli cal and industrial iden es of the along the Susquehanna River and for fi shing.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.15 NATIVE AMERICAN SETTLEMENT (PREHISTORY – LATE 1600S)

Archeological records suggest that Na ve Americans were living within the borders of present-day Pennsylvania at least 12,000 years ago. Despite this long history of habita on and signifi cant archeological research that has been conducted in the state as a whole, compara vely li le has been recorded concerning the fi rst inhabitants of the Middle Susquehanna Region and an accurate portrayal of their history and culture is regre ably lacking. The challenge of research is compounded by the fact that most historical records were produced by Europeans who certainly possessed a diff erent viewpoint of historical events than na ves. This one-sided view of history has clouded views of the past that will never be fully cleared, but may be improved through diligent research and con nued eff orts to uncover the broader story of Na ve Americans in Pennsylvania.

Evidence suggests that the Susquehanna Valley was used as a major route for trade, travel and communica on between the Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes region. Major popula on centers were located to the west, in the Ohio Valley, and to the east in the Delaware Valley. However, un l the Late Woodland Era from 1,000 -1,500 A.D., the Middle Susquehanna Moravian & Na ve American contact; Courtesy of the Northumberland County Valley appears to have primarily served as a travel way through the Historical Society outskirts of Na ve American society. Archeological remains have been found in the region da ng from the The Susquehannocks are the earliest known peoples to have inhabited Archaic (8,000 to 1,000 B.C.) and Woodland Periods (1,000 B.C. to 1,500 the Middle Susquehanna Region, but very li le is known about the group. A.D.), which are characterized by predominantly hunter-gatherer socie es Many other tribes later relocated to or passed through the region as it and agriculture based se lements, respec vely. Evidence of their former gained prominence within Na ve American society in the mid-1700’s. presence within the region can s ll be found today and opportuni es During that me, colonial pressure was growing with the fur trade and certainly exist to bring more of the region’s ethnographic resources to causing shi s in Na ve popula ons. Among represented tribes were the light. Leni-Lenape, Munsees, Unami and Unalach go, who were collec vely known as the Delawares, and the Shawnee. Shamokin, at present- The vitality of the Na ve American se lements depended on the day Sunbury, was par cularly noted as a diverse Na ve American city Susquehanna River as a source for food, a corridor for transporta on where members of at least a dozen dis nct tribes resided and numerous and trade, and a means of protec on from the wilderness; consequently, languages were spoken. most of the se lements, as we know, were located along the riverbank. Interes ngly, it is known that islands within the Susquehanna were cul vated and used as farmland, a prac ce that is s ll being carried out in places by modern-day residents.

2.16 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT AND CULTURAL CONTACT (LATE 1600’S – 1800)

The natural landscape of the central and eastern parts of Pennsylvania point toward the region; more specifi cally, the confl uence of the branches of the Susquehanna, make the region a natural point of convergence and cultural contact. The Middle Susquehanna Region was on the Pennsylvania fron er in the eighteenth-century, and many places today tes fy to the presence and importance of Na ve American fi gures like Chief Shikellamy and early for fi ed structures like Fort Freeland, Fort Augusta and others.

In the late 18th century, European se lers gradually began inhabi ng the region. The area was then en rely known as Northumberland County, which was established in 1772. Europeans were drawn to the area for diff erent reasons. Some came for land, others were drawn by the fur- trade and s ll others came to escape religious persecu on and to fi nd a place for individualism, and tolerance away from a controlling central government. Unsurprisingly, at the same me as se lement began, the se lers began rubbing shoulders with their Na ve American neighbors, bringing new goods, technology and trade connec ons, but also disease and confl ict.

By all accounts, the epidemics of western diseases decimated Na ve The Profi le of Shikellamy in the Rocks of Blue Hill popula ons at the me of European se lement and led to major unrest Courtesy of the Northumberland County Historical Society Proceedings and Addresses, vol VII. Sunbury, and disrup on amongst tribal popula ons throughout the East. O en, PA: The Sunbury Item, 1 May 1935. weakened tribes would band together and form new groups, bringing strength in numbers, but also a range of power struggles and challenges The confl uence of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna in adap ng. Advancing se lement and internal upheaval seems actually served as an unmistakable, central geographical loca on, as it s ll is to to have brought many groups into the Middle Susquehanna Region. this day. This loca on was once known as Shamokin, the se lement of The Delawares, for one, came to live in the hun ng grounds of the Middle the Na ve American chie ains during the Late Woodland Period. Since Susquehanna River Valley only a er being forced off of their own lands by that me, towns have sprung from these original Na ve American the Iroquois in 1720. The con nued vitality of the fur trade helped a ract se lements along the river, such as Sunbury, Catawissa, and Herndon, Na ve Americans to the Susquehanna Valleys who had been displaced for example, while many of the names of the geographical features of by disease or war, fueling the character of Shamokin and the region as a the region have retained their Na ve American linguis c roots. Indian hybrid community. trails like the Wyoming Path from Sunbury to Wilkes-Barre, the Muncy- Mahoning Path, the Tulpehocken Trail, and the Catawissa Path also set the course for development of the region’s early wagon roads.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.17 Diploma c eff orts made by fi gures such as Chief Shikellamy and the interpreters Conrad Weiser and Madame Montour, succeeded in calming tensions between se lers and Na ve Americans for some me. It is clear by their eff orts that they were a emp ng to fi nd a peaceful solu on to the confl ict and to determine a way for se lers and Na ve Americans to coexist. Also, Moravian missionaries lived peaceably among their poten al converts un l they were forced out of the region due to heightened violence.

Ul mately, however, the challenges of achieving a las ng peace proved too diffi cult for its advocates to accomplish. Not only did nego ators confront the linguis c barriers that prevent diplomacy, but also encountered complex intertribal aff airs that equally threatened the promise of peace in the region. The peaceful path was challenging on the European side as well. Se lement in the region, while at mes peaceful, clearly was aimed at acquiring land and resources for the good of the colonies and fueled both stress and confl ict amongst na ve groups.

Confl ict and violence escalated a er the deaths of Chief Shikellamy and Madame Montour in 1748 and 1753, respec vely. The loss of these two most important Na ve American translators and mediators proved devasta ng for hopes of peaceful se lement of the region. Soon a er, a series of local massacres, including the Penn’s Creek Massacre on October 15, 1755, escalated into the French and Indian War, which lasted from 1755-1760.

During the next twenty-odd years numerous forts were constructed throughout the region. Se lers sought shelter as they fl ed from successive waves of raids by Na ve Americans who were being spurred on by their European allies. The forts included Fort Wheeler, Fort McClure, and Fort Jenkins in Columbia County, Fort Bosley in Montour County, and Forts Freeland and Fort Augusta in Northumberland County.

Over me, a state of fear regarding Na ve American a acks gripped the region and brought se lement to a halt. In 1778, a er a summer of raids directed at se lers up the Wyoming Valley, se lers began fl eeing south to for fi ed strongholds in a drawn out event known as the “Great Runaway”. Many found safety at Fort Augusta in Sunbury, which was never directly Plan of Fort Augusta, near Sunbury. Courtesy of the Northumberland County Historical Society a acked, but played an important role as a stronghold for se lers and the Commonwealth.

2.18 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study EUROPEAN ETHNIC & RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY (1790S-1920S)

The tensions caused by warfare and raids had two signifi cant eff ects on The range of na onal, ethnic, and religious backgrounds of the European the region. They certainly slowed development within the region and se lers is unique to this area. The region was historically populated by few structures remain from or prior to the Revolu onary War Era. Of Pennsylvania Germans, Scotch-Irish, Welsh, English, and clusters of other greater long-term consequence to the cultural fabric and character of the ethnic popula ons like the Poles and Irish in the coal region where mining region, Commonwealth and na on, confl ict between se lers and Na ve supplanted farming or mbering as the way to live from the land. Early Americans ul mately led to the removal of Na ve Americans from all of religious groups, including Quakers, Moravians and Unitarians came to Pennsylvania by 1796. Removal to the West was completed despite the the region alternately as missionaries and to seek religious tolerance. pains of some of the region’s inhabitants to prevent such an extreme ac on. The mul farious quali es and features of the landscape of the region facilitated diverse uses for the land and therefore a racted diverse Land was made legally available to European-Americans in the late 1700’s people to se le it; the fer le, low-lying valleys allowed for farming, the and the fron er became a less-vola le place. Therea er permanent mountains provided abundant natural resources for mining, while the se lements began to expand throughout the Middle Susquehanna rivers and tributaries supplied a means for trade, transporta on, and Region and especially along the banks of the river. By 1820, much of the commerce, giving rise to the river towns and the businesses and industries Pennsylvania fron er had been se led with popula on densi es of under that they held and o en s ll hold today. This area, especially in the early 20- persons per square 19th century, was seen as a land of opportunity for any and all groups of mile. By comparison, all fi ve people. of the Middle Susquehanna coun es had much denser The richness of the cultural landscape pertains to more than the region’s popula on at an average history; it can s ll be found today. In pockets of the region, people speak of 20-40 inhabitants per with hints of their German and Irish heritage; Chief Shikellamy is s ll an square mile. Many diff erent icon and a source of pride for the region. From the 1800’s on, many people groups were a racted to of Northumberland, Columbia, Montour, Union and Snyder coun es fi nd the remote region and had their roots and personal a achments to the region through direct lineage. reasons to make it their home, as can be seen from the region’s town names, churches, architectural styles and cultural events.

Cultural tradi ons and cra s are carried on throughout the region, including through the Warrior Run-Fort Freeland Heritage Society (le ). Courtesy of Susquehanna Pennsylvania Canal Workers (above). Courtesy of the River Valley Visitors Bureau; Columbia County Historical Society Archives

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.19 Such a heritage should be shared so that others may connect with it and It is worth no ng that the City of Sunbury holds a special place in the early make it their own as in the tradi on of the region. development of Pennsylvania. Strategically located on the Susquehanna fron er at the confl uence of two major river branches, Sunbury developed The Penn Family made great eff orts to persuade a variety of people as an early trading center. Before incorpora on, Sunbury was part of the to se le in Pennsylvania, including the region. Such eff orts led to the Manor of Pomfret, one of fi ve such large landholdings designated by the immigra on of skilled workers from various occupa ons as well as those Penn family in Pennsylvania. Because of its strategic loca on, it became belonging to diff erent religious groups and resulted in a popula on that one of the seven “proprietor’s” towns laid out in Pennsylvania, along with tended to be more diverse than that found in the other colonies. Philadelphia, Reading, Easton, Lancaster, York and Carlisle.

In the Middle Susquehanna Region specifi cally, Quakers, Moravian Before the construc on of the Pennsylvania Canal system in the 1830’s, missionaries, and Huguenots have all claimed the region as their home. The the majority of the region’s immigrants were of English and German local Unitarian Church has its introduc on here through Joseph Priestley, descent while the leading industry was farming. Burgeoning industries who organized a small congrega on of Unitarians in Northumberland. signifi cantly contributed to the ethnic diversity of the region as the Pennsylvania Canal brought in Scotch-Irish and Welsh laborers and the The B’nai Zion Congrega on (chartered in 1854), the fi rst Synagogue in railroad and anthracite coal industries led to the employment of Welsh the region, was located in Danville, Montour County and had connec ons and Irish workers. in Selinsgrove and Miffl inburg. The fi rst Evangelical Church in the United States was built in New Berlin, Union County, in 1816. In Catawissa, a Employment for diff erent tasks o en fell to separate ethnic groups. Within Quaker Friends Mee ng House from the late 1700’s stands as one of the the mining industry, many of the Welsh workers were already familiar with earliest surviving structures in the region. mining from their homeland and were hired for higher paying jobs. Irish

Catawissa Friends Mee ng House, circa. 1789 On the le is Mother Cabrini Church, formerly St. Edward’s—the fi rst church in the world to be electrically lighted; on right is Transfi gura on Urkrainian Church. Courtesy of Northumberland County Tourism

2.20 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study workers, by comparison, were typically hired as unskilled laborers a low The Mahantango Valley in Northumberland County is s ll recognized as wages for o en dangerous tasks. This dynamic caused discord between one of the purest Pennsylvania Dutch bloodlines in the na on, which can these and other ethnic groups and fostered the growth of ethnic pockets be traced back to some of the area’s original se lers. That same valley and neighborhoods within the towns, some of which can s ll be iden fi ed is notable for having produced one of the most dis nct and coveted, today. A er the decline of the Pennsylvania Canal beginning in the 1850s, decora ve folk furniture styles in American history, known as the many of the Irish residents moved out of the region. The anthracite coal Mahantango Valley Style. According to Lisa Ramaci with the American industry in the area reached its peak in 1917, and un l that me, both Furniture and Folk Art Department of Sotheby’s Auc on House, only 75 the coal industry and the railroad employed large numbers of Eastern original pieces of early 19th century Mahantango Furniture are known to European immigrants. survive in the world today.

Evidence of ethnic and religious diversity can s ll be seen throughout the The region’s ethnic heritage is undoubtedly unique. Life in the region Middle Susquehanna Region. In par cular, the City of Shamokin refl ects both before and a er the construc on of the Pennsylvania Canal was its development as a microcosm of ethnic enclaves through its historic challenging to the extent that these ethnic and religious groups had no churches and buildings and contemporary tradi ons, revealed in ethnic choice but to intermingle with and adapt to this diverse environment. organiza ons, restaurants and cultural events. Pennsylvania Germans are With diff erent people passing through the region on a daily basis, a certain common in the agricultural valleys throughout the region, where they level of cultural fl exibility was a necessary component to living here. may o en be seen driving buggies and wagons, working the fi elds using tradi onal methods, and selling produce at local farmer’s markets.

Mahantango Valley Poplar Blanket Chest, circa 1841. Courtesy of Sotheby’s Log Ra ing on the Susquehanna River. Courtesy of Montour County Historical Auc on House; www.sothebys.com Society.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.21 TRADE, TOWNS AND TRANSPORT

The confl uence and se lement of cultural groups paired with industrial Trade, town and transport are linked together in the Middle Susquehanna growth in the region during the early 19th century spurred the need for a because of the rela onship they shared in the area’s development. The be er transporta on system. Be er methods were needed to access and towns were supported by the available resources and trade in the region carry goods and resources both internally and into and out of the Middle while the trade was governed by the available transporta on. In other Susquehanna Region. The energy surrounding the regular convergence words, as technology in transporta on became more advanced, the new and divergence of people and resources around the confl uence, coupled forms of transporta on allocated the development of trade, which in with the presence of the river valley and a natural transporta on corridor, turn created an infl ux of immigra on into the Susquehanna River Valley. made the region an ideal loca on to construct a major division of the The new residents to this area expanded and increased the popula on of Pennsylvania Canal. small towns plo ed along the Susquehanna and its tributaries.

These river towns are the backbone of the culture and history of the region. The diversity of the industries and immigrants of the area makes each river town unique, yet they s ll share the same quali es of small- town America. The link between trade, town, and transport provides a story that tells a very vital part of the regions development into the river towns that exist today.

Na ve American Paths within the Middle Susquehanna Region Created from map by Paul A.W. Wallace. Indian Paths of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1993. Iroquois Fur Traders; Courtesy of Columbia County Historical Society

2.22 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Pathways

The fi rst extensive transporta on system in the region was established by into the area, they too u lized canoes on the rivers and creeks, and also Na ve Americans as a network of pathways for trade and communica on made use of fl at bo omed boats and ra s. This type of travel expanded between villages. Many early regional pathways followed waterways like trade and transport capabili es in the region, but the waterways were the Susquehanna River and major creeks. The overland walking paths only never a reliable way of moving goods. accommodated limited amounts of trading in the valley because travel was slow and hauling large quan es of goods was diffi cult. Even with routes The river and other waterways only ran high enough to fl oat mass goods following natural corridors like rivers and gaps, the Central Pennsylvanian during the spring months when the water level experienced a surge terrain is undeniably rugged and challenging to navigate. Because there from mel ng winter ice and spring rains. Yet the high spring currents was no eff ec ve way to transport goods, trade and industry likewise that make travel possible also made naviga on of ra s and other vessels remained limited un l improvements were made in transporta on. exceedingly diffi cult and dangerous. Due to the treacherous condi ons of the high waters, it was not uncommon for people to be hurt or for In the 1700’s, the majority of people in the region were subsistence goods to be damaged or lost during fl oats. Despite the diffi cul es, reports farmers, trappers, and traders. Un l the mid to late-1700’s, the bulk of the from the 1830’s reveal that the demand for trade and goods was thriving. popula on was also Na ve American; they farmed, hunted, and traded The records from that me report that hundreds of arks and ra s were with some of the se lers in the area along with the traveling French fur being fl oated down the river from places like Catawissa, bound for coastal traders. Although the fur trade fl ourished throughout the region, leading markets downstream. to the over-hun ng and ex rpa on of many na ve species, the overall human popula on of the region remained rela vely low throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries.

The few se lements or forts that were established were very scarce and spread throughout the region. Extant trading networks and the overall diffi culty of travel into and around the rugged region clearly limited the amount of growth and industrial development that was able to occur in the Middle Susquehanna River Valley.

Heavily used routes were established in the region by the 1830’s. One followed the North and West Branch; another ran along present-day Route 45. By 1830, a turnpike also extended from Philadelphia as far as Sunbury. Despite the construc on and use of these roads, transport remained seasonal and diffi cult, essen ally limi ng shipped goods to highly durable items.

Prior to the canal era, the Susquehanna River and its larger tributaries were, in fact, navigated as transporta on corridors. Na ve Americans were the fi rst to travel the waterways by way of canoe. As se lers came Packet boats travelled through many river towns, including downtown Danville Courtesy of the Montour County Historical Society

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.23 2.24 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study The Canal Era

Within the region, creeks facilitated the crea on of se lements and The mode of transporta on that really sparked the growth in regional mill construc on deeper into the lateral valleys. The creeks provided a trade and popula on was the construc on of the Susquehanna Division source of water power and some of the larger creeks also accommodated and the North and West Branch Canals. Canals were built throughout ra ing which helped connect the outer areas with larger se lements Pennsylvania for two primary reasons. The fi rst reason was to compete nearer to the Susquehanna. Waterways and pathways were the fi rst with the Erie Canal system in New York State, and the second reason kinds of transporta on in the region that spurred trade and an infl ux of was to connect Philadelphia with the raw materials from the central and permanent se lements along the river, and they also led to the explora on western parts of Pennsylvania. In this area two acts were passed in 1826 and discovery of abundant natural resources by Europeans. It was the and 1827 to allow for the crea on of the canal system. development of the canal system, however that made the industrial development of the region feasible. The canal provided the area with the transporta on needed to move the raw materials like iron, lumber, and anthracite coal and connected the Susquehanna Valley to larger urban areas including those of New York, Philadelphia, and Bal more. The region was a large provider of the raw materials found in Central Pennsylvania that were processed and used by the urban markets to build and strengthen the na on during the Industrial Revolu on.

The rate of trade in the region rose astronomically with the introduc on of the canal. Commercial farming was being expanded; the canals, allowed local farmers to grow crops for sale in a broader ring of regional markets instead of growing them simply for sustenance and sale at local markets. At this point the industries of the region began to become interdependent. Agriculture expanded and diversifi ed as it was fueled by and supported the growth localized industries, such as coal, tex le, and iron, all of which where connected and sustained by the canal network which provided compara vely effi cient and eff ec ve means of trade and transport.

The Canal led to the crea on of many new kinds of business in the region. One of the new industries that the canal system created was boat building. The most recognized boat building industries were in Snyder County at Port Trevorton, Selinsgrove, at Northumberland in Northumberland County, and Espy in Columbia County. The canal industry also created a need for hotels, inns, restaurants and taverns that were frequented by canal workers and packet boat travelers passing through the region. North Branch Canal Engineers. Courtesy of the Columbia County Historical Society

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.25 The canals not only brought people to this area with blooming industries From Waterway to Railway and trade, but also spurred the forma on and growth of the river and canal towns that exist today. Selinsgrove, Danville, Bloomsburg, Lewisburg, Although the canals were signifi cantly more effi cient than previously used Sunbury, Northumberland and even Milton are all small towns plo ed methods of transport, canal transport possessed its own drawbacks and along the banks of the Susquehanna that depended upon the canal for ineffi ciencies. These shortcomings led to the decline of the canal industry trade and transport. These towns became centers of trade for the region. at the hand of railroads before the close of the 19th century. A primary People from outlying communi es and the surrounding landscape came weakness of the Pennsylvania canals is that they could only be used in to the markets of river towns to buy and sell goods and produce moving summer due to harsh, freezing winters. Railroads, however, could operate into and out of the region along the waterways. year-round. Traveling along a canal was magnitudes slower again than by rail and the carrying capacity of packet boats was much lower than that The impact of economic growth from the canal era can s ll be seen of trains. Thus, even though incredible amounts of labor went into the throughout the region simply by looking at popula on centers which construc on and maintenance of the Pennsylvania Canal system, it began are clearly concentrated along the Susquehanna and its branches. With to fall into obsolescence just a few short decades a er all its branches the excep on of the anthracite coal sec on of the region, popula on were completed. density decreases and percentage of open land increases as one travels away from the river and above the valley fl oors. The signifi cance of the In fact, railroads played a crucial role in the development of the anthracite canals to the region is also evident in the towns where it supported coal industry around Shamokin. Feeder lines to haul coal were laid between new localized industries and the construc on of bustling, now-historic Shamokin and Sunbury between 1834 and 1838. They were hauled using downtown centers, affl uent neighborhoods for business, factory and mill horse power un l 1852. As it owners, and districts of worker housing, some of which remain today in turned out, the Danville iron Danville. Many canal remnants are also present within the region, off ering industry, which produced major opportuni es for recrea onal trails and heritage development. elements of the transporta on network for the region was fueled by anthracite which, in turn, was accessed and grew as the transporta on network was expanded. Thus, it was through a complex, symbio c rela onship between several industries that the Middle Susquehanna Region grew, fl ourished, and later declined with the limited availability of resources and rise of larger and more accessible industries elsewhere in the na on.

The Pennsylvania Canal, near Danville (le ); Successive eras of transporta on converge in this photo at Profi le Rock near Catawissa- the railroad which follows the old canal, early automobiles, and a bi-plane (right). Courtesy of Montour County Historical Society 2.26 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study A er a series of devasta ng fl oods in the 1890’s, both the North and West Buggies to Coaches Branches of the Pennsylvania Canal fell into disrepair. En re sec ons were de-watered and abandoned during the opening years of the twen eth Over me, the trails and pathways created by Na ve Americans and century. The end of this era, however, had been looming for years before. adopted and used by se lers were expanded and developed into roads Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century, railroads were and highways. The Pony Express operated within the region, with a major constructed throughout the region. The canal corridors themselves were stopover point and corral for switching horses in Northumberland. As the purchased by the railroads because the long, level grades that canals popula on of the region grew, so did the need to carry goods and people occupied also made them ideal places to site rail lines. via horse, buggy and wagon. Ferries were established to carry people across the Susquehanna un l bridges were built. Many towns, including In addi on to the railways themselves, dozens of sta ons and major Danville and Berwick s ll have a “Ferry Street” alluding to the historic rail yards were also built in the area. In 1911 the Pennsylvania Railroad loca on of that town’s crossing. built the largest of these in the region at the Susquehanna Confl uence in Northumberland. This massive classifying yard measured 9 miles long Although no ferries are in opera on within the region today (there is s ll and 60 tracks wide. one that runs just south of Snyder County in Millersburg), a number of historic bridges, including many covered bridges, a est to the importance The booming iron industry in Danville supported the railways as the fi rst of transporta on and stream crossings in the region. The signifi cance manufacturer of the T-rail in the United States. In Milton and Berwick, of transporta on history within the region extends far beyond the use manufacturers merged to create the famous and s ll opera onal company, of transporta on and the network itself; the region played an integral American Car and Foundry (known as ACF today), a major producer of rail role in Commonwealth and even na onal history as a manufacturer of cars and the fi rst producer of steel tankers. The dominance of the rail transporta on products. The region has been home to manufacturers of industry is evident within the landscape today. railroad es and cars, buggies and early automobiles, and even of tanks used in World War II. Numerous train sta ons have been preserved and adapted to new uses; both ac ve and inac ve railroad bridges s ll span the Susquehanna and rail lines run through towns, typically fl anked by commercial and industrial opera ons. Thus, although the canals had prospered in their own era and undoubtedly shaped the landscape and the culture of the region, train transporta on grew and proved more enduring, leaving many buildings, structures and rail beds, many of which s ll exist and are s ll in use today.

Danville Iron T-Rail. Courtesy of Kirby Blass Buggies, used by members of Plain Sects, are a common sight within the region today

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.27 Just one example of the region’s signifi cance in transporta on history INDUSTRIES OF THE MIDDLE SUSQUEHANNA is seen in the story of Miffl inburg in Union County. By the 1880’s, Miffl inburg was known as “Buggy Town” because it had 13 buggy makers A repe ve thread in the history of the Middle Susquehanna Region is among only 800 total residents and was reported to produce more horse- the connec vity and interdependence of diverse industries on each other. drawn vehicles per capita than any other town in Pennsylvania. By 1915, The transporta on network made development of the region possible by Miffl inburg was reported to have as many as 52 buggy makers. Buggies connec ng it to distant markets, but local industries also spurred and were transported using railroads and sold throughout the East Coast and contributed to the development of the transporta on networks upon as far away as Kansas. which they relied.

With the shi towards automobiles, many buggy makers were forced Inter-connectedness defi ned the region’s industries. Agriculture in the out of business, but the Miffl inburg Buggy Company successfully fer le valleys allowed other industries, par cularly iron and coal, to grow transi oned itself into the Miffl inburg Body Company, producing 100 car by providing a local food source that could support the growing popula on and truck bodies annually un l it went bankrupt in 1940 due to the Great of industrial workers. Iron was locally manufactured into railroad es and Depression. Today, Miffl inburg’s buggy heritage is s ll alive, embraced, cars. Likewise, mber logged from the region was used for charcoal in the and even celebrated. Buggies are s ll seen being used by both Amish and iron furnaces and later to support miles upon miles of deep coal mines. Mennonites in and around the town; visitors to the Buggy Museum can These are just a few of many reciprocal rela onships between industries. visit a preserved buggy works with all the original equipment and tools It should be recognized that transporta on and trade played the unifying used to make sleighs and buggies and each summer, residents celebrate role of tying industries together and allowing them to grow to a place of their heritage at a three-day Buggy Days Fes val. signifi cance within Pennsylvania.

Remnants of canal locks, such as these at Rupert, are reminders of past eras of The William A. Heiss House and Buggy Museum in Miffl inburg the transporta on indsutry. Courtesy of the Columbia County Historical Society.

2.28 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study 18th & 19th Century Industries

LUMBER

The vastness and quality of Pennsylvania’s forests was once legendary. The regions forests supported a wide host of industries and trades beyond In 1860, Pennsylvania was the largest producer of lumber in the na on charcoal and iron. Lumber mills for ini al processing of mber sprang up and the largest mill in the world was found just 40 miles up the West around the region. Jamison City in Columbia County was a boom-town Branch in Williamsport. That mill alone cut up to 80 million board feet that grew up and fell around the rise and fall of lumber. Furniture making of lumber each year. Huge quan es of logs were also fl oated down the is a trade that has a long history in the region and one which con nues Susquehanna through the Middle Susquehanna Region for milling in today. Furniture produced here o en follows tradi onal styles, including Harrisburg. those developed by the Plain Sects. The furniture made by Pennsylvania Germans in the Mahantango Valley Style during the 1800’s is especially Early on, however, mber produc on in the region was primarily carried rare and cherished. out for local uses. As the iron industry blossomed, trees were cut processed into make charcoal for fi ring in the blast furnaces. A locally available and As the readily available supply of mber for charcoal dwindled, anthracite abundant supply of wood was essen al for charcoal produc on because coal produc on was popularized as an alternate energy source. Over it required large quan es of wood; it took an acre of woods to make me many of the iron furnaces were converted into coal-fueled hot-blast the charcoal needed to run a furnace for just one day. Furnaces were models, thereby reducing the demand for charcoal and mber. kept running con nuously for up to 4 months at a me. Despite the vast quan es of forested lands, these resource-intensive prac ces quickly made a drama c impact on the regional landscape. En re swaths of land were denuded of trees, only regenera ng into second-growth forests as protected state forests and game lands during the twen eth century.

Li le remains in the region that is truly reminiscent of a pre-industrial landscape. Tall Timbers in Snyder-Middleswarth State Park is one of the few places in Central Pennsylvania where visitors can explore stands of virgin forests where logging was never carried out and gain an understanding of the massive impacts that logging had on the Pennsylvania landscape.

Contemporary state forests along the western edge of the region were largely logged between 1852 and 1870. At fi rst cut they produced up to 100,000 board feet per acre. White pine was u lized for construc on, while deciduous hardwoods such as oak and chestnut were preferred for other uses, such as furniture, wagons and canal boats. Many of the historic buildings in the region were undoubtedly built from locally logged mber. Jamison City Lumber Yard, Courtesy of Columbia County Historical Society

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.29 AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is the most visible industry within the region today; farmlands s ll cover much of the land and it only takes a short drive from any town to fi nd farmsteads, fi elds, woodlots and the many outbuildings associated with agricultural produc on.

Two dominant tradi ons and four dis nct periods of agricultural development are recognized for the Middle Susquehanna Region. Most of the area lies within the agricultural region iden fi ed as “North and West Branch Diversifi ed Agriculture,” which is characterized by glaciated terrain and variable soils of moderate quality. In comparison, the western areas of Snyder and Union County fall within the tradi on of “Limestone Valley Diversifi ed Farming” where Pennsylvania German tradi ons ran strong and high-quality limestone soils supported intensive land use over many genera ons. A Pennsylvania Barn, one of the commonly found regional barn types. Lower Dis nct agricultural trends did not emerge in Pennsylvania un l around Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County. Courtesy of PHMC 1840. Un l that me popula on densi es remained low and agricultural produc on was predominantly for local use. This is not to say that Agricultural fairs also have deep roots in the region. The Bloomsburg Fair individual families were fully self-suffi cient. Rather, they employed a was fi rst held in 1855. It was established as an enjoyable event where range of strategies, both producing goods for their own consump on and the advancements of local farming prac ces could be showed off and exchanging goods and services to meet their needs. Some goods were disseminated throughout Pennsylvania. Now entering its 155th year, the actually sent to distant markets and, through the exis ng trade networks, Bloomsburg Fair is s ll a country-fair at heart that draws a endees from communi es remained in limited contact with the broader world. across the state. Many towns also celebrate the region’s bounty with strawberry, peach, and harvest fes vals where residents can be reminded By 1832, Lewisburg was gaining recogni on as the primary market town of the importance of agriculture in the region. for products out of Brush, Penns and Buff alo Valleys. Danville got an early start here as an early agriculture and trading center. In Sunbury, Grist mills were also an important part of the network that allowed also a prominent commercial center, an indoor agricultural market was farmers to transport their products to bigger towns and ci es along the established in 1901 that con nues to operate today. canals and railroads. Rather than selling and shipping bulky raw products, farmers could take their grains to regional grist mills for processing into fl our which could then be shipped at a much lower cost. To date, there are two grist mills (in Perry Twp. and Middlecreek Twp., Snyder County) that have been iden fi ed as eligible for the Na onal Register. In Lewisburg, the 1883 Buff alo Mills building, which was once a roller mill type fl our mill, remains intact as an an ques center.

2.30 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study part to the proximity of the local iron and manufacturing industries which produced farming implements for farmers to use. Pennsylvania barns were prevalent during these years and many s ll stand today. Common outbuildings iden fi ed in recent survey work included spring houses, smoke houses, ice houses and root or “ground” cellars. Some of the landscape features, such as property lines, roadways, tree lines, woodlots and fi elds likely assumed their modern forms during this me period.

Around 1860, agricultural produc on began to diversify even more in response to the growth in large, local markets, establishing pa erns that would last through the Great Depression un l 1940. Agriculture played a major role in suppor ng growing extrac ve and manufacturing industries in the region’s booming river and coal towns. Crops remained highly diversifi ed, and corn, swine and poultry produc on were well above average for the state. Both standard Pennsylvania Barns and three-gabled barns were commonly constructed during this 80-year period and remain highly visible within the countryside.

Compared to other areas of Pennsylvania, the North and West Branch barns centralized and housed more func ons than elsewhere. Butcher Machine sheds, like the one found here in Columbia County, are fairly common due to the area’s rela vely high level of mechaniza on. Courtesy of PHMC houses, smokehouses, spring houses and machine sheds were all commonly associated outbuildings from this me period; they refl ect both the diversity and mechaniza on of the region’s agriculture. Summer By the 1820’s, it is known that ra s and arks fi lled with durable agricultural kitchens, root cellars, corn cribs, hog houses and hen houses were also products, including wheat, clover seed, whiskey and pork were being sent common. from the region to downstream markets. Items being produced, traded and consumed by the region’s families were very diverse. Overall, the Between 1940 and 1960, mechaniza on and motoriza on increased region was competent at producing what it needed for se lers to make a within the region and the shi was made to combus on power and living. Most houses at the me were of log construc on and farmsteads electricity for agricultural produc on. Poultry produc on experienced had few outbuildings. Few, if any, early agricultural buildings and cabins the largest growth in the area; hogs and corn were s ll produced, but at survive, but a recent agricultural survey by PHMC iden fi ed several lower numbers. The total number of farms decreased over the twenty houses likely to have a pre-1840 construc on date. year period, but average farm size increased. One of the biggest changes in landscape pa erns came about with the rise of contour plowing and By 1840, diversifi ed produc on on highly mechanized farms was strip cropping. The tradi onal, small, squarish fi elds were s ll found becoming the typical pa ern and way of life on farmsteads in the Central throughout the region, but contour plowing was also prac ced. Modern Susquehanna River Valley. The development of canals and railroads made aerials suggest that contour plowing certainly changed the character transporta on of goods much more effi cient and aff ordable. Compared of many individual land parcels, but that many historic boundaries and to other parts of the state, farming was also highly mechanized, due in larger scale pa erns remain discernible in the landscape.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.31 IRON

During the rise of iron produc on in the middle part of the 19th century, peak, the Danville area had roughly 13 diff erent iron works opera ng. the region saw vast changes in its economy and produced goods. Danville, along with other iron works in the region, eventually lost its Numerous blast furnaces and iron works sprung up all over the region. compe ve edge to Pi sburgh with the rapid growth and superiority of The designa on of the fi rst iron furnace in the region is given to John the steel industry in Western Pennsylvania. Hauch of Catawissa in 1815. The fi rst large quan es of iron ore in the region were discovered in Hemlock Township of present day Columbia Although the major iron works of Danville have been torn down and County by a farm laborer Henry Young in 1822. From 1822 on, iron ore replaced with other uses, evidence of the iron industry remain. Iron fences produc on became a huge industry that spurred not only economic and architectural detailing, including full, cast-iron storefronts, tes fy development, but also the crea on of the North Branch Canal and later, to the town’s industrial past. To the north side of town, historic worker the railroads to transport it. houses can s ll be found in the historically Welsh neighborhood known as Welsh Hill. These houses sit just below Montour Ridge where the iron Approximately 80 iron works are believed to have been in opera on in ore was mined throughout the mid-1800’s. A steam driven, narrow gauge the region during the 1800’s. The dis nc on of the fi rst iron ore factory rail road was built between the Montour Iron Works and the mines in the in the fi ve-county region is given to the Montour Iron Works in Danville, 1860’s. It was used to haul iron ore un l the decline of the industry in which was founded in 1840. It was at the Danville Iron Works that the fi rst 1892. The rail bed is s ll visible today, but the rails were torn up in 1897 iron T-rail was rolled on October 8, 1845. One major order for the t-rails to develop a bicycle path for the local Danville bicycle club, very likely came from the Pennsylvania Canal Commission and went to construc ng making it the fi rst “rail-trail” in the United States. the Allegheny Portage Railroad. At this me the Danville Iron Works was the largest iron manufacturing plant in the en re United States. At its The discovery of iron ore and the produc on of the fi rst iron T-rail in the United States helped Pennsylvania and the early United States to break free from dependence on imported English iron and helped the area fuel the industrial revolu on. Yet iron was never independent from other industries. Lime had to be mined for use as a fl ux in the produc on of pig iron; fi rst charcoal and then anthracite coal were required to fuel blast furnaces. Agricultural markets provided the produce, dairy, and meat needed to feed all the iron workers, who were needed to man the blast furnaces 24 hours a day for three to four months at a me. Because pig iron was heavy, local foundries were established to transform the iron into usable goods that could be shipped throughout the region.

Montour Iron Works. Courtesy of the Montour County Historical Society.

2.32 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Towns associated with the iron industry near iron ore deposits

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.33 Late 19th & Early 20th Century Industries

COAL

The anthracite fi elds stretch north-east in a band across Central The establishment of some of the most dis nc ve and authen c towns Pennsylvania and cross through the Middle Susquehanna Region at in Pennsylvania can be a ributed to the growth of the coal industry, but the southeast corners of Northumberland and Columbia Coun es. This mining in the region has also caused massive environmental damage, isolated region retains a highly unique iden ty and is surrounded by two forever altering the quality and character of the landscape. The largest sets of concentric, V-shaped ridges. Through the opening decades of the anthracite coal waste pile in the world, found just outside Shamokin in 1800’s, many people remained skep cal of anthracite coal as a viable Northumberland County, is a direct product of the region’s industrial energy source, owing to its high igni on temperature. For this reason, history. The Glen Burn Culm Bank rises several hundred above the valley the coal region remained largely undeveloped un l the 1830’s when the fl oor, a visible reminder of the hundred-odd years of intensive mining use of anthracite was shown to be feasible. that was carried out in the lower Anthracite region.

The rise of the coal industry led to the rapid growth of incredibly dis nc ve Over fi ve billion tons have been mined from the whole of Pennsylvania’s towns and ci es, including Shamokin and Mount Carmel. Work in the anthracite coal fi elds which extend north and east out of the region coal mines a racted successive waves of ethnically diverse immigrants towards Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. A billion tons of anthracite remains from Wales, Ireland, and later, from Eastern Europe. The story of coal in Northumberland County alone. In many ways, the mining of anthracite is incomplete without an understanding of the human aspect of coal served to fuel the industrial revolu on in the United States. Produc on of towns and the diffi cult lives led by miners. The coal region is home to anthracite mining peaked within Pennsylvania in 1917 with 100,000,000 many beau ful churches and ethic tradi ons, but also bears the memory tons produced that year. The coal industry went into sharp decline in the of violent confl icts and the dangerous toil of untold numbers of workers 1930’s when coal sales dropped drama cally and many mines, breakers doing their best to make a life for themselves and their families. and even towns were shut down and abandoned.

The Glen Burn Culm Bank in Northumberland County is one of the largest coal Coal was o en lost as is was shipped down the Susquehanna, eventually leading mining debris piles in the na on. Courtesy of Jeanne e McBryan to a new industruy focusing solely on dredging and recovering river coal. Courtesy of Kirby Blass

2.34 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study At its peak in 1920, the coal city of Shamokin had 21,204 residents; today it has barely 8,000, but s ll refl ects the many cultural pa erns and values of its past inhabitants. Centralia, just 12 miles from Shamokin City past Kulpmont and Mount Carmel, reveals a unique and subtly unse ling, but undoubtedly intriguing cultural landscape.

Centralia experienced the same rise and fall as other coal towns un l 1962, when a trash fi re near the town’s cemetery accidentally spread to a coal seam; it has been burning underground ever since. Only 21 residents have held out for the past 46 years; many did not leave immediately, but slowly moved away as fears of toxic fumes and safety hazards grew. The town is gradually being torn down by the state and few buildings remain, but the abandoned streets and sidewalks paint a picture of the community that used to be there.

Despite having so li le to “see,” many visitors to the region are curious and travel to Centralia, where steam rises up from fi ssures in the earth and the burning seams caused whole sec ons of Route 61 to split and subside, forcing its rerou ng. Happenings such as these are becoming the legacy of the coal industry in the region. They give visitors a way to connect to the history of coal and show how the coal industry has had long las ng and o en unexpected impacts on the region.

The Centraila Mine Fires are a strange, but intriguing legacy of the coal industry. Locals have posted hommeade signs (above) to direct visitors to the burning coal seams. The fi res undermined Route 61, forcing its abandonment and rerou ng (le ). Images courtesy of Jeanne e McBryan

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.35 MACHINE & FOUNDRY

Machine and foundry opera ons have long played a role in the industrial During this same me period manufacturing mushroomed in Columbia development of the region. Manufacturing was closely linked with County with the founding of the Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Works, the extrac on of iron and was made possible because of other locally in Berwick, in 1849. Jackson & Woodin’s Manufacturing Works would available resources, notably lime and coal. Danville, Bloomsburg, Berwick later evolve into the famous American Car & Foundry in the early 20th and Milton all became important manufacturing centers for iron products century. during the 1800’s.

Danville was an especially prominent manufacturing center during the mid to late nineteenth century. In Danville, the Montour Iron Works’ rolling mill was expanded to be the world’s largest in 1853. By that same year Danville alone contained three rolling mills which all produced T- rails, fi ve blast furnaces and four foundries. The patented Huber Plow was produced out of the Na onal Iron Foundry from 1854-1859 in Danville. Iron storefronts, some of which remain in place today, were some of the most elaborate decora ve items to be manufactured out of Danville iron works.

Smaller decora ve items were also made in Danville; along with storefronts, these products refl ected the ar s c side of the industry. In 1882, Thomas Beaver, the overseer of the Pennsylvania Iron Company started the Danville Stove and Manufacturing Company. This company became widely known for the cast iron mailboxes they produced which featured a dis nc ve beaver within the design.

During the Civil War, the produc on of iron for muskets, swords, and other muni ons created a boom in output never seen before in the na on. Iron industry entrepreneurs such as Thomas Beaver and the Grove Brothers of Danville developed numerous huge factories that produced quality stoves, mailboxes, iron train rails, nails, wagon boxes, plows, griddles, and other increasingly important iron products. Other products made in the region included household items such as cook stoves, agricultural instruments and farm machinery. These products were demanded by an ever growing and changing na on.

The Thomas Beaver Stove seen here is just one of many products to be manufactured in the region at the peak of the iron industry. Courtesy of Kirby Blass. 2.36 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study TEXTILES

Tex le produc on has been a less-prominent, but s ll important industry for the region, especially because tex le mills were major employers of women. Tex le mills tended to spring up throughout the region in combina on with other localized industries. In select towns, the tex le industry proved to be a major and long-las ng economic driver. The Sunbury Tex le Mills, for example, contributed drama cally to popula on growth a er they opened in 1896 and remain in opera on to this day. Bloomsburg, with prominent carpet and fabric mills s ll in opera on, has long been known as a center for tex les.

Mills were one of the few places where it was deemed appropriate for women to seek employment in the late 19th and early 20th century. Where wages for working men were meager, a local tex le mill could help keep families afl oat by providing opportuni es for women and girls to work and supplement the income of men in their families. In the many cases where fathers and husbands were injured or killed working in mines and factories, employment in mills brought women much needed income. Working condi ons were undoubtedly challenging and dangerous, but some mill owners also sought to improve the lives of female workers. Most notably, J.F. Lavigne, the owner of the F.Q. Hartman Silk Mills (c. 1897) in Danville, provided for his female employees by construc ng a recrea on center for their use at 201 Mill Street.

Some of the tex les that have been produced include silk in Miffl inburg, Shamokin, and Danville, carpets in Bloomsburg, undergarments in Milton and ribbon in Berwick. Undergarments and woolen products were also made in Lewisburg. While many mills have closed, there are s ll a number of tex le businesses opera ng in the region. Likewise, historic buildings that the mills once operated have not all been lost; in Miffl inburg, the old silk mill now houses apartments and businesses but s ll refl ects its historic character.

Bloomsburg Mills are one of a number tex le mills s ll opera ng in the region.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.37 K, I E

Throughout the history of the Middle Susquehanna Region, necessity Other inventors helped to shape not only daily life in the region, but also truly was the mother of all inven on. The advancement of technology, the na on and the world. These include Paul E. Wirt, from Bloomsburg, the evolu on of natural resource u liza on, and the entrepreneurial spirit inventor of the fountain pen, Christopher Sholes, from Mooresburg, defi nes the region. From advancements in the u liza on of coal and iron inventor of the typewriter, Henry Rempe of Danville, inventor of a self- ore, the fi rst produc on of the iron T-rail in the United States, and the winding clock, and Frank DeLong, from Washingtonville, inventor of the founding of the region’s universi es and hospitals, the region’s history is hook and eye. interconnected to the growth of the knowledge in the na on as a whole. Early se lers created mercan le shops and hotels, later industrialists built Inventor Thomas Alva Edison also had es to the region, having made the iron blast furnaces, and the region moved forward on entrepreneurial Sunbury the headquarters of the Edison Electronic Illumina ng Company ideals. in 1883. Sunbury was one of the fi rst towns in the county to have electric lights. On July 4th, 1883, the fi rst ever successful use of a 3-wire electric Knowledge and the expansion of technological advancements in the region ligh ng system was made in the City Hotel Building in Sunbury which s ll helped to spur the economic growth and transporta on infrastructure stands, having been renamed as the Edison Hotel. that was to develop. A remarkable level of skill, knowledge, and eff ort were combined to plan and construct both the canal and railroad networks in the mid-nineteenth century. The tremendous eff ort spent shows how vital effi cient transporta on was for daily commerce in the region.

The North Branch Canal and railroad systems connected the region with the outside world and kept the local and na onal economy running. With the development of the canal and railroad infrastructures the economy boomed and the region became a vital supplier of raw materials to the developing eastern United States. The canal and railroad were responsible for transpor ng raw materials such as anthracite coal, iron ore, and lumber, to name just a few, to sustain ever-growing popula on centers.

Whether by chance or by some result of its nature, the region has both produced and a racted an abundance of notable inventors and scien sts. Reverend Joseph Priestley is regarded as the most important scien st to be associated with the area. Priestley, who had discovered oxygen while in England, con nued his experiments describing the quality of airs and went on to discover carbon monoxide during the ten years he spent in Northumberland prior to his death in 1804. Christopher Sholes & Typewriter (le ), courtesy of the Montour County Historical Society; Wirt Fountain Pen Adver sement (right), courtesy of the Columbia County Historical Society

2.38 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study INSTITUTIONS

The region’s inventors helped advance society through their crea ons. The expansion of knowledge during the middle part of the 19th century Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, played a major role in regional led to the crea on of three major universi es throughout the 5-county advancement by taking risks and believing that the region could prosper region. The universi es include Bloomsburg University founded in 1839, and grow. Many early entrepreneurs established businesses centering Bucknell University founded in 1846, and Susquehanna University, around the canals and railroads. At each canal port, travellers on the founded in 1858. The crea on of these universi es during this me packet boats could fi nd a mix of local businesses to meet their needs, illustrates the ever changing importance placed upon higher educa on from guest houses, to restaurants, to taverns. and understanding of the surrounding world. Today, these universi es represent key intellectual en es within the region that a ract thousands Northumberland had always been at a key convergence for transporta on of students from outside the area seeking to receive a quality educa on. routes. It quickly grew as a major transfer point between the canal boats, railroads, and overland pony express routes. A testament to the Bloomsburg University had its start as an academy in 1839. The Bloomsburg entrepreneurial spirit of the region is found in the Northumberland Literary Ins tute was later chartered in 1856 and opened a decade later American Legion Post #44. The oldest part of that building was originally in 1866. Unlike Bucknell and Susquehanna Universi es, Bloomsburg was constructed as a tavern for locals and travellers in 1772, making it one of never religiously affi liated. Carver Hall, c. 1867, was the fi rst building to the oldest Legion buildings in the na on. be completed on campus; this impressive building sits on a hill at the terminus of Bloomsburg’s Market Street and remains the most prominent Entrepreneurs have spurred regional development in many cri cal ways; building at the University today. they oversaw many local industries, established markets, provided services, and made the connec ons between producers and consumers. Some entrepreneurs have established successful businesses that are s ll opera ng today. Weis Markets is one such business.

Weis Markets was founded by Harry and Sigmund Weis in Sunbury in 1912. At a me when most grocers sold goods on credit, the Weis Brothers became one of the fi rst markets to sell goods on a cash and carry basis. According to store history, this prac ce allowed customers to reduce their bills by elimina ng the need to charge interest. Over the past 90- odd years, Weis Markets have grown to operate 155 stores across fi ve states. Carver Hall, c. 1867 was the fi rst building at Bloomsburg University (above) Weis Markets (le ) were fi rst opened and are headquartered in Sunbury.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.39 The Bloomsburg Literary Ins tute was renamed in 1869 as the State Normal School for the 6th District, having chosen to become a state normal school for teacher training. By the 1930’s, the Normal School tle was revised to Bloomsburg State Teachers College; it became Bloomsburg State College in 1960. In 1983, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Educa on was formed and Bloomsburg University was established as one of its fourteen member ins tu ons. Today, Bloomsburg University enrolls 8,000 undergraduate and 700 graduate students on a 282-acre campus. Bucknell University was founded in 1846 as the University of Lewisburg. The University was established by Bap sts, who considered it “desirable that a Literary Ins tu on should be established in Central Pennsylvania, embracing a high school for male pupils, another for females, a College, and also a Theological Ins tute.” The full breadth of academic off erings was developed over me. High school courses were opened for boys in 1846 and for girls in 1852. University courses began for men in 1848; they were eventually off ered for women in 1883.

Following a $50,000 dona on from benefactor William Bucknell in The Thomas Beaver Free Library in Danville, c. 1888, is the longest opera ng 1882, the ins tu on was renamed Bucknell University. A century a er public library in the region. Courtesy PHMC its founding, in 1953, Bucknell amended its charter to eff ec vely end its Danville was also chosen as the loca on for the State Hospital for the affi lia on with the Bap st Church. Today, Bucknell hosts roughly 3,400 Insane in 1867, thanks to local resident and Senator Thomas Chalfant undergraduate and 150 graduate students. The Bucknell campus sits on who owned and edited the Danville Intelligencer newspaper from 1861- 450 acres of land adjacent to Lewisburg and includes over 100 buildings, 1899. The State Hospital for the Insane, later known as the Danville State including seventeen buildings of varying styles which contribute to the Hospital, was the fi rst of several prominent health care ins tu ons to be Lewisburg Historic District. established in the region.

Susquehanna University was founded as a Lutheran ins tute in 1858; of During the early part of the 20th century, the region experienced an infl ux the three universi es in the region, it is the only one to maintain a religious in new medical knowledge and technology through the crea on of the affi lia on. Located on a hillside overlooking Selinsgrove, the wooded Mary M. Packer Hospital (present day Sunbury Community Hospital) in campus covers 306 acres and includes over sixty buildings, many built 1895, Bloomsburg Hospital in 1905, Shamokin Area Community Hospital in a Georgian style. Susquehanna University enrolls approximately 2,000 in 1912, Geisinger Hospital in 1915, and Evangelical Community Hospital undergraduate students and features a strong liberal arts program. in 1926.

The Thomas Beaver Free Library, while not a university, is a notable Geisinger Hospital, now known as Geisinger Health Systems and one ins tu on in the region. Established in Danville by iron magnate and of the largest employers in the region, actually has its roots in the iron philanthropist Thomas Beaver, the library has served the community industry where the Geisinger Family made its money before founding the since 1888. The historic stone building is listed on the Na onal Register ins tu on. Abigail Alice Geisinger established the George F. Geisinger of Historic Proper es. Memorial Hospital in memory of her iron magnate husband.

2.40 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study R C: R, R I

These early hospitals are responsible for bringing about a new age of The history and atmosphere of rebelliousness in the region represents medical advancement in the region, meaning that much fewer people one of the most intriguing, untold stories of the Susquehanna Valley. would die prematurely as a result of illness or disease. It was through the The Middle Susquehanna Region has been a haven for many seeking development of these hospitals, in the region, that great breakthroughs tolerance and escape from persecu on. At the same me it has been no were reached in regards to understanding how to prevent disease stranger to rebelliousness and confl ict. While being the residence of both outbreaks, wide spread pandemics, infec ons, and how to be er treat a persecuted and rebellious groups and individuals, the region’s people and wide variety of illnesses. events have spawned acts of rebellion that revolve around the events of the Canal Era, and have even infl uenced the United States as a whole. In summary, the knowledge, inventors, and entrepreneurs that helped to spur development and future economic and social progress in the region UTOPIA IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY are important in understanding the history of the fi ve coun es and early America as a whole. These events and individuals that helped to shape From the very beginning of European immigra on to the Middle the region are unique and deserving of our recogni on because without Susquehanna Region, the region was a place of retreat and tolerance them, the region and possibly the na on would not be what they are for religious and poli cal groups and exiles. The region was a hub for today. transporta on and a center for immigra on, but also a haven from the larger ci es and direct persecu on.

Periods of peace allowed for fi ve English Quaker mee ng houses to be built in Columbia County. Free African-American households were established star ng in the 1820’s near iron furnaces where some worked. Plain sect Dunkards lived here by the mid-1770’s followed by the Old Order Amish. The 20th century saw Mennonites and Amish return in even greater numbers and they remain a signifi cant presence throughout the region today.

While it was earlier se led with the poli cally and religiously tolerant Quakers, the region was more conducive to the immigra on of those who held a wide range of beliefs. One of the region’s most well known exiles, Rev. Joseph Priestley, fl ed to Northumberland following the destruc on of his home in Birmingham, England. He was persecuted both for his support of the American and French Revolu ons and for his religious belief in Unitarianism. While in Pennsylvania, Priestley’s a tudes came to infl uence the poli cal and educa onal systems of this country that are s ll used in the United States today. The Danville State Hospital was established here thanks to the infl uence of local businessman and Senator Thomas Chalfant.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.41 THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

A major north-south route of the Underground Railroad passed through the Middle Susquehanna Region between the years of 1790 and 1860. Like most north-bound travelers, escaped slaves passing through Harrisburg were faced with a decision; they could strike out east towards Reading, they could travel west and follow the Juniata River up towards Bellefonte, or they could follow the Susquehanna River Valley northwards towards New York. Selinsgrove, Lewisburg and Milton are all known to have had “sta ons” on the railroad.

In Selinsgrove, African Americans were sheltered in a tunnel within the basement of the Governor Snyder Mansion, which s ll stands today and is open to the public as a brew-pub. Several former Bucknell professors, including George R. Bliss, Thomas F. Cur s, and Howard Malcom, are credited with having aided slaves and running a depot in Lewisburg. The Bliss carriage house was used as a hiding space and it too, survives to this date.

The Joseph Priestley House in Northumberland; Courtesy of PHMC At least two other homes in Lewisburg are known to have hidden runaways seeking freedom to the north. Amazingly, it is believed that a number of Priestley’s associates included Benjamin Franklin and Thomas runaways travelled through the region and into the Northern Tier along Jeff erson. Not only did he infl uence the forma on of the Declara on of the traces of Na ve American Paths, con nuing the importance of those Independence and encourage the separa on between Church and State early routes throughout history. in his correspondence with Thomas Jeff erson, but he also developed the liberal arts educa on system and infl uenced liberal religious thought in early 19th-Century America. While Priestley’s rebelliousness may have garnered persecu on in one part of the world, in the Middle Susquehanna Region, his independent spirit was supported by many of the fundamental beliefs and ideals that the na on holds dear. The Governer Snyder Mansion, Selinsgrove (above) and the Bliss Carriage House (le ) were both stops on the Underground Railroad.

2.42 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study DISSENSION IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY COLUMBIA COUNTY AND THE FISHING CREEK CONFEDERACY

Despite being known as an area of tolerance, The Middle Susquehanna was One notable occurrence during the Civil War brought unexpected also marked by waves of confl ict. The earliest included Na ve American a en on to the region. During the summer of 1864 rumors began swirling acts of rebellion and clashes with European Se lers. The massacres that in Columbia County that an armed mili a of Southern sympathizers occurred in the region and consequent war stemming from clashing was hiding in the hills around Bloomsburg. In response, approximately groups were largely defensive eff orts made by the Na ve Americans to 1,000 Union troops from Harrisburg were sta oned at the Bloomsburg protect their livelihood and survival as they were being pushed out from Fairgrounds, under the command of Major General George Cadwallader, the Susquehanna Valley. Even during the Revolu onary War, Con nental to quell the supposed “Fishing Creek Confederacy.” troops were directed to the region to curb violence between Na ve Americans and colonial se lers, thus showing the impact the events of Belief in the Fishing Creek Confederacy sprung out of wild specula on the region had on the colonial na on at that me. regarding the presence of Southern sympathizers known as “Copperheads” and dra dodgers refusing to answer the call of duty in Columbia County. The “Great Runaway” of 1778 was not a form of rebellion, but the se lers’ While there was a small amount of dra resistance in the region, it was fl ight did call direct a en on to the lack of adequate protec on along the not on any scale larger than was seen in other ci es and towns in the fron er and to the unstable condi on of the government that was clearly North. Due to this fear and paranoia, Union troops were dispatched into in need of improvement. This movement very likely infl uenced revisions the county to search for a supposed fort supplied with muni ons in the made that year to the Ar cles of Confedera on which eventually led to surrounding hillsides around Fishing Creek in the Benton and S llwater the crea on of the U.S. Cons tu on. area.

The fruitless hunt for the “Phantom Fort” began on August 28, 1864, known to locals as the “Reign of Terror.” By December 1864, forty- fi ve of Columbia County ci zens had been arrested and sent under armed guard to Harrisburg on charges of dra evasion and conspiring with the Confederacy. Seven of these men were convicted, one paid a fi ne, one was pardoned by President Lincoln, and the others were pardoned later by President Andrew Johnson. Despite the arrests, Union troops never found any trace of a fort or hidden stockpiles of muni ons Major General George Cadwallader, Wyoming Massacre , Courtesy of Northumberland County Historical Society and General Cadwallader and his Courtesy of the Columbia County troops le the region in disgust. Historical Society

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.43 MOLLY MAGUIRES AND LABOR/ETHNIC DISSENSION

Shortly a er the Civil War ended and the con nuing rumors of the Fishing Creek Confederacy had fi nally died down, a new notorious en ty known as the Molly Maguires sprang up in the coal regions of Northumberland, Columbia and other surrounding coun es in Pennsylvania.

The Molly Maguires, were a terrorist organiza on of coal workers who were mainly Irishmen. The Mollies’ some mes brutal and murderous ac ons were in response to what they saw as unfair and unjust working condi ons. These violent episodes were also in response to promo ons in the mines being given primarily to Welshmen, who were seen as more intelligent and reliable by mine owners. Molly Maguires were responsible for train derailments, mine fi res, and violent encounters with law enforcement, which some mes meant running the sheriff out of town.

On October 18, 1868, the Mollies killed Alexander Rea, an agent for the Locust Mountain Coal & Iron Company of Centralia. This was just one example of the organiza on’s ac ons and from 1865-1875 the Molly Maguires terrorized the coal regions, gaining such strength that it was said no man could not be hired in the mines without being approved by the organiza on fi rst.

Due to the Mollies’ hos le and murderous ac ons numerous individuals were arrested over the years and charged with their crimes. Many of them were released due to lack of evidence but some were found guilty and hanged. In the example of the Alexander Rea murder, three Molly Maguire members were hanged outside the Columbia County Courthouse in Bloomsburg for their crime on March 25, 1878. Their deaths represented the last execu ons by hanging in Columbia County. The Molly Maguires le an indelible mark on the coal regions and their stories are a key element in understanding the history of rebellious a tudes and events in the region.

Molly Maguire “Coffi n-No ce” (top) and execu on proccession (bo om) Courtesy of the Columbia County Historical Society

2.44 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study P I P 1930’ – 1970’ R R 1980’ -P

A wealth of natural resources combined with human innova on and The past thirty years have brought mixed eff ects on the Middle drive brought prosperity to the region throughout the 1800’s and into the Susquehanna Region. Overall, the region has experienced modest growth, 1900’s up un l the Great Depression. Most of the grand homes and civic although the Anthracite Coal region con nues to decline. Manufacturing buildings that are so highly valued within communi es today herald from has remained in slow decline, but s ll plays a large role in the regional this age of prosperity. economy and employs a large percentage of the region’s workforce. From an ecological perspec ve, vast improvements have been made in the It is diffi cult to know at what point it became clear that good mes could water quality of the Susquehanna River, but much cleanup work remains not last forever. Resources like mber were rapidly depleted during the to be done. Culturally, many families have lived in this area for genera ons 19th century; canals were being decommissioned by the opening of the and maintain strong connec ons to the land, their hometowns and their 20th century and, by the turn of the century the compara vely small iron neighbors. industry were proving unable to compete with the vast iron and steel industries of Pi sburgh. Over the years, coal too became prohibi vely The communi es that have been the most successful over the past few expensive to produce. Thus, a er the Great Depression struck, the Middle decades are those that have been able to provide specialized services, as Susquehanna Region struggled to recover and never truly achieved its opposed to products, to the region. The services that have most visibly former status. helped communi es to weather diffi cult mes are educa onal services (colleges and universi es) and health care (major regional hospitals). S ll, the 1950’s are looked back upon as a me of vitality for much of Lewisburg, Selinsgrove and Bloomsburg all have universi es that have the region. Towns like Sunbury and Milton were strong commercial and helped sustain the vitality of neighborhoods and downtown business cultural centers with bustling downtown cores. Manufacturing was alive districts. Although it remains a constant struggle, Main Street Programs and well throughout the region, most notably in Berwick and Milton. have also revitalized a number of downtowns and helped them to compete However, manufacturing took a downturn in the region as evidenced by with big box stores and malls. the 1961 ACF plant closure in Berwick. Thousands of employees were laid off and the closure signaled the con nued decline of manufacturing The Middle Susquehanna Region has not felt the pressure of development to come. To compound the impacts of economic change, in June 1972, and growth that have resulted in the relentless urban sprawl and placeless fl ooding from Hurricane Agnes devastated many of the region’s river subdivisions found around Pennsylvania’s larger metropolitan centers. towns and le a las ng impression on those communi es that is s ll felt The region maintains its integrity and dis nc ve sense of place; residents today. appreciate the slow-paced quality of life and visitors enjoy the authen c, small town experiences that are wai ng to be had around each corner. At the same me, development pressures have been increasing and land- consump on is happening at a greater rate than popula on growth, a classic sign of sprawl. A regional heritage program can complement other planning eff orts to guide growth, and to preserve and celebrate the regions many resources and its rich heritage.

The Middle Susquehanna Region 2.45

III - H G

III - H G

H A G: A E

The goals of any Heritage Area Program are built around fi ve target areas:

• economic development • educa on and interpreta on • cultural conserva on and recrea on • open space and natural resources • partnerships

Perhaps the most accurate way to view these target areas is to look at the conserva on and enhancement of the la er four areas as a means of achieving the fi rst: economic development. Each individual goal area serves to support the others and can be targeted to develop a well- rounded region with strong appeal to a diverse audience.

The ability to address the fi ve target areas depends upon several factors: the state of related resources, the organiza ons that exist to address them, and the poten al to build that capacity and enhance each area through heritage area development. This chapter will assess the current state of each target area and how it is currently being addressed in the region, concluding with an evalua on of the role that the heritage area will play in achieving the stated goal.

Although community and regional planning and tourism are not direct goals of the Heritage Area Program, both areas share a reciprocal rela onship with heritage development. As such, a discussion is included regarding the state of tourism and planning in the region, showing how both areas can support heritage development just as development can enhance tourism and help to meet local and regional planning goals. Finally, an overview is provided of the Principles for Smart Growth in Pennsylvania with an evalua on of the heritage area’s ability to espouse those principles in the region.

Heritage Goals 3.49 Economic Development

Introduction

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognizes that a region’s economy responds to many factors, not least of which is the overall quality of life and resources that a region has to off er. Preserving and enhancing resources- be they cultural, historic, scenic, recrea onal or natural – improves quality of life and makes a region more a rac ve to residents, visitors, and businesses.

Heritage development can open up new opportuni es for niche markets, especially those related to tourism, educa on and recrea on. In fact, according to the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, 85% of overnight visitors to the region are interested in history while vaca oning and 54% arrive with no specifi c agenda, sugges ng that signifi cant economic development could result from heritage development.

Just as heritage area development promotes economic development through diversifi ed approaches, so does economic development grow at both local and regional scales. The Middle Susquehanna Region, tradi onally known for its individual towns, is gaining no ce as a regional community. Varied economic development ini a ves are helping to make this possible, including regional coordina on on downtown development, neighborhood revitaliza on, and greenway development.

By fostering a balanced approach to regional development that recognizes the important rela onship between environmental conserva on and community and economic development, Middle Susquehanna Valley communi es are forging new economic opportuni es.

State designa on as a Heritage Area will heighten the region’s ability to showcase its numerous ameni es, united by the theme of transporta on which is embodied by the force and presence of the Susquehanna River. Heritage Area designa on will help regional leaders and ci zens forge new economic opportuni es from regional place-based assets.

Historic storefront facade restora ons, such as this one in downtown Danville, are just one example of economic development in the region.

3.50 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Historical Overview of the Regional Economy

Likewise, designa on will establish the Middle Susquehanna Region as Steadiness and modera on go a long way towards describing the Middle a unique des na on to be discovered and experienced by those living Susquehanna Region, both economically and culturally. Losses in some outside of the region. It will, in turn, help to leverage tourism dollars that economic sectors and job opportuni es have been moderated by growth enable the Visitors Bureaus to further promote the area. Visitor spending elsewhere. Similarly, development pressures in some areas have been will s mulate the economies of regional communi es by crea ng jobs, balanced by consolida on in other areas. enhancing historic downtowns, and re-circula ng dollars in the local economy that translate into improved quality of life for residents across Net popula on growth in the region as a whole is es mated to be virtually all communi es. fl at, at just .04% since the 2000 census. Although regional growth is fairly sta c, there is internal varia on between coun es that balance each The following sec on provides an overview of how the region’s economy other out. For example, Union County is expected to be experiencing has changed and developed over the past few decades. Subsequently, a 4.2% growth, while Northumberland is es mated to have a 3.1% decline profi le of the regions economy is provided and opportuni es for planning in popula on in the con nued wake of the coal industry decline. and development are also outlined. Finally, an evalua on is given for how heritage development will foster economic development throughout Over the past century, however, the Middle Susquehanna Region has the Middle Susquehanna Region. Addi onal economic industry and undergone drama c swings of fortune and experienced fundamental demographic data is also found in the appendix. changes in industry and economy. The des of change have brought both prosperity and hardship, and mes of not only vitality and decline, but also revitaliza on. Many industries that were successful through the opening decades of the twen eth century eventually fell, but a post-war boom also brought stability and op mism to the na on that was shared locally.

Middle Susquehanna residents look back upon the mid-twen eth century as a me of prosperity and life, especially for the downtown centers of communi es. Many fondly recall the main streets and bustling department stores of Sunbury, Milton, and Berwick, which all now struggle with downtown business reten on and compe on from commercial strips and shopping malls.

Likewise, manufacturing and industry experienced major shi s in the region throughout the la er half of the twen eth century. Over recent decades, a number of large manufacturing opera ons have le the region for a variety of reasons. Some factories and jobs have moved overseas, others shi ed to markets closer to major metropolitan regions. Today, many of the larger industries are being replaced by small to mid-sized Source: The State of Rural Pennsylvania, Keystone Research Center, based on manufacturing opera ons and the overall economy has shi ed towards 2005 ACS. service industries, notably health and educa on.

Heritage Goals 3.51 Agriculture is a major regional Economic Profile industry MAJOR EMPLOYERS

The slow decline in A survey of the top 10 employers in each of the fi ve coun es reveals that manufacturing and the there has been a shi in the region away from major manufacturing and changing economy of the towards service sectors, educa on and healthcare. Manufacturing has not region is clearly refl ected in disappeared altogether and is carried on by a mix of businesses, notably the a tudes and outlooks of those producing motor parts and wood products. According to a recent local residents. The culture study by the Penn State Coopera ve Extension Program on “Percep ons of the area tends towards of The Forces Changing Central Pennsylvania’s Economy,” conserva sm and a general wariness of being too Rural Central Pennsylvania employers are challenged to be progressive and moving too compe  ve within a global market that is transforming the quickly in new direc ons. The economic base of this rural landscape from one of agriculture and same cau on and recogni on manufacturing to a service-based economy. that hardship is part of life also The same study also noted that collabora on and innova on are growing manifest themselves through trends in the region that are helping employers overcome hurdles. huge amounts of local pride, value of community and connectedness, and apprecia on of local heritage that can be largely credited for maintaining Tradi onally, seven of the eight industries that form the base of the the quality and character of so many dis nc ve communi es that make Pennsylvania State Heritage Area thema c program have been ac vely them such rare treasures today. pursued and carried out within the Middle Susquehanna Region. Market shi s and resource deple on have long-since reduced the na onal prominence of these local industries, yet each industry persists here, Regional Agriculture albeit in o en new and smaller forms. The following contemporary businesses should Change Market value Market value Government Government Change in in market be seen as the current incarna on of the of produc on, of produc on, Payments Payments, government value of historically signifi cant industries that shaped 2002 1997 2002 1997 payments County produc on the region and defi ned its character. Columbia $ 35,123,000 $ 42,515,000 -17% $ 1,616,000 $ 1,249,000 29% Montour $ 27,414,000 $ 29,228,000 -6% $ 549,000 $ 412,000 33% Northumberland $ 99,228,000 $ 65,005,000 53% $ 1,751,000 $ 1,216,000 44% Snyder $ 80,601,000 $ 80,393,000 0% $ 102,807 $ 90,026 14% Union $ 55,016,000 $ 53,078,000 4% $ 954,000 $ 354,000 166% Changes in regional agriculture, from 1997 to TOTAL $ 297,382,000 $ 270,219,000 10% $ 4,972,807 $ 3,321,026 50% 2002. Source: 2002 Census of Agriculture, from the NASS Fact FInders for Agriculture

3.52 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study The top 10 employers in each county as of 1st quarter 2006

Columbia County Snyder County 1. State System of Higher Educa on 1. Wood Mode 2. Wise Foods, Inc. 2. Pennsylvania State Government 3. Magee Rieter Automo ve Systems 3. Conestoga Wood Special es Corp. 4. CHS Berwick Hospital Corp 4. Susquehanna University 5. Deluxe Homes of PA, Inc. 5. Selinsgrove Area School 6. Del Monte Corpora on 6. Midd-West School District 7. Berwick Area School District 7. Apex Homes, Inc. 8. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc 8. Na onal Beef 9. Kawneer Company, Inc. 9. Professional Building Services 10. Bloomsburg Hospital 10. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.

Montour County Union County 1. Geisinger System Services 1. United States Government 2. Geisinger Medical Center 2. Bucknell University 3. Geisinger Clinic 3. Evangelical Community Hospital 4. Pennsylvania State Government 4. Yorktowne, Inc. 5. Great Dane LP 5. Ritz-Cra Corpora on of PA, Inc 6. Danville Area School District 6. Albright Care Services 7. Geisinger Community Health 7. Miffl inburg Area School District 8. Maria Joseph Manor 8. Weis Markets, Inc. 9. Grandview Health Homes, Inc. 9. Lewisburg Area School District 10. Healthsouth/GHS Limited 10. White Deer Run Incorporated

The list of top 10 employers shows a mix of tradi onal manufactuing with the Northumberland County more recent growth in healthcare, educa on and service industries. Source: 1. Weis Markets, Inc. 2007 County Data Books for Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and 2. Pennsylvania State Government Union Coun es. 3. Northumberland County 4. ConAgra Foods 5. H P Hood LLC 6. Fleetwood Motor Homes of PA Inc 7. Shikellamy School District 8. Merck & Co., Inc (now Pioneer Pharmaceu cals) 9. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit

Heritage Goals 3.53 Tradi onal industries being carried on by modern businesses

These mid-size to large businesses show the contemporary extension of tradi onal industrices. Those industries are also carried on in other ways, such as through networks of small businesses and at markets, exposi ons and other periodic events.

Transporta on Agriculture • ACF Industries LLC • Na onal Beef • Con-Way Transporta on Services • ConAgra Foods • Watsontown Trucking Co • Furman Foods, Inc • Cheetah Chassis Corpora on • Bu er Krust Baking Co. • H P Hood LLC (Dairy products) Lumber • Weis Markets • Kuhns Bros. Log Homes • Kuhns Bros. Lumber Co, Inc. Tex le • Bingham & Son Lumber • Middleburg Yarn Processing Company • Wood Mode • Berwick Off ray (ribbons) • Conestoga Wood Special es Corp. • Sunbury Tex le Mills • Heister House Millwork • Fabtex, Inc. • Knight Celotex (Fiberboard) • Bloomsburg Carpet Industries • Yorktowne, Inc • Bloomsburg Mills, Inc • American Heritage Cra ers

Coal - Mining • Mesto Minerals Inc. • Lehigh Valley Coal Company

Iron & Steel • Benton Foundry Inc.

Machine & Foundry • ACF Industries LLC • Kawneer Company • K-Fab Inc.

Factories in Sunbury

3.54 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Growth Trends

The following employment trends show that, with the excep on of the Percent Change in Employment by County Anthracite Coal region, which experienced a major and rapid decline in 1969-2005 1989– 2000 2000-2005 the 1970’s, most of the region has experienced at least moderate growth in employment since 1969. This has occurred despite the decline in Montour 108% 8% 22% prominence of manufacturing and industry, which declined by a range of Columbia 32% 10% 3% 1.4% to 4.2% in the fi ve coun es between 2001 and 2005. Snyder 83% 17% 2% Northumberland -6% 1% 0% Demographics Union 112% 13% -1% The Middle Susquehanna Region was se led as an area noted for Source: The State of Rural Pennsylvania, by The Keystone Research Center tolerance and for cultural and ethnic diversity. Most of these groups put down fi rm roots within the area and many current residents can trace their families back within the same community for mul ple genera ons. Ironically, because the vast majority of se lers to the region were of European descent, the region today appears largely homogenous (96% Caucasian) despite originally possessing a very dis nct and diverse mix of ethnic and religious groups.

As of 2006, the region had an es mated total popula on of 256,215 residents. The region accounts for roughly one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the popula on of Pennsylvania, but covers nearly four percent (3.85%) of the state’s total land area, a refl ec on of the region’s predominantly RegionalPopulationbyRace rural nature. 5.05% 1.41% 0.10% From an economic standpoint, the region is dominated by low to moderate 196%1.96% income families. Average Household Income varies by county; it is highest in Union County at $55,649 and lowest in Northumberland County at Caucasian (White) 96% $42,664. Median household income, however, is highest in Montour African American 2.06% County, followed by Union, Snyder, Columbia and Northumberland Coun es, respec vely. All of these fi gures are lower than the Median Hispanic 1.48% Household Income for the whole of Pennsylvania. In Montour County Asian 0.53% that fi gure is just $831 lower, but in Northumberland County, the median 91.48% Native American 0.10% household income lags behind the state fi gure by nearly $9,000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census

Heritage Goals 3.55 ReligiousDemoninations(Sitting)inthe5 CountyRegionin1870

1% 7% 9% Baptist 9% Episcopal 1% 24% Lutheran 24% 24% Methodist 19% Presbyterian 11% Roman Catholic 5% 5% Reformed Late German 24% Other 7% 11% 19% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Source: http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus

Percent of total population Males per Median 100 females Total Geographic area age population (years) Under 18 to 25 to 45 to 65 18 All 18 24 44 64 years years ages years years years years and and over over

Pennsylvania 12,281,054 23.8 8.9 28.6 23.1 15.6 38 93.4 89.9

COUNTY Columbia County 64,151 20.8 14.3 25.9 23.1 15.9 37.5 90.8 87.8 Montour County 18,236 24.4 6.4 28.2 24 17.1 39.8 90.5 86 Northumberland County 94,556 21.9 7 27.7 24.4 19 40.8 96.3 92.8 Snyder County 37,546 24 11.2 27.4 23.3 14 36.7 95.6 93.1 (X) Not applicable Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Union County 41,624 20.1 13.9 30.9 21.7 13.4 35.8 123.9 128.5 Census 2000 Summary File 1, Matrices PCT12 and P13.

3.56 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Economic Development Agencies & Initiatives

Main Street Programs exist in Lewisburg, Miffl inburg, Milton, Selinsgrove In Columbia and Montour coun es, SEDA-COG is embarking on an eff ort to and Bloomsburg and a new program is taking shape in Danville. Sunbury restore segments of the historic North Branch Canal (owned by the SEDA- has previously par cipated in the Pennsylvania Main Street Program COG Joint Rail Authority) for hiking and bicycling. Shamokin is undertaking and con nues to operate downtown development programs. The extensive improvements on the Claude Kehler Park. Sunbury has ini ated Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and SEDA-COG are development of a master plan for its riverfront. Similar, but smaller eff orts exploring coopera ve approaches to providing the regions towns with are under discussion in Lewisburg, Milton, and Selinsgrove. Main Street development assistance. Neighborhood be erment plans and projects are also being carried out in Lewisburg and Sunbury through Regional thinking is also evident in the recent designa on of a Keystone the Pennsylvanian Elm Street Program, and SEDA-COG is working on the Innova on Zone (KIZ) in the area. A consor um of groups – including development of an Elm Street Program in Berwick. Geisinger Health System, Bloomsburg University, Bucknell University, and Susquehanna University – have forged a partnership to improve the Founda ons and regional ins tu ons and organiza ons such as Geisinger, economic development climate in the region, while encouraging growth and Bucknell, Susquehanna and Bloomsburg Universi es play vital roles through innova on. KIZ’s, created under Governor Rendell’s Plan for a within communi es. Through fi nancial backing and professional exper se, New Pennsylvania, create “knowledge neighborhoods” close to colleges, larger ins tu ons can o en change the mood within a community into universi es and training ins tu ons to keep new graduates and budding one of op mism that gives individuals and business owners the added entrepreneurs in the area. confi dence it some mes takes to invest in a new enterprise or undertaking that will cumula vely lead to growth and revitaliza on. By focusing talent and resources in clusters, KIZs transform these communi es into technology incubators. They will also be able to The Central Susquehanna Community Founda on is a regional take advantage of partnerships between educa onal ins tu ons, local philanthropic organiza on based out of Berwick that invests endowment leaders, banks, businesses, investors and founda ons that already exist funds to benefi t the communi es and residents throughout most of the in the Susquehanna Valley. Most importantly, their new ideas and new region. Recent grants have served a wide range of community-oriented businesses will drive a new economy that is focused on innova on and programs and projects, from summer concert series’ to park and trail small-business growth. Because Heritage Area programming will add to development. the region’s standing and quality of life, it will help a ract and keep a talented work force in the region. Numerous local projects aim to s mulate economic growth through revitaliza on and quality of life enhancements that can a ract new Several regional planning eff orts are underway in the area, each with an people and businesses to the region. The emerging Warrior Run Pathways end goal of spurring economic development. These include Revitalizing Partnership Program, for example, is engaging residents of upper River Towns, the Valley Vision 2020 Plan for Central Pennsylvania, and Northumberland, Union, and Montour coun es in planning open space the Susquehanna Greenway Ini a ve. Each of these will all be discussed networks and trails for ac ve living. more fully within the context of community and regional planning, but they should be noted here as broad scale mechanism to enhancing quality of life, establishing new business opportuni es and facilita ng smart economic growth within the region.

Heritage Goals 3.57 Heritage Tourism

Promo ng heritage tourism is one of the most direct methods for Other fi ndings from the D&L Corridor included that the average group bringing economic development to the region through heritage area size is between three and four people (2.5 adults and 1 child) and that development. Despite possessing a range of historic resources, amazing more than half of the corridor’s 2005 visitors were making a repeat visit natural resources and charming communi es ripe for visitors, heritage to the area (54% vs. 46% fi rst me). 60% of visitors were making a day tourism is a largely untapped market within the region. To the extent trip to the area, while 40% stayed overnight. The average length of stay in that it can be expanded, it has great poten al to help off set declines in the region was 3.6 nights. Interes ngly, 61% of visitors either knew about other sectors of the economy. Heritage tourism can even be a catalyst the area because they live near it or had heard about it from a friend or for growth in related markets such as recrea onal ou i ng, an quing or by word of mouth. bou que shopping, and even local foods and services. To date, no economic impact measures have been conducted for any of The economic benefi ts of heritage tourism are clear. A recent study by Pennsylvania’s State Heritage Areas. In order to demonstrate the benefi ts the Na onal Heritage Ins tute (NHI) sought to quan fy those benefi ts of heritage area development in the region from heritage tourism, it will for heritage areas designated at the na onal level. There are a total of 27 be advisable to analyze and measure the economic impacts of heritage Na onal Heritage Areas in the United States. Figures were extrapolated area implementa on within the Middle Susquehanna Region. The study from a survey of fi ve of those areas. In 2005 the study es mates that detailed above u lized measurement systems known as the Money visitors to Na onal Heritage Areas alone, (not including state heritage Genera on Model and the Revised Money Genera on Mode (MGM and areas), generated $8.5 billion in direct and indirect sales. On average, each MGM2). Na onal Heritage Area generated $88.12 million in sales, an es mated 1,883 jobs, and total personal income of $33.3 million.

The average direct value added to the local economy of this spending (through personal income, profi ts and rents, and indirect business taxes) was es mated at nearly $50.24 million. The average direct and indirect economic impact of visitor spending at each Na onal Heritage Area was $137.82 million in sales, genera ng 2,468 jobs, producing $51.62 million in personal income. Signifi cantly, each area generated an average of nearly $81.24 million in total value to the local economy.

Although the total dollars generated by a state-designated heritage area may not be as high as any one na onally-designated area, there are clear benefi ts to regional tourism promo on. The Delaware and Lehigh (D&L) Na onal Heritage Corridor in Northeastern Pennsylvania was one of the fi ve heritage areas surveyed. The fi ndings from that area suggest that signifi cant amounts of real dollars are fl owing into the Commonwealth and regional economy from heritage tourism. The Packwood House Museum is a heritage tourism des na on in Lewisburg.

3.58 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Evaluation

The Money Genera on Model is currently used in na onal parks to The Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area has the poten al to act as a measure visitor impacts and to quan fy the impacts of heritage tourism catalyst and create a ripple eff ect of benefi cial economic development in mixed urban/rural landscapes. The Revised Money Genera on Model throughout the region. Knowledge that long-term heritage development es mates the number of jobs created and the amount of new income will be undertaken with regular funding will inspire confi dence in generated within the region through tourism. In simplifi ed terms, the entrepreneurs to open businesses serving niche markets. MGM2 calculates economic impact using the following formula: Communi es invigorated by increased visitor traffi c will be be er Average Economic Impact = posi oned to take on local improvement projects which can a ract new residents and businesses. Likewise, regional recogni on through heritage Number of Visitors x Spending per Visit x Economic Mul pliers area designa on will bring more people to the area, some of whom may The model could be adopted to evaluate the impacts of the Middle choose to stay and establish new businesses, helping to invigorate the Susquehanna Heritage Area. There will be costs associated with conduc ng economy. the assessment, but these will almost certainly be outweighed by the Economic development that is ed to the heritage program is highly valuable informa on that will be produced. Economic benefi t fi ndings can desirable in part because it will mesh with the exis ng character and be used to jus fy con nued investment in heritage area development. fabric of the region. Developing markets will relate to and grow out of the The fi ndings will not only help to iden fy successful target areas and value-ridden heritage area program. As such, new enterprises will be ed opportuni es for improvement, they will help iden fy par cular projects to quality of life enhancements- recrea on, conserving natural resources, and ini a ves needing improvement that are not providing the intended educa on, and sense of place enrichment. By virtue of origin, they should benefi ts. as a whole be generally in tune with the principles of contextually sensi ve growth that will protect and enhance regional living quality and character. In turn, be ering quality of life will help to sustain economic growth in the region over the long term through a posi ve feedback loop.

Heritage Goals 3.59 Education and Interpretation

Sustaining and crea ng new opportuni es for learning is one of the fi ve primary goals of the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program. Knowledge- building and learning can occur in many situa ons and se ngs. Formalized learning occurs through the primary, secondary and university learning systems, as well as through extension programs, seminars, and extra- curricular classes and workshops for children and adults.

Informal learning can happen virtually anywhere as the result of ac ve observa on of one’s surroundings. This learning is self-mo vated, but can s ll be organized and directed, as happens at museums where interpre ve signs or audio tours are provided for visitors to learn about what they are viewing.

The historic, cultural, and recrea onal resources of the Middle Susquehanna Valley provide abundant opportuni es for knowledge- building and explora on. A range of organiza ons found throughout the region can and do teach about the signifi cance of the region and help interpret its varied resources. The following sec on iden fi es those organiza ons and their capacity to par cipate in and further the heritage area program goals.

Cap on

3.60 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Why Education and Interpretation? Organizations

Educa on and learning plays a role in virtually every interac on an The fi ve-county region hosts a diversity of ins tu ons and organiza ons individual will have with a heritage area program. No ma er which places that provide educa on and learning opportuni es to residents and are visited or which events and ac vi es are enjoyed, heritage area visitors as some component of their overall mission. What the region users should come away with greater knowledge than before their visit. does not have, and which a heritage area program could provide, is a Knowledge can be transferred in many ways, including: comprehensive approach to teaching about local heritage and history, and a means of promo ng and developing partnerships between the Tradi onal educa on – classes, workshops, programs many educa onal programs and off erings already available within the Conduc ng research area. Locally, numerous groups are interested in greater public outreach Events- watching performances and demonstra ons or interac ve and educa on to share the stories and carry on the tradi ons of the past; ac vi es a heritage area program will provide a mechanism for networking and Literature, fi lm & audio sharing resources so that local eff orts can expand into more powerful and Place-based learning- visi ng museums, interpre ve signage, meaningful regional eff orts. experiencing and interac ng with a site. Currently, there are a number of heritage-based learning opportuni es Learning can be incorporated into any number of ac vi es with the result that visitors can seek out and enjoy. As a sampling, one can travel to being that people have a greater understanding and apprecia on of the Miffl inburg and visit the buggy museum to learn about all aspects of places around them. Greater knowledge can also make people be er, historic buggy making and travel. Danville’s Iron Heritage Fes val off ers more informed decision makers who are more likely to take an ac ve role a diversity of educa onal experiences, from cemetery tours to hearing in shaping and direc ng the future of the region. stories about important local fi gures as well as the daily lives of ordinary ci zens, to learning about the evolu on of baseball as a na onal sport by Through educa on and interpre ve elements, the true signifi cance and watching an old- me reenactment of how it was played in the 1800’s. full richness of the Middle Susquehanna Region can be conveyed. For tourism, educa on and learning can make the diff erence between having The Northumberland County Historical Society off ers summer youth a passing and superfi cial rela onship with the region and developing a programs, and a number of sites, from environmental preserves to historic las ng connec on to the area by learning and apprecia ng its stories sites are fi eld trip des na ons that teach children about the region’s many and signifi cance. Providing these opportuni es for learning can make the special places, people and stories. Heritage area designa on will help e diff erence between a rac ng a one- me visitor and a repeat visitor and these diverse experiences and opportuni es together, helping to make heritage touris. By defi ni on, the heritage tourist is more likely to invest the regional narra ve more comprehensible and complete. in the region over a longer me period, and is more likely to care and to share a vested interest in the integrity, authen city, quality and character of the region.

Heritage Goals 3.61 MUSEUMS, HISTORICAL SITES & SOCIETIES

No regional organiza on exists to research and disseminate knowledge The Children’s Museum of Bloomsburg includes many interac ve exhibits about the history of the Middle Susquehanna Region. Instead, the region’s for children on a range of topics that extend far beyond those of local history is currently promoted by a collec on of localized socie es, sites, signifi cance. However, several of the permanent exhibits do teach about and volunteer groups working independently and covering their own local heritage and industries. There are iron and coal mine explora on geographic area. Each county has a centralized historical society; there are areas, longhouse exhibits in the tradi on of the eastern woodland tribes, also a number of local historical socie es and heritage-focused volunteer and a “Passage to Pennsylvania” mul -cultural exhibit. Seasonal exhibits groups throughout the region. can also be used to give children a hands-on learning experience about important regional features. The Northumberland County Historical Society operates out of the Hunter House Museum on the former site of Fort Augusta, in Sunbury. Other museums within the region include the Model Train Museum in The site off ers a museum of historical and archaeological ar facts Milton and the Mining Museum at Knoebels Grove Amusement Park. Many dealing with Fort Augusta, from the French and Indian War through the individuals, organiza ons and municipali es also possess collec ons of American Revolu on, as well as items of signifi cance to the history of local memorabilia and ar facts that could become educa onal resources Northumberland County. for visitors and researchers if organized and overseen by a curator. Educa onal tours are also available at the one-room Herman School There are also several other house museums in opera on within the House in Selinsgrove. region, three of which are in Union County. The Packwood House Museum in Lewisburg off ers walk-in and group tours as well as school programs The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission also manages one where visitors can see and learn about Pennsylvanian decora ve arts and site within the region. The Joseph Priestly House in Northumberland cra s within an historic, late 18th century two- story log cabin that served off ers educa onal tours and events where visitors can learn about the for many years as a hotel and tavern. noted English scien st and religious philosopher.

Slifer House is an 1860’s, Tuscan-style country house near Lewisburg that was designed by Philadelphia Architect Samuel Sloan for former senator and Secretary of the Commonwealth, Eli Slifer, The property was converted into an orphanage in the 1930’s and now houses a senior re rement community known as Riverwoods. The Slifer House is owned by Albright Care Services, and is overseen by a voluntary Advisory Board. It is staff ed in part by residents of the re rement home community and is open to visitors and group tours.

The Dale Engle Walker House is a 1793 limestone farmhouse on a 137- acre ac ve farm where heritage events are held in addi on to regular tours and educa onal programs. The property is managed by the Union County Historical society and features architecture, area slavery and the Underground Railroad which are both associated with the house, and immigrant experience within the region. The Slifer House, Union County

3.62 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study SCHOOL DISTRICTS Regional fi eld trip des na ons reinforce student knowledge of local history Schools and youth educa on off er one of the most obvious target while also providing cost-eff ec ve solu ons for schools. audiences and poten al partners for heritage-related educa on and program development. There are 17 separate school districts and 74 Currently visited fi eld trip sites within the region include: individual schools within the fi ve coun es, so while the heritage area should certainly work with schools and promote local and regional history • Milton Firehouse educa on, actual partnerships will need to be developed with individual • Packwood House- Lewisburg schools, districts, or even teachers since the educa onal system does not • Nature Preserves – PPL Riverlands, Montour Preserve coordinate at a regional scale. In order to be most effi cient and eff ec ve, • RB Winter State Park- Halfway Dam educa onal material could be also be developed for diff erent age groups • White Deer (Milton) that could be off ered to schools across the region. • Local Pumpkin Patch • Watsontown Elementary (Warrior Run) FIELD TRIP DESTINATIONS • Clyde Peeling’s Rep le Land

Developing and promo ng educa onal programming at regional fi eld trip des na ons would be another way to encourage heritage-based learning Field trip des na ons outside the region: amongst youth while also helping schools reduce costs and promote local economic development. Many teachers currently look outside of the • Hiawatha Riverboat, Williamsport region for fi eld-trip des na ons. They take classes to places with name • Children’s Museum, Williamsport recogni on within a day’s drive of the area – Valley Forge, Ge ysburg, New • Ashland Coal Museum York, Washington D.C., the Bal more Na onal Aquarium, just to name a • Ge ysburg few. As school budgets grow ghter, these long-distance trips will become • Hershey Park less feasible and local des na ons will grow more appealing, especially • Bal more Aquarium if they, too can off er high-quality, interac ve learning experiences for all • Li le Buff alo State Park ages. • Woodward Cave, Centre Co. • Washington, D.C. COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES • New York, New York • Lake Tobias, PA The region boasts a collec on of na onally renowned colleges and ins tu ons whose staff and students provide avenues for research and interpreta on of the region’s rich heritage. The three major universi es located here are Susquehanna University, Bloomsburg Univeristy and Bucknell University. The McCann School of Business and Technology is a local two-year ins tute. All conduct a wide range of research and projects within the region, as do several Penn State University Colleges Children visi ng the and Departments, located just west of the region in State College, Centre PPL Montour Preserve County.

Heritage Goals 3.63 History, geography, agriculture, landscape architecture, and the In addi on, Bucknell University has defi ned a focus for the 2008-09 humani es are just some of the university departments and programs school year of “Cultures at the Confl uence: The Susquehanna Valley and that have conducted research projects in the region in the past and could Environmental Humani es.” Events will be held throughout the year that take leading roles in conduc ng special studies and background research will explore the region and the river from, as part of heritage area development for the region. Theore cal approaches to region, to ecologically oriented Two groups established out of Bucknell University in collabora on with science views of the watershed engaging human involvement regional universi es and organiza ons bring together students, academics in environmental restora on, to Na ve American refl ec ons and professionals to expand research and learning surrounding issues from across North America on the signifi cance of the region’s of importance in the Susquehanna River Valley from a scien fi c and history. In the spring, events will examine the Susquehanna humani es perspec ve. Valley as a geographic region including human culture in a post-industrial era, explore the cultural narra ves focused Within the realm of science, the Susquehanna Heartland Coali on for at its confl uence in the stories of Old Shamokin, and fi nally Environmental Studies is a watershed group organized in 2004 to partner focus on utopian projects associated with the emergence in research, provide environmental educa on, improve water quality, and of U.S. rule in the region—all in rela on to the physical address other environmental concerns related to the Susquehanna River environment of the river. Watershed. The Susquehanna Colloquium, also known as the Susquehanna River Heartland Humani es Council, promotes place-based learning and educa on about the region from a cultural perspec ve. Bucknell University has been an ac ve partner throughout the feasibility study process. Programs such as the “River Year” focus help to establish a directly relevant base of knowledge and insight for the region and the heritage area. Moreover, these programs help to iden fy areas of need and interest within the region and form a rigorous academic precedent for future heritage area studies and projects.

Siebert Hall on the Susquehanna University campus in Selinsgrove.

3.64 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTERS PUBLICATIONS

The Susquehanna Riverlands Environmental Preserve, near Berwick Most of the historical socie es have published histories of the coun es in Columbia County, has been providing the people of North-central that off er insight into the development of the region and its inhabitants. Pennsylvania with quality recrea on and environmental educa on since Several also publish regular newsle ers including historic newspaper 1980. Encompassing 1,200 acres on both the east and west banks of ar cles or essays on signifi cant events, industries, people or historic the Susquehanna River, the Riverlands Preserve is jointly owned by PPL proper es. A number of towns in the region have also published Corpora on and Allegheny Electric Coopera ve, Inc. histories in commemora on of achieving important milestones, such as bicentennial anniversaries. In Montour County north of Danville, The Montour Preserve is a 165- These o en include collec ons of historic photographs and postcards acre nature preserve at Lake Chillisquaque owned by PPL Corpora on. that teach a great deal about the historic character of the region’s Established in the 1970’s, the preserve off ers a wide range of environmental communi es. The Heartland Colloquium has recently published the fi rst educa on and programming for all ages. volume of the Watershed Journal, a publica on of essays, poems, short Program off erings include: stories, photographs and artwork of the Middle Susquehanna Watershed. A list of these and other resources may be found in the appendix. •Natural history: Guided walks; talks about plants, animals or some specifi c aspect of the environment; and bu erfl y and bird While many academic publica ons cover the Middle Susquehanna Region counts. in a general manner or as a subsec on of a larger topic, the region has •Cultural history: Programs about Na ve Americans, local history rarely been the central focus of major research and publica ons. Heritage and various cultural views of our natural heritage. area development should therefore aim to rec fy this general lagging •Outdoor skills: Programs on using map and compass, fi shing, behind of the region as a primary focus of study since there is s ll clearly boa ng safety and the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s hunter so much to learn and share with others. safety course. •Teacher workshops: An annual one-day Teaching Environmental Awareness workshop brings a respected environmental educator to the preserve to off er teaching ps and techniques. Other workshops focus on specifi c natural resources in a more intensive, fi eld-oriented, two-day format. •School fi eld trips: Thousands of students visit the preserve annually. •Programs for youth groups: Scouts, 4-H and other youth groups can work on badge requirements and other ac vi es at the preserve. •College internships: The Preserve off ers prac cal experience to college students interested in environmental educa on/ interpreta on or resource management. Montandon Marsh

Heritage Goals 3.65 Trends

Several trends rela ng to educa on and interpreta on for the region there is a wide range of small and mid-sized organiza ons who would should be taken into considera on as programming is being planned for benefi t from networking and pooling their knowledge and resources. the heritage area. In par cular, there is substan al interest within diff erent organiza ons and communi es to engage young people in recording the At some point, it may prove necessary to develop a new organiza on histories and stories of the region through oral history projects. Many to fi ll a gap in educa onal services. However, ini ally the best approach also hope to see more opportuni es to interact and learn about heritage will be to focus on networking and expanding the capabili es of exis ng and place through living history museums and parks, as well as hands-on organiza ons as new educa onal projects and ini a ves are proposed. educa onal programs, like an oral history project. The widespread interest in sharing local history and in revealing more The region hosts many events that present targeted opportuni es to of the area’s connec ons to Na ve American history should both be educate and inform the broader public about the region, its people, places pursued. Other aspects of local heritage that can be explored and taught to and its past. Finally, tradi onal research is also expanding within the residents and visitors include transporta on heritage of Na ve American Middle Susquehanna. Fresh, locally based research conducted out of the Trails, river ra ing, canals and railroads. The region’s role in the French universi es is crea ng a wider base of knowledge of regional history. There and Indian war and in fueling industrial growth through providing natural is growing interest in research targe ng both Na ve American history and resources could also be researched and revealed further. the history of the region around the me of European Se lement. This region-specifi c research should con nue to be promoted. Eff orts should be aimed at educa on and interpreta on for all ages, both adult heritage tourists and school aged (k-12) children should both be Evaluation addressed as target audiences within that mix. Direc ng local knowledge and educa on at the region’s children will help them establish stronger The region contains over a dozen separate organiza ons who provide roots with their homes and help them to grow into adulthood as ci zens educa onal opportuni es to a wide range of age groups and target more likely to care about and protect the region’s character, integrity and audiences, from model train enthusiasts to nature-lovers. The diversity unique resources. of these organiza ons and their ability to reach out to local popula ons suggest a bright future for the heritage area in terms of being able to coordinate and work with the organiza ons to enhance place-based learning throughout the region. The heritage area will also be in an excellent posi on to develop a networking structure within the region to promote collabora ve projects between diff erent groups with similar interests rela ng to heritage area goals and themes.

The universi es within the region, as well as Penn State University nearby, are in key posi ons to take to take leading roles on research projects and to further collabora ve eff orts. There is clearly a need for further research in the region which should be seen both as a need and a learning opportunity, especially for high school and university students. All in all,

3.66 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Cultural Conservation Introduction

Economic development is typically viewed as one of the most important measures of success for a heritage area. Indeed, economic gains and fi nancial viability are necessary for the long term success and con nua on of heritage area development. However, it is the apprecia on and protec on of heritage and cultural tradi ons that act as the mechanisms for economic development. In this way, cultural conserva on, through historic preserva on, interpreta on and maintaining folkways, forms the central pillar holding up the en re heritage area program.

Historic buildings, features, landscapes and pa erns connect the past to the present and reveal the importance and the stories of a place. These are the resources that make it possible to establish a meaningful heritage area. Likewise, drawing upon and fostering an apprecia on of these resources in broader society serve to ensure the vitality and success of a heritage area because it possesses relevance for visitors.

It is of the utmost importance to understand the resources of a region and how they fi t into the historical signifi cance of the immediate area, state and na on. A viable heritage area must demonstrate both the presence of signifi cant resources and the ability and inten on of preserving, revealing, interpre ng and sharing of those resources with others in perpetuity.

This sec on discusses the major historic and cultural resources found in the Middle Susquehanna Region. Together, they comprise the body of extant resources that will reveal the story of this region. The resources tell how a mighty river cut through rugged terrain to create a corridor for travel. They reveal how that corridor provided access to natural resources that allowed for se lement, industry, and the growth of a region notable for proud and independent peoples. Finally, they show how those people established roots and found a place that many genera ons could call home and earn an honest living from the earth and what it could provide.

Heritage Goals 3.67 R I A

Many of these resources exist throughout the region, but there remain The Middle Susquehanna Valley boasts an impressive inventory of over numerous opportuni es to reveal their signifi cance in greater fashion. 4,000 historic structures, proper es, and districts on the Na onal Register Emphasis will be made in the following sec ons on resources of State and (Union County-224, Snyder County-587, Northumberland County-1,391, Na onal importance and specifi cally those that relate to Pennsylvania’s Columbia County- 1,860, and Montour County-143). Many of these sites heritage industries. are championed locally by historical socie es, community non-profi ts, or by the municipali es themselves. The resources of the region need to be viewed as a whole; no single place or event tells the story of the Middle Susquehanna, nor is any one feature Heritage Area designa on would bring a unifi ed theme to the preserva on so important that all others pale in comparison. The region has neither and promo on of these important cultural resources. It would also the Ba lefi elds of Ge ysburg, nor Independence Hall. Instead, the value facilitate a broader approach to cultural conserva on through studies of the Middle Susquehanna’s historic resources herald from collec ve and interpreta on of larger-scale landscapes and landscape pa erns and presence amidst a remote and rugged, but also quaint and pastoral will shed light on independent resources not located within the historic landscape thanks to the power of the Susquehanna River having formed districts. a natural travel way. Much of the charm and In the same way that the North and West Branches of the river converge character of the region to form a powerful current, the region displays a myriad assembly of is embedded in the small features: covered bridges, iron furnaces, tank tes ng grounds, juxtaposi on of town and bank barns, an inventor’s house and so on. Taken individually, each might countryside. Just as the just be enjoyed locally as a treasure, but viewed together, they reveal a heritage area will celebrate rich tapestry of American ideals at work where disparate peoples came and seek to protect historic together and forged lives out of the wilderness. structures themselves, so will it seek to protect and celebrate the context of farmlands and wild area around those structures that provide integrity and convey a broader sense of character and place to individual features.

The watchbox in Danville’s Watchbox Park is an historic feature where railroad employees kept a lookout for trains.

3.68 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study NATIONAL REGISTER PROPERTIES AND DISTRICTS COMING TOGETHER AT THE CONFLUENCE- TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES

Localized surveys have been undertaken throughout recent decades to Transporta on resources are widely visible throughout the Middle evaluate the signifi cance and integrity of historic proper es in the region. Susquehanna Region, from canal era features through modern highways. When viewed comprehensively, the results of these eff orts provide a good, if not exhaus ve, list of historic features that the heritage area will Canals seek to preserve and celebrate. Established in the 1830’s, the region’s extensive network of canals, locks 105 proper es in the region are listed on the Na onal Register of Historic and tow paths is an important historic and cultural asset whose remnants, Places. An addi onal 192 structures, proper es and districts have been s ll in existence today, should not be ignored. Many of these features are iden fi ed as eligible for Na onal Register Lis ng. 3,082 historic proper es currently held in private ownership without a system in place to preserve have received preliminary inventories, but have not had their eligibility and restore what is there. The North Branch of the Pennsylvania Canal, determined. ac ve from 1830 - 1901, passed right through Danville’s center. The Pennsylvania Canal and Limestone Run Aqueduct in Milton, also known Na onal Register-listed Historic Districts have been designated in seven as West Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal and Limestone, is towns within the Middle Susquehanna Region (Lewisburg; Danville; privately owned, but listed on the Na onal Register of Historic Places. Bloomsburg; Sunbury; Miffl inburg; Northumberland; & Milton). Historic Heritage Area designa on can provide a strong impetus for landowners Architecture Review Boards are used to maintain the character of historic to take stock of the value of these resources and, perhaps, make eff orts districts in Danville, Bloomsburg, Miffl inburg, and Lewisburg. When to protect and restore them. viewed comprehensively, the Historic Districts display a high degree of integrity. They contain over 2000 contribu ng structures and fewer than Canal remnants are common in the open lands between river towns- 400 intrusions. some are naturally watered and a few off er informal bike paths and trails. Some remnants can be seen around Montandon, Northumberland and historic locks are also visible at Danville, Rupert and Northumberland. An exis ng trail follows canal remnants from Watsontown for several miles north to Dewart.

Through con nued eff orts, it is hoped that more tow path and canal remnants will be developed between towns as part of a regional trail system. Such a system would provide more than recrea onal opportuni es and places to connect with nature- it would also be a way to connect residents and visitors with canal-era heritage through interpre ve signage and interac on with canal-era structures such as channels and locks. The fi rst segment of this poten al regional network is known as the North Branch Canal Trail and is being planned for the 12-mile stretch of scenic river lands between Danville and Bloomsburg in Montour and Columbia Coun es.

The “Old Canal” at Montandon. Courtesy of the Packwood House Museum

Heritage Goals 3.69 Other transportation-related resources

Canal corridors were almost invariably acquired by and turned into railroad Beyond transporta on corridors, the Middle Susquehanna Region boasts corridors. The same characteris cs that made the corridors suitable for unique es to the manufacturing of transporta on-related objects canals- that they were low-lying, rela vely level or even-graded, and and vehicles. Miffl inburg, in Union County, was a prominent center of provided fairly direct access to the regions communi es- also made them Pennsylvania buggy-making in the nineteenth century. Casually known as ideal places to site railroads. Moreover, the gradual decline of the canal- “Buggy Town,” the modestly-sized community at one point boasted more industry led to the transfer of en re divisions over to rail authori es once than 50 buggy makers producing the greatest number of buggies per it became clear that the rail industry would be the more eff ec ve and capita in the na on. Today, visitors can visit the Buggy Museum housed effi cient way to carry people and goods throughout the region and the at the former Heiss Carriage Works, within an historic buggy works where na on. Although many structures associated with canals, such as lock they can see historic buggies and learn about the process of construc ng houses, have been lost or reduced to founda ons, buildings related to them. the rail industry are common, even numerous in the region. The Buggy Museum gives tes mony to that era as does the contemporary Railroads shop of team Mennonite Isaac Reiff ’s in nearby Vicksburg. Buggies are ac vely used by the Plain Sects throughout the region and it is quite By the 1850’s, just twenty years a er the opening of the canal system, common to see them parked at farmsteads or being pulled by horses along railroads were being built in the region. Narrow gauge railroads were state routes in agricultural areas. Today, na onal highways like Interstate threaded through the region’s woods while larger steam engines Route 80 and US Route 15 bisect the region, facilita ng access to the traversed the valleys—crea ng new towns and strengthening others in region from anywhere within the Mid-Atlan c Region and beyond. their movement of freight and people. Berwick was another producer of objects for the transporta on industry. Today, a combina on of short- and long-line rail service crosses the American Car and Foundry had plants in both Berwick and Milton where region and occasional train excursions a ract a mix of new and old rail rail cars were built as early as 1873 when the company, then known as enthusiasts. Many historic train sta ons and a few railroad hotels remain the St. Charles Car Manufacturing Company, was founded. The Berwick with the poten al for adap ve re-use. These include sta ons in Riverside, factory produced the fi rst all-steel passenger car, which was the fi rst of Lewisburg, Northumberland, Sunbury, White Deer, Milton, and Danville. 300 built for New York City’s fl edgling subway system in 1904. During the World Wars, AC&F plants produced a variety of military goods and The Milton Freight Sta on, built by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad products, during, World War II military tanks were built at the Berwick Co., is one railway resource listed on the Na onal Register of Historic plant. Places. Also in Milton, ACF, formerly American Car and Foundry, con nues to manufacture rail cars as its workers have for over 130 years. At the The Berwick plant closed in 1961, but the industrial area remains as many Catawissa Railroad Company, one resident has collected, restored and smaller opera ons. The legacy of tank building could also be revealed and adapted 14 cabooses that can be toured and also rented for overnight interpreted on the very grounds where the tanks were originally tested. stays. Railroad bridges also grace river and stream crossings in Catawissa, Test Track Park is a borough-owned property that off ers river access, Lewisburg, Rupert, Selinsgrove, and beyond. nature trails and sports fi elds to residents, but it also s ll contains the actual tracks where tanks were driven. American Car and Foundry, now known as ACF Industries LLC, s ll operates out of Milton where rail cars used throughout the na on are produced.

3.70 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Bridges of the Middle Susquehanna

Bridges are one of the dis nguishing hallmarks of the Middle Susquehanna landscape. These publicly accessible resources play an important role in linking the area’s communi es to each other and to the Susquehanna River and its tributaries. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has iden fi ed over 650 historic bridges (Union County-108, Snyder County-128, Northumberland County-187, Columbia County- 187, and Montour County-69) within the proposed heritage study area including the following highlights:

• East and West Paden Bridges, or Twin Bridges, are the only twin Hassenplug Bridge, Miffl inburg covered bridges in the United States. Located on Hun ngton Creek • There are seven covered bridges in Union County: the Millmont in Fishing Creek Township, Columbia County, the bridges were or Glen Iron Bridge; the Hayes Bridge; the Hassenplug Bridge; the constructed in 1884 by W. C. Pennington for $720. They are named Factory or Horsham Bridge; the J. F. Smith Bridge; the Swain Bridge a er John Paden, who operated a nearby sawmill. and the Roy Lloyd Bridge. • In addi on to the twin bridges, there are 23 other covered bridges • The Bridge in Fishing Creek Township, circa 1915, is listed on the located throughout Columbia County, including: Creaseyville; Davis; Na onal Register of Historic Places. Si ng over Li le Pine Creek, this Sam Eckman; Fowlersville; Furnace; Hollingshead; Johnson; Josiah is an unusual open spandrel arch concrete masonry bridge. Hess; Jud Chris e; Kramer; Kreigbaum; Parr’s; Pa erson; Riegel;

Rohrbach; Rupert; Shoemaker; Snyder; S llwater; Wagner; Wanich; • The Watsontown River Bridge is a 1927 nine-span open spandrel Welle Hess and Y Covered Bridge. reinforced concrete arch bridge that is listed on the Na onal Register of Historic Places. The bridge received an award-winning rehabilita on • There are two covered bridges in Montour County: the Keefer Bridge that preserved its historic integrity in 2006. and the Sam Wagner Bridge. • The Bridge between Monroe and Penn Townships, circa 1919, is in • There are seven covered bridges in Northumberland County listed on Snyder County and is listed on the Na onal Register of Historic Places. the Na onal Register of Historic Places: the Sam Wagner (Go lieb Structurally, this is a typical mul ple span concrete barrel arch bridge, Brown), located southeast of Milton; Keefer Sta on, located east of but it has unusually elaborate ornamenta on. Sunbury; Rishel, c. 1830, located outside of Montandon, is the oldest standing covered bridge in the country; Himmel’s Church (Rebuck), • Factory Covered Bridge (also known as Horsham Bridge), is an 1880 located of northeast of Herndon; Richards, located east of Elysburg, bridge with a combina on of mul ple king and queen trusses. It is Lawrence L. Knoebel, located in Knoebel’s Grove; and Kreigbaum located in White Deer Township and is listed on the Na onal Register located east of Elysburg . of Historic Places. • There are fi ve covered bridges in Snyder County. The Aline Covered • Hassenplug Bridge, early nineteenth century bridge located in Bridge, Dreese’s Covered Bridge, Gross Covered Bridge, the East Miffl inburg, is listed on the Na onal Register of Historic Places Oriental Covered Bridge and the North Oriental Covered Bridge. • Millmont Red Bridge, late nineteenth century structure, located in Hartley Township, Millmont, is listed on the Na onal Register of Historic Places.

Heritage Goals 3.71 Covered Bridges

3.72 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study A CONFLUENCE OF INDUSTRIES ARCHITECTURE

In numerous ways, the towns within the Middle Susquehanna Region are These thousands of historic buildings present home, farm, civic and the visible products of the area’s industrial past. Even where mills and commercial pride at its best. Log (like the Packwood House Museum factories have been torn down, elegant mansions and the ght pa ern of in Lewisburg) or post and beam were the predominant modes of wood worker housing remains. The region has had its fair share of light industry construc on un l mid-nineteenth century and many a home under its which tended to be localized in and around specifi c towns. Agriculture planks is made of logs. The Mahantango Valley in Northumberland County has been dominant throughout, while coal mining was very important in has many obvious examples including exterior bake ovens. The 1793 Dale parts of Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland coun es. Engle-Walker limestone farm house outside of Lewisburg exemplifi es a strong Georgian tradi on and also has a history of slave holding while Tradi onal area businesses that are s ll opera onal include nineteenth- William Montgomery’s house of the same period houses the Montour century grain mills such as Grove’s Mill near Buff alo Cross Roads and County Museum. Brandt’s Mill, Miffl inville. The Magee-Rieter carpet mill s ll operates in Bloomsburg and the Sunbury Tex le Mills has been con nuously opera ng The 1808 stone church near Briar Creek and the 1930s/1940s CCC stone for over 100 years. construc on at R.B. Winter State Park are from diff erent eras. Handsome brick Federal and Victorian-era homes, one-room schools, and many fi ne Other industrial opera ons have disappeared, but leave legacies behind. nineteenth-century churches including Warrior Run in Northumberland In 1845, the Montour Iron Works in Danville rolled the fi rst iron T-rail in County, are also abundant. Local brickyards existed throughout the the na on with iron ore smelted from anthracite coal. This feat hastened region, Danville alone had three. Historic libraries such as the Thomas the expansion of American railroads and the movement west. By the Beaver Free Library and iron master’s homes like that in Winfi eld, Union 1850’s the Montour Iron Works was the largest rolling mill in the United County, are not uncommon as are s ll-opera ng country stores at places States. The Franklin anthracite furnace can s ll be viewed at Danville’s Iron like Rebuck, Weikert, Forest Hill and Winfi eld. All are part of the fabric Heritage Fes val each July, when the town celebrates its early history. of life s ll being lived and wai ng to be experienced in the fi ve-county Middle Susquehanna Region.

H Finally, what a racts a en on is the regional architecture of log, stone, and brick spanning over 200 years of living and working. Based on the The diversity of the region’s geography, peoples, industries and ideas more than 4,500 inventoried structures within the region, the Colonial signify the dis nc ve history and culture that the region has to off er. Revival, Georgian and Italianate style historic buildings are the most The confl uence of the Susquehanna River has made such diversity commonly inventoried within the region. possible as it has brought people here, infl uenced regional growth, and spawned industry and innova on, and at its prime, the region was the transporta on keystone of Pennsylvania. The cultural prac ces, stories and events of the region‘s history have been wri en in successive layers upon the landscape. This palimpsest of a regional landscape is not a perfect record of the past, but it contains many historic resources that can serve to connect people to the area’s heritage.

Heritage Goals 3.73 Civic

The region’s architectural heritage is enhanced by the presence of fi ve The Montour County Courthouse in Danville is a strong 1871 building that county seats and long-standing educa onal and governmental ins tu ons. was designed by architect O’Malley. The courthouse sits in a prominent County seat towns past and present embody civic pride through street hilltop loca on within town, looking out over the Susquehanna River as layout and their impressive buildings most notably in Bloomsburg, well as the downtown. Danville, Sunbury, New Berlin, Middleburg and Lewisburg, as well as in the towns of Miffl inburg, Northumberland, and Selinsgrove, which boasts Northumberland County’s Courthouse was built at the corner of Cameron the Governor Snyder mansion. Park in Sunbury in 1965. Designed by Samuel Sloan, it is an Italianate building that remains one of the most notable landmarks in the city. The Columbia County Courthouse is Bloomsburg was designed by Napoleon Le Brun as a Greek Revival brick building that was later enlarged New Berlin is no longer the seat of Union County, but as the former county and adapted into a Romanesque Revival style. seat, it is home to a lovely old courthouse in the Federal style that dates to 1815 with the addi on of an 1857 slender Italianate tower.

One of the most unique buildings in the region is Milton’s Art Deco Post Offi ce. The 1933 Post Offi ce is a steel frame building with masonry veneer walls and a facade of brick and honey-colored sandstone. Its most striking feature is the main entrance which sits in a projec ng half-round turret that is topped with bas-relief carvings and a copper and brass panel depic ng the Susquehanna River and an American Eagle.

The Northumberland County Courthouse in Sunbury (right); The Old Union County Courthouse in New Berlin (far right). Courtesy of PHMC

3.74 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Institutional/ Educational

Intellectual life also fl ourished on the Pennsylvania fron er. There were Notable non-educa on related ins tu onal architecture is found at the many early academies like Himmel Church and, later, one-room schools, Danville State Hospital and at the Lewisburg Peniten ary. The fi rst federal some of which have been preserved. These include the Mooresburg peniten ary, built north and west of Lewisburg, was considered cu ng School (Montour County), Herman School (Snyder County), Red Bank edge architectural design when Henry Hopkins designed it in 1931. School (Union County), Augustaville and Dalma a schools (both in Northumberland County and the la er soon to be a museum) and New Columbus School (Columbia County).

University buildings found on the three campuses off er the most prominent collec on of historically signifi cant educa onal buildings in the region. The three universi es were founded in roughly the same era, but actually display dis nctly diff erent styles of architecture and campus structure. Susquehanna University is the most park-like of the triad, with strongly Georgian style architecture. Selinsgrove Hall (1858) and Siebert Hall (1901), however, are the two Susquehanna University buildings listed on the Na onal Register and they are Italianate and Colonial Revival in style, respec vely.

The heart of the Bucknell campus is rela vely formal in nature, with brick buildings oriented around open quadrangles. Historically signifi cant buildings on campus include three Greek Revivals (1848-1858), three Queen Annes (c1858-1889); one Romanesque Revival (c 1890), three Colonial Revivals (1887-1927), fi ve Neoclassical (1889-1928) and one Tudor Revival (1914). With the excep on of the Tudor Revival, all of these buildings are constructed of brick masonry.

The Sodom Schoolhouse in West Chillisquaque Township is a beau ful and unique octagonal stone structure. Built in 1814 of limestone, this schoolhouse is of Scotch-Irish infl uence. It is one of just a few octagonal schoolhouses in Pennsylvania, and is only example of its type in north- central Pennsylvania.

On the 30-acre Grove Mansion property in Danville the Sisters of Saint Cyril & Methodius built the fi rst Slovak Girls Academy in the United States in 1929. At the Academy, there is a beau ful basilica, including a 170 foot high stone tower, and the Jankola Library, the largest depository of books of Slovak language — many very rare, some of which were smuggled out The Sodom Schoolhouse, Northumberland County (top)Courtesy of PHMC; of the homeland during the Cold War era. Mooresburg Schoolhouse, Montour County

Heritage Goals 3.75 Religious

A rich array of churches grace the region’s towns and villages; they range Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Northumberland is a small and simple from modest, one room log structures, to elaborately detailed, massive Gothic Revival that was enlarged in 1873. Beyond the graceful character stone structures. Just a few examples include: of the building itself, this church contains some unique features, including pews that used to serve as benches from the canal packet boats, and The Quaker Catawissa Friends Mee ng House, c. 1789, is a one-room log the tower bell that used to be rung when important deliveries came to building with a stone founda on. town.

The First Bap st Church in Lewisburg is an austere Gothic Revival church The coal region towns of Mount Carmel and Shamokin are especially built out of dark hornfels stone. It dates to 1870. rich in churches from many tradi ons. Protestant churches contrast not only with Irish Catholic and Episcopal churches, but also with Eastern Lewisburg is also home to four Victorian Gothic churches; the most Orthodox structures, such as the Ukrainian Church in Shamokin and St. impressive of these is the Beaver Memorial United Methodist Church. This Michaels Orthodox Church in Mount Carmel. Indeed, religion played such massive stone church was designed by prominent local architect Charles a prominent role in Mount Carmel, that it garnered the nickname “City Wetzel in 1890 and features corner towers and pointed-arch windows. of Churches” because it had over twenty churches to serve the modestly- sized community.

From le to right: The tower of the First Bap st Church, Lewisburg; Beaver Memorial UMC, Lewisburg; St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Northumberland

3.76 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Commercial

Commercial buildings of many eras grace the downtowns of the ci es, towns and villages. In some of the towns and neighborhoods where economic circumstances have slowed development, one can s ll fi nd original storefronts and facades just wai ng to be recorded and restored.

As an important market town, Sunbury in par cular displays an eclec c mix of commercial styles within the downtown. Some of the styles represented include Second Empire, Romanesque, Neoclassical Revival and Art Deco. Many buildings’ storefronts have been modernized, but the upper stories show off a variety of intact nineteen-century details.

Milton has one of the most cohesive downtown commercial districts because much of the downtown was rebuilt in a short period of me. Over 600 buildings in Milton’s downtown were lost during the great fi re of 1880. As a result, only a handful of pre-fi re commercial buildings have survived, but the many brick italianate and neoclassical commercial buildings that were built following the fi re have given Milton a strong iden fying character and sense of place. At the former Gauger and Sons store at 36 S. Front Street, for example, one fi nds an elaborate pressed metal cornice si ng above fi ve engaged pilasters in the stucco facade and ground fl oor storefronts with cast iron Corinthian columns.

Some of the commercial buildings in the region are strongly connected with culture. Evidence of past cultural life in the region is refl ected in the edifi ces of the Catawissa Opera House and the Campus Theatre in downtown Lewisburg, a late Art Deco movie house s ll in opera on today. Built in 1939, the facade of this iconic theatre is clad in metal panel and embellished wit a stepped fron spiece and decora ve band.

The eclec c commercial architecture of downtown Sunbury (top); The Art Deco Campus Theatre in Lewisburg (bo om). Courtesy of PHMC

Heritage Goals 3.77 Industrial

Industrial architecture has played an important role in the region’s history, but it has not tended to be the focus of preserva on eff orts or historic architectural surveys. Many industrial buildings have been lost over me to fl ood, fi re, or closure and demoli on. Surviving structures o en display li le integrity due to extensive altera ons and upgrades over me.

In a few instances, adap ve reuse of industrial building has preserved both the architectural character of the structure and brought new life to the property. One example of this is the Reading Railroad Freight sta on, c. 1884 in Lewisburg, which has been converted into the borough building. Milton has also converted two of its historic sta ons into a borough building and the police sta on.

Also in Lewisburg, the Buff alo Mills building, c. 1888 retains many features of the original rolling mill, but has been converted into an an que center.

One example of industrial architecture is found in Danville at the Heim Suspender Factory, c. 1835. This brick factory building exhibits both Greek Revival and Italianate elements.

Overall, more work remains to be done within the region to iden fy, preserve and rehabilitate the signifi cant industrial buildings that s ll exist but have fallen into disuse.

The former Reading Railroad Freight Sta on, Lewisburg (le ) The William A. Heiss Buggy Shop, Miffl inburg (top). Courtesy PHMC Mansdale Furnace, Montour County (bo om)

3.78 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Residential

Historically signifi cant housing within the region spans from the log and Many mid-nineteenth century homes built by the iron industrialists s ll stone residences from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century stand. Most notable among these is the Grove/Benne Mansion built in to cra sman bungalows of the early to mid twen eth century. Likewise, Danville in 1865. It stands as an example of the opulence that fl ourished although grand scale mansions have received more a en on from historic in Danville during the iron era and is now owned by the Sisters of St. Cyril preserva onists, mid-range and even modest housing with good historic & Methodius. integrity can also be found.

Northumberland has one of the fi nest collec on of 1790-1830 Federal style residences in the region. The great fi re in Milton destroyed many of its early buildings, but resulted in a strong and cohesive collec on of late- 19th and early 20th century buildings. Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne style residences are par cularly well represented.

Bloomsburg’s Historic District includes many dis nguished mansions along tree-lined streets in Eclec c Victorian, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival styles. Some of the largest of these houses are on Market and Fi h Streets. They tend to be 2-1/2 story brick structures and many have unique features such as verandas, dormers, towers, and irregularly massed roofs.

5th Street residence within the Bloomsburg Historic District Danville’s Historic District includes the mansions of ironmasters (top); The Jackson Mansion in Berwick (bo om).

Heritage Goals 3.79 Utilitarian

A diverse range of u litarian, vernacular architecture is found throughout the region. Some of the most charming examples are the carriage house- stables found along the alleyways of the villages and towns. These are par cularly numerous, visible and well-preserved in Miffl inburg and Lewisburg which has 77, perhaps as a result of the local buggy industry.

Barns and other agricultural outbuildings comprise another important sec on of the region’s u litarian and vernacular architecture. More survey work needs to be conducted to iden fy more of the historically signifi cant vernacular structures.

The “99 Steps” in Shamokin created by the WPA during the Great Three-gable barn, Northumberland County south of Milton; Depression; Courtesy of Northumberland County Tourism Carriage houses-stable in Lewisburg

3.80 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Heritage Goals 3.81 ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES FOLKLIFE RESOURCES

The Susquehanna River is generally regarded as a having served as a “super- The variety of cultural groups who have helped to se le the region highway” used by Na ve American travelling between the Chesapeake Bay through its long history have le indelible marks that may be observed and present-day New York State. As such, the river corridor holds great today in folk art, religious prac ces and architecture, food, tradi ons and poten al for revealing archeological resources le by past cultures. There in prac ces within everyday life. The Pennsylvania Dutch produce some of are no publicly accessible or interpreted archeological sites in the region, the simplest, yet richest examples of folklife resources at regular farmers yet many regional residents are keenly interested in further research and markets in the form of home-grown produce, tradi onal baked goods, educa on on Na ve American heritage. Ar facts such as arrowheads are and a range of home furnishings, from quilts to wooden furniture. o en found in near river agricultural fi elds such as those on the Isle of Que where Na ve Americans are known to have had se lements or hun ng Farmers’ markets draw people from distances to Berwick, Bloomsburg, camps. Present-day Sunbury is the site of the former Na ve American Gratz, and Lewisburg. The fair grounds outside of Laurelton, City of Shamokin, sugges ng that the area around the confl uence could Washingtonville, and Bloomsburg fi ll with exhibits of produce and animals reveal ar facts and features if explora ons were to be undertaken. in August and September. And the farm house of Caleb Barton, who Packers Island at the confl uence is specifi cally known to have been used leased the ground to begin the Bloomsburg Fair in 1850, can be seen as by Na ve American groups, as research by Bucknell Professor Ka e Faull well as dozens of farm houses throughout the fi ve-county region which has revealed. have been lived in con nuously by farm family descendants for up to eight genera ons.

Na ve American culture is also alive in Central Pennsylvania, and interest in the region’s pre-European se lement history is also very strong. No tribes are legally recognized within the Commonwealth, but over 18,000 Pennsylvanians claim to be Na ve Americans and nearly 40,000 claim at least par al ancestry. Although these individuals comprise only a small percentage of the regional popula on, focus group discussions have suggested that any ini a ves and programs to reveal the Na ve American roots of the region would be welcomed and encouraged by the popula on as a whole. There is par cular interest in educa ng the region’s youth about Na ve American heritage around the Middle Susquehanna.

3.82 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study I H E F R Spring

In addi on to tradi onal fairs, carnivals and holiday celebra ons, the • Northumberland History Day (Northumberland County) Held in King region off ers a wide variety of cultural events, including arts and music Street Park, this one day event celebrates local history and heritage. fes vals and many heritage-based events. As more residents and visitors seek out these types of event-based tourism opportuni es, the 5-county • Middlecreek Valley An ques Associa on An que Show (Snyder region seems well-equipped and enthusias c to meet those needs. County) Selinsgrove. Held at a former farm, this event helps to preserve agricultural ar facts and educate the public about farming HERITAGE FESTIVALS and rural lifestyles of bygone days.

The following events which are held throughout the year celebrate • Anthracite Heritage Fes val of the Arts (Northumberland County) diff erent aspects of the region’s cultural heritage. They off er glimpses into Held each May in Shamokin, this arts fes val also celebrates the the past and help to expand visitors’ knowledge about the many groups heritage of the coal region with a coal alter, cemetery tours, and who have shaped the region into what it is today. other events.

• Richfi eld Dutch Days (Snyder County) – Located in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country, this fes val draws thousands each night to taste the Pennsylvania Dutch-Style cooking or to visit the Country Store and Fancy House.

• Miffl inburg Buggy Days Heritage Fes val (Union County) - This annual event features cra s, food, buggy rides, displays, civil war regiments, music (stage and roaming), children’s ac vi es, a blacksmith, and costumed demonstra ons.

Blacksmithing at Buggy Days in Northumberland; Anthracite Heritage Parade; Courtesy of Jeanne e McBryan Courtesy of the Northumberland County Offi ce of Tourism

Heritage Goals 3.83 Summer • Rural Heritage Days (Union County) – Celebrated the third weekend in August at the Dale Engle Walker House in Lewisburg, Rural Heritage • Iron Heritage Fes val (Montour County) – The week-long celebra on, Days celebrates the role of agriculture in the history and heritage of which ends on the third weekend in July, celebrates iron’s reign Union County. and documents its decline. The street market and encampments are featured on the Saturday of the fes val: ar sans, juried cra s, • New Berlin Heritage Day (Union County) – Held the fourth weekend an ques market, music, historic tours and lectures, garden tour, a in August, this annual event celebrates the years when New Berlin parade and fi reworks are among the many a rac ons. was the county seat of Union County. A rac ons include a popular an ques sale and large selec on of cra items. • Old Tymer’s Days (Snyder County), Selinsgrove, Isle of Que. An an ques show held on the island where visitors can enjoy simpler mes past and a slower pace of life by the river.

• Hometown Independence Day Celebra on (Union County) Lewisburg- last weekend in July. An “all-American small town extravaganza,” complete with a big-band concert, parade, fi reworks and gala dinner and dance.

• Northumberland County Exposi on - A county fair featuring cultural events including corn shelling, nail driving, a farmers triathlon, baking and bale stacking. Held in August.

Horse drawn stage coach at the Northumberland County Exposi on (above). Courtesy of Northumberland County Tourism Iron Heritge Fes val; Courtesy Ingrid Barnes (le ), Courtesy of Columbia- Montour Visitors Bureau

3.84 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Fall

• McClure Bean Soup Fes val (Snyder County) - This fes val is off ered • Warrior Run-Fort Freeland Heritage Days (Northumberland County) each year in September as a living memorial to veterans of all wars. – held the fi rst full weekend in October, this event is an annual This fes val dates back to 1891 and its origins with the Grand Army celebra on of the tradi onal cra s and daily ac vi es of the people of the Republic. A number of twenty-fi rst century events occur in who se led in Central Pennsylvania. Interpreters in period costume conjunc on with the fes val. demonstrate the ac vi es of daily life from colonial mes through the 1870’s. Visitors have the opportunity to view an encampment • Covered Bridge and Arts Fes val (Columbia County) – This annual of Revolu onary soldiers, watch a nsmith at work, see fl ax turned event is held at Knoebel’s Amusement Resort. One of the most into linen, visit Grandma on wash day, see a cabinet maker building popular cra fes vals in Pennsylvania, featuring more than 250 furniture, and learn to trace one’s genealogy. cra ers, the Annual Covered Bridge and Arts Fes val also features live entertainment, delectable foods, and cra ers demonstra ng the • Heritage Day at Priestley House (Northumberland County) Visitors making of their wares. can talk with costumed interpreters about the Priestley family and join Dr. Priestley in his laboratory for chemistry demonstra ons. • Buff alo Valley An que Machinery Autumn Exhibit (Union County) Lewisburg. See an que tractor demonstra ons, threshing and bailing demos, an an que car show and more.

Warrior Run-Fort Freeland Heritage Days; Courtesy of Jim Walter & the Warrior Run Fort Freeland Heritage Society

Heritage Goals 3.85 Winter

• Victorian Holiday Parade (Union County) - Relive the Victorian Era through this annual event featuring horse-drawn vehicles and images of a bygone era-–all heralding the arrival of Kris Kringle.

• Holiday House Tour (Union County) -Miffl inburg. Enjoy the architecture of the town, both inside and out. Sample gourmet fi nger food and listen to live holiday music.

• Heritage Christmas (Montour County) – This event celebrates the splendor of Victorian Christmas in a mill town. House tours, special events, and Santa’s co age are featured.

• Miffl inburg Christkindl Market (Union County) -Miffl inburg’s version of an authen c Christmas Market, inspired by the 700-year-old tradi onal German Christkindl Market, or Christ Child Market, is a fes ve event prepared by various churches, organiza ons, schools, and residents. For three days each December, Miffl inburg’s Market Street, with its many churches, is lined with fes ve outdoor huts featuring unique handmade cra s and tradi onal Christkindl treats. The Miffl inburg Christkindl Market. Courtesy of Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau/Visit Central PA.org • Iron Heritage Holiday House Tours (Montour County). Tour historic homes in Danville, decorated for the holidays.

• 12th Day at Priestley House (Northumberland County)- Early January. Celebra ng the twel h day of Christmas in the European tradi on.

• Maple Sugaring Open House (Montour County) PPL Montour Preserve; Learn about the me-honored prac ce of making maple sugar.

• Commonwealth Charter Day (Northumberland County) March 9th- Honoring William Penn’s receipt of the offi cial charter for Pennsylvania from King Charles II of England. Visitors can tour the Priestley House, interact with costumed volunteers and staff portraying Joseph Priestley and members of the Priestley family and see chemistry demonstra ons in the house laboratory room.

3.86 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study CULTURAL AND FOLKLIFE EVENTS Spring

Although these events do not specifi cally target heritage tourism, they • Market Street Arts Fes val (Union County) Lewisburg- reinforce the look and feel of the region and the small town character that makes the region so special and welcoming. The following list of • Spring Fling (Montour County) – Held the fi rst weekend in May, this events celebrate aspects of contemporary culture enjoyed in the region, event a racts hundreds of cra ers and informa on booths to the such as arts and music. main street of Danville. • Sunbury Blues Fes val (Northumberland County)

• Renaissance Jamboree (Columbia County) – This outdoor event is held annually – rain or shine - in April in the heart of downtown Bloomsburg. This day is fi lled with hundreds of arts and cra s displays as well as fun events and games, cartoon ar sts, face pain ng, entertainment and lots of food.

• Montandon Community Days (Northumberland County) – Held Memorial Day weekend, this event a racts visitors with a number of unique events. Bird watching, walks through the wetlands, and community events are featured.

• Watsontown Firemans’ Fes val (Northumberland County)

• Turbotville Strawberry Fes val (Northumberland County) Beginning of June

• Susquehanna River Day (Columbia County) Bloomsburg Town Park mid-June

Music in the Park, Lewisburg; Courtesy of Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau/Visit Central PA.org

Heritage Goals 3.87 Summer

• Pinekno er Days (Northumberland County) – Held annually during • Sunbury River Fes val (Northumberland County) - This annual fes val the week of July 4th, this fes val features diff erent events each is held in August. “Top-notch entertainment, fabulous food, cra ed evening. All ac vi es are centered on the town’s beau ful gazebo. items, an ques/collec bles, a historical encampment, boat parade, boat races, many children’s ac vi es, and one of the season’s biggest • Out Among the Stars Bluegrass Fes val (Columbia County) Benton, 4 car shows are featured events. day fes val • Annual Peach Fes val (Columbia County) Bloomsburg • Music in the Park Series–(Lewisburg, Milton, Miffl inburg, Bloomsburg) Several boroughs host regular summer series’ in which local and • Danville Arts and Cra s Fair (Montour County) visi ng bands who perform at community parks.

• Benton Rodeo Fron er Days (Columbia County) – Voted best rodeo in 2001, 2002 and 2004, the Benton Rodeo features bare back bronco riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronco riding, cowgirls barrel racing, Brahma bull riding and calf roping. Held the third week of July, this celebra on of our rodeo heritage also features business and cra displays.

• Float Down the Susquehanna (Snyder County), Selinsgrove

• Hometown Independence Day Celebra on (Union County) Lewisburg- last weekend in July

• Union County West End Fair (Union County) 1st week in august in Laurelton

• Montour-Delong Fair (Montour County) – Held annually in August, this tradi onal agriculture fair celebrates the people, animals, and machinery associated with farming. This fair is especially well-known for its food.

Lewisburg Arts Fes val; Courtesy of Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau/ Visit Central PA.org

3.88 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Fall

• Milton Harvest Fes val (Northumberland County) – For more than a • Oktoberfest (Union County) Miffl inburg quarter of a century, Milton has celebrated the tomato harvest. This week-long fes val is held in September and features arts and cra s, a • Pumpkin Fes val (Columbia County) Catawissa, early October princess pageant, parade, bike race and 5K race. • Kidsgrove Fall Fes val (Snyder County) Selinsgrove- early October • The Bloomsburg Fair (Columbia County) – The fair celebrates a long • Woolly Worm Fes val (Union County) Lewisburg, mid October. Since history and in 2005 will hold the 151st Bloomsburg Fair. Featuring 1997, held in Hufnagle Park for winter weather prognos ca on. livestock exhibits; tractor pulls; horse and pony pulling, agricultural, Complete with woolly worm races, pet parade, cra s and food hor cultural, arts and cra s and educa onal exhibits and a wide range of entertainment, the Bloomsburg Fair is an important recrea onal • Fall Fes val (Northumberland County) Northumberland opportunity in Pennsylvania. • Stroll Through the Arts (Union County) Lewisburg • The Beaver Fair (Snyder County) – Located in Beaver Springs, this event is a tradi onal fair that celebrates agriculture through livestock ac vi es and farm compe ons. Mid September

A visitor to the Woolly Worm Fes val in Lewisburg (above); Courtesy of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership; German dancing at the Miffl inburg Oktoberfest (le ); Courtesy of Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau/Visit Central PA.org

Heritage Goals 3.89 Winter

• Early Bird Sports Expo (Columbia County) Held at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in mid January

• Heart of Lewisburg Ice Fes val (Union County) – A three-day winter event featuring ice carvings that line the main street in downtown historic Lewisburg. This event also includes a “polar bear plunge” into the ice Susquehanna River.

• R.B. Winter State Park Snowfest (Union County) Winter recrea onal sports, cra s, demonstra ons, lectures (ice harves ng, ice fi shing, ice ska ng, snowshoeing, SAR, winter survival (in 13th year), broomball, wagon rides, nature programs, sledding, ice sculptures and more.

The Polar Bear Plunge into the Susquehanna River at the Heart of Lewisburg Snowshoeing (bo om) and ice harves ng (top) at the R.B. Winter State Park Fes val; Courtesy of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership Snowfest; Courtesy of Robert M Brown, Premier Studios, Danville

3.90 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study ARTS AND THEATER Evaluation

Evidence of past cultural life in the region is also refl ected in the edifi ces of History and culture are cornerstones of regional character. Historic the Catawissa Opera House now being restored and the Campus Theatre resources and celebra ons of folkways and culture persist in many forms, in downtown Lewisburg, a late Art Deco movie house s ll in opera on yet they are not ed together, managed, promoted or interpreted in an today. University theatres and the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble organized manner. Heritage Area designa on will shine a light on the many con nue the proud tradi on started by the local opera houses. The Alvina resources taken for granted within the region while extolling the need for Krause Theater is home to the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble, a company more and be er conserva on and interpreta on of historic resources. of professional ar sts. Annual produc ons include examples of tradi onal theater, cu ng-edge produc ons and me-proven favorites. Heritage Area development can assist cultural conserva on by telling the story and helping to reveal connec ons between the diverse individual One produc on currently under development draws upon local experience resources found throughout the region. The resources preserved and and the fl ooding of Bloomsburg in 2006. Flood Stories interprets personal conserved by the Heritage Area will all e into the regional themes; they accounts of the fl ood and creates a living history record of the event. will help to convey the look and feel of the region for prosperity. Susquehanna: Mighty, Muddy, Crooked River of the Long Reach is another place-based produc on of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble that celebrates and draws its inspira on from the Middle Susquehanna Region in an unexpected an innova ve way.

Heritage Goals 3.91 Partnerships

Successful, long-term heritage area development depends on the presence of a passionate network of organiza ons, volunteer groups and individuals who are commi ed to forwarding the mission of the heritage area through research, project implementa on and capacity building. The heritage area can play an important role by developing an organiza onal structure within the region, helping to connect groups together and promote partnership building.

At the same me, the heritage area should create a structure and provide the technical assistance to make par cipa on in heritage area development appealing and easy for partner organiza ons. Depending on the business structure, grant process, and project development structures established for the region, the oversight organiza on will ul mately be dependent on many partners throughout the region to actually take responsibility for substan al amounts of actual project implementa on.

The heritage area organiza on also needs to iden fy its role as a partner within the region. It can help to forward the mission of other groups, such as the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.

This sec on iden fi es many of the organiza ons and groups present within the region who may become involved in partnerships for heritage area development. These groups vary in size, mission and organiza onal capacity. Some may assist with regional goal and strategy implementa on; others will further the heritage area goals at the local level in very directed and specifi c ways. It is important to iden fy the capabili es of organiza ons within the region so that they can become engaged as successful heritage area partners no ma er what their size.

3.92 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study P P S O • Lower Penns Creek Watershed Associa on • Mahanoy Creek Watershed Associa on The following are viewed as poten al partner sites and organiza ons for • Miffl inburg Buggy Museum future work and projects rela ng to heritage area development: • Miffl inburg Heritage and Revitaliza on Associa on • Montour Conserva on District • Berwick Area Chamber of Commerce • Montour County Genealogical Society • Bloomsburg University • Montour County Historical Society • Bloomsburg Projects, Inc • Montour County Recrea on Authority • Briar Creek Associa on for Watershed Solu ons • Montour Preserve • Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce • New Berlin Heritage Associa on • Bloomsburg Children’s Museum • Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center • Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble • Northumberland Conserva on District • Berwick Historical Society • Northumberland County Council of the Arts and Humani es • Bucknell University • Packwood Mansion • Catawissa Area Revitaliza on and Enhancement • Penn State University • Catawissa Creek Restora on Associa on • Pennsylvania Canal Society • Central PA Chamber of Commerce • PPL Susquehanna Riverlands • Central Susquehanna Community Founda on • Roaring Creek Historical Study Group • Chillisquaque Limestone Watershed Associa on • Roaring Creek Valley Conserva on Associa on • Columbia Conserva on District • SEDA-Council of Governments • Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society • Selinsgrove Chamber of Commerce • Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce • Selinsgrove Projects Inc. • Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau • Selinsgrove University • Dale/Engle/Walker House Museum • Shamokin Creek Restora on Alliance • Danville Business Alliance • Slifer House Museum • Fishing Creek Watershed Associa on • Snyder Conserva on District • Fort Augusta • Snyder County Historical Society • Geisinger Health Systems • Susquehanna Greenway Partnership • Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce • Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau • Iron Heritage Fes val • Sunbury Revitaliza on Inc. • Joseph Priestley House • T.I.M.E./The Improved Milton Experience • Lewisburg Area Recrea on Authority • Tri-Valley Watershed Associa on • Lewisburg Arts Council • Union County Conserva on District • Lewisburg Downtown Partnership • Union County Historical Society • Li le Shamokin Creek Watershed Associa on • Valleys of the Susquehanna Visitors Bureau • Lower Mahantango Creek Watershed Associa on • Warrior Run –Fort Freeland Heritage Society

Heritage Goals 3.93 Recreation, Open Space and Natural Heritage

Landscapes are comprised of many diff erent elements, from wilderness to rural areas, to towns and urban spaces. Each type of element serves diff erent func ons; the heritage program recognizes natural areas and recrea on as comprising a primary target because of their innate value and because of their ability to strengthen and round out Heritage Area programming.

Heritage areas are inherently rooted in specifi c places. The quality and character of a large landscape and specifi c places within it color the experiences of residents and visitors for be er or for worse. A achments to places are formed through experiences and interac ons; it is highly desirable, therefore, to expand and create opportuni es for people to interact with heritage areas as places, thereby encouraging bonding with the region and strengthening apprecia on for all that a heritage area program seeks to accomplish. Within the Middle Susquehanna Region, the sense of place is created by the river, towns, agricultural valleys, forested rivers and creeks.

The open spaces and natural areas are ideal places for making place- based connec ons. Studies have shown the restora ve value of nature on a psychological level. On a more tangible level, natural areas and open space can off er a diverse range of recrea onal opportuni es, from passive ac vi es such as birdwatching or strolling through woodlands, to more ac ve pass mes such as kayaking or mountain biking. Moreover, these areas are valuable complements to built environments. They serve many important ecological func ons from providing habitat for diverse fl ora and fauna, to rain infi ltra on that fi lters out pollutants and leads to groundwater recharge.

This sec on outlines the many dis nct places throughout the region where landscape and nature connec ons can be made. It also discusses the range of recrea onal ac vi es which are promoted and enjoyed in the area. Finally, recrea on and open space are discussed in terms of the benefi ts they can provide to the heritage area and how heritage area development can enhance and celebrate them in turn.

3.94 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Recreation & Nature Connections

Numerous opportuni es exist for recrea on and exploring nature Beyond then incredible ecological importance of the Susquehanna River, throughout the Middle Susquehanna Region. Any inventory of recrea on the river and the region’s natural areas hold the closest es to what and open space for this region must begin with the Susquehanna River the region was like at the me of se lement. As such, they can fuel the because it is the largest and most iden fi able natural feature in the area. imagina on. Each of the coun es cons tu ng the proposed Heritage Area shares frontage on the Susquehanna River and an intense pride in river history Organizations and heritage. The River served as an important economic engine for the region’s past and will con nue to play an important role in the future. There are several organiza ons involved with recrea on and open space planning in the region. The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership operates Once a major avenue for commerce and transporta on, today the at the largest super-regional scale and has the broadest mission; each of Susquehanna River is considered one of Pennsylvania’s most signifi cant the other groups has a more narrow geographic or programma c focus. recrea onal resources. It provides opportuni es that range from fi shing and birding to hiking and kayaking to environmental and historic The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership promotes interac on with the interpreta on. By a rac ng a broad spectrum of tourists and outdoor greenway corridor and par cularly with the Susquehanna River. One early enthusiasts from around the world, the Susquehanna River serves as the demonstra on project is being planned within the region, including the doorstep to the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Region and all that it has North Branch Canal Trail, a walking-biking trail through a scenic and largely to off er. undeveloped area between Danville and Bloomsburg. As the Greenway evolves, other recrea onal opportuni es will certainly be developed and Beyond the river, the ridge and valley landscape creates a pa ern wherein enhanced along the river. natural areas are always closely accessible from towns. The forested ridge lines provide visual access to nature from the valleys and from many communi es. Although the ridges were almost all harvested for their mber around the turn of the century, they are now publicly owned and covered with dense stands of second growth forests where many trails and recrea on areas can be found. A full 12% of the land in the Middle Susquehanna Region is publicly owned.

The region’s 100,000 acres of state parks and forests feature popular outdoor des na ons such as Bald Eagle and Tiadaghton State Forests and Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area in addi on to over 36,000 acres of state game lands that off er year round enjoyment of its rugged and natural beauty. The western end of Union County off ers dozens of des na ons and pursuits for outdoor enthusiasts. The upper reaches of Penns Creek, which begin in Centre County and passes through Union County on its way to the Susquehanna at Selinsgrove, are praised as high- class fl y-fi shing waters. The Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area will build upon the presence of these important assets to off er visitors a hands-on The Susquehanna Greenway seeks to connect people to the Susquehanna River experience of Central Pennsylvania wild places.

Heritage Goals 3.95 The Lewisburg Area Recrea on Authority (LARA) is involved with Like LARA, the Montour County Recrea on Associa on (MCRA) recrea on programming and opportunity development throughout oversees a wide range of ac vi es and events while enhancing recrea on Lewisburg in Union County. The mission of LARA is to provide a opportuni es throughout Montour County. MCRA has established a comprehensive, year-round, varied and s mula ng recrea on program greenway trail following Robbins Creek along Route 54 out of Danville, with adequate, func onal, and a rac ve facili es and play areas for redeveloping a trail that may well be the oldest rails-to-trails in the people of all ages and abili es. country, having been converted to a bike trail in the 1870’s.

The Lewisburg Area Recrea on Park is the showcase project of the The MCRA has also been instrumental in the development of an exci ng authority to date. It is a 22- acre community park designed to provide new series of events to promote healthy living and outdoor recrea on in recrea on opportuni es for all ages, from toddlers to seniors. The park the region. The River Towns Race Series is a group of 18 diff erent events, incorporates a variety of play structures for children, a skate park for including shorter 5K’s, a mul -day adventure race, triathlon, marathon, adolescents, a water park for summer ac vi es, fi tness sta ons for adults and 75-mile bicycle race. This series has been highly successful in a rac ng and seniors, and walking trails and gathering spaces for all. people to the region and in exposing them to the natural resources and recrea on opportuni es that the region has to off er. LARA is also involved with trail development in and around Lewisburg; a rails-to-trails is planned between Lewisburg and Miffl inburg through the Since 1986, the Danville Area Community Center (DACC) has provided heart of Buff alo Valley. The authority also hopes to develop trails along a range of indoor recrea on and fi tness opportuni es to community the Susquehanna from downtown Lewisburg north to Riverwoods, a members of all ages. The DACC off ers the only indoor heated swimming re rement community whose property looks out over scenic river lands. pool in Montour County. YMCA’s in Milton, Sunbury, Bloomsburg and Both of these projects could easily e into heritage area development. Berwick also promote recrea on and fi tness in order to “build strong kids, strong families” and “strong communi es.”

The LARA Youth Triathlon (le ) and the LARA Triathlon (right). Courtesy of LARA

3.96 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Recreational Pursuits

The Susquehanna River Trail Associa on (SRTA) operates in the southern Outdoor recrea on opportuni es are abundant throughout the region. half of the region and oversees a water trail between Sunbury and They range from the simple to the involved and seasonal to year-round Harrisburg along the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River Water ac vi es. Trail is the fi rst modern water trail in the Chesapeake Bay and in July 2008, the water trail was given designa on as a Na onal Recrea on Trail. HIKING & BIKING- TRAILS Beyond providing recrea on for users, the trail “encourages resource The mix of terrain found throughout the region lends itself to fulfi lling the awareness, stewardship, and conserva on. The mission of SRTA is to needs of all levels of hikers and bikers. The Pennsylvania Mid-State Trail “promote environmentally responsible recrea on on the Susquehanna skirts the western edge of the region through Bald Eagle State Forest. River and its islands.” CAMPING Numerous local boat and spor ng clubs could also be viewed as poten al partners for developing recrea onal opportuni es throughout the Over thirty publicly and privately-run campgrounds are found in the region. Middle Susquehanna Region. These tend to be located in and around state Fishing Hot Spots forests and also along major creeks and the branches of the Susquehanna River. State Park campsites are found at R.B. Winter State park. Many • Largemouth Bass: private campgrounds also operate throughout the region. o Lake Chillisquaque in Montour County FISHING o Faylor Lake- Snyder County • Sunfi sh- Parts of the Middle Susquehanna Region are renowned for their world- o Lake Chillisquaque class fi shing. There are 20 stretches and over 40 miles of waterways • Small Mouth Bass - designated as Class A Wild Trout Waters within the fi ve county area. 67 o West Branch Susquehanna (Union & Northumberland miles of Class A Fisheries are either found in the Middle Susquehanna Area Coun es) or are con guous to Class A waters within the region. Penns Creek, which • Muskellunge, Walleye, Pike- passes from Centre County into Union and Snyder County, is a renowned o Susquehanna River between Sunbury and Selinsgrove trout stream that • Stocked Trout: a racts avid anglers o White Deer Creek in Union County from throughout the • Family Fishing Fun- na on. o Walker Lake- Snyder County o Shikellamy State Park Marina- Northumberland Addi onally, 35 creeks County and lakes are designated o Lake Chillisquaque- Montour County as “Approved Trout • Ice Fishing: Waters” within the fi ve o Walker Lake- Snyder County coun es. o Susquehanna River- Shikellamy State Park Marina o RB Winter State Park Fishing below the Adam T. Bower Memorial Source: PA Fish and Boat Commission Faberdam near Sunbury

Heritage Goals 3.97 P L R A

State Forest State Game Land

1. Bald Eagle State Forest 6. Joyce Kilmer Natural Area 10. PPL Montour Preserve & Lake 14. Tall Timbers & Snyder- 2. Briar Creek Lake County Park 7. Lake Augusta Chillisquaque Middleswarth Natural Area 3. Faylor Lake 8. McKees Half Falls 11. R.B. Winter State Park 15. Walker Lake 4. Hook Natural Area 9. Milton State Park 12. Sand Bridge State Picnic Area 5. Jakey Hollow Natural Area 13. Shikellamy State Park & Marina

3.98 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study BIRDWATCHING-WILDLIFE VIEWING BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN THE REGION Several areas of the Middle Susquehanna Region have been recognized Belted Kingfi sher by the Audubon Society-Pennsylvania as being part of the Susquehanna Red Winged Blackbird River Birding and Wildlife Trail. Tree Swallow Ruddy Duck At the Hook Natural Area alone, 175 breeding and migrant avian species Ring-necked Duck have been iden fi ed. The Hook Natural Area protects an en re 5,119 acre Shorebirds Louisiana Waterthrush watershed and is the largest natural area in Pennsylvania. Some natural Cedar Waxwing Red-shouldered Hawk areas, such as the State Gamelands 252 near Allenwood are excellent Northern Cardinal Tundra Swan bird watching areas, set within unique and some mes strange cultural Hooded Warblers Great Blue Heron landscapes. The Allenwood Gamelands include a number of WWII Canada Warblers Wild Turkey ammuni ons bunkers for explora on along with wildlife and open lands. Black and White Warblers Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds WINTER SPORTS Worm-ea ng Warblers Osprey Magnolia Warblers Scarlet Tanager Part of the joy of outdoor recrea on in the region stems from the Black Throated Green Warblers Yellow-billed Cuckoo Brown Creeper seasonality of diff erent pursuits. Winter brings ice and snow that alter the Eastern Bluebird landscape drama cally and keep many indoors, but draw others outside. Barred Owl Coopers Hawk Golden Crowned Kinglets Snowshoeing and ice fi shing are just two winter sports that are enjoyed Sharp-shinned Hawk within the State Forests, par cularly at Halfway Dam in R.B. Winter State Red Breasted Nuthatch Red-Tailed Hawk Louisiana Waterthrush Park. There are no ski areas in the Middle Susquehanna Region, but Bald Eagle there are fi ve miles of cross-country ski trails within R.B. Winter State Acadian Flycatcher Snow Goose Pileated Woodpecker Park. Several outdoor ska ng rings are opened during the winter months, Ruddy Duck including at Sunbury and Selinsgrove. Hairy Woodpecker Ring-Necked Pheasant Ruffl ed Grouse Eastern Towhee Winter Wren

WILDLIFE IN THE REGION

Mink Spo ed Turtle Black Bear Compton Tor seshell Bu erfl y Red Squirrel Eastern Co ontail White Tail Deer Red Fox Spo ed Salamander Muskrats Timber Ra lesnake Bobcat Flying Squirrel Coyote Wood Turtle Gray Fox Ice ska ng at Halfway Dam. Courtesy of Robert M Brown, Premier Studios, Danville

Heritage Goals 3.99 HUNTING Local rowing clubs, including the Susquehanna and Bucknell University teams and the Central Pennsylvania Rowing Associa on train on Lake Hun ng is a popular pursuit throughout the region’s extensive gamelands. Augusta and are in the process of developing plans for a new boathouse The Pennsylvania Game Commission oversees the hun ng of black bear, and improved rowing venue set within a regional park. Lake Augusta has deer, elk, wild turkey, coyote, pheasants and fur-bearing animals in the received growing a en on in the past several years as a rowing venue. region. Many enthusiasts also par cipate in the sport through local The second annual Masters of the Susquehanna Rega a was held on Lake organized clubs. Augusta in August 2008.

ATV/SNOWMOBILES

ATV use is popular in the region. Trails are located within state lands. The East Ke le ATV Trail is located in Snyder and Union Coun es in Bald Eagle State Forest, just south of Laurelton and Glen Iron. Here, seven miles of trails are open for both summer and winter use. Bald Eagle State Forest also has a number of snowmobile trails. In addi on, there are 12 miles of trails on State Game Lands 226 in Columbia County.

BOATING/CANOEING/KAYAKING

With the Susquehanna River as a central feature within the region, water sports are growing steadily in popularity. As usage increases, so does the push to improve river access and associated ameni es. To date, there are at least 21 public boat launches along the Susquehanna River within the fi ve coun es as well as fi ve boat launches at lakes and reservoirs. Many of these launches provide access for motor boats and larger vessels; current trends, however, suggest that there is strong interest in crea ng more “so ” access points for lightweight cra s such as canoes and kayaks.

In July 2008, the Middle and Lower sec ons of the Susquehanna River Water Trail, which begins in Sunbury, was designated as a Na onal Recrea onal Trail. The Sunbury to Harrisburg water trail was the fi rst designated water trail in Pennsylvania. Water Trails have also been designated for the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna.

Lake Augusta is the 3,000 acre water body created between May and early October that is formed by the infl a on of the Adam T. Bower Memorial Faberdam just south of Sunbury. The lake is a major venue for water- based recrea on and boa ng each summer.

Penns Creek

3.100 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Recreational Areas

The following is an overview of the region’s premier recrea onal and open space assets:

STATE PARKS AND FORESTS

In Snyder County, the Bald Eagle State Forest features Tall Timbers and Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area with scenic hiking trails and picnic areas featuring virgin and second growth hardwood and evergreen trees. Boas ng 660-acres of oak, white pine, hemlock and hard pine forest and reportedly possessing one of the tallest hemlock trees in the state, Tall Timbers has been designated as a Na onal Heritage Site. Snyder- Middleswarth Natural Area is a 500-acre tract containing virgin white pine, hemlock and pitch pine.

Lake Jean is located in Ricke s Glen State Park, which also harbors Glens Natural Area, a Na onal Natural Landmark. Ricke s Glen State Park is one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania and is comprised of 13,050 acres extending into Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia Coun es. The 94- foot Ganoga Falls is the highest of its 22 waterfalls, and old growth mber and diverse wildlife contribute to the scenery of the area. Ricke s Glen State Park extends into northeastern Columbia County and the bulk of the State Park is just minutes away in Luzerne and Sullivan Coun es.

Shikellamy State Park is located in Union and Northumberland coun es. The 78-acre Shikellamy Overlook sec on is on the western shore of the Susquehanna River and overlooks the confl uence of the West and North Branches of the Susquehanna River. The 54-acre Shikellamy Marina lies between the Borough of Northumberland and the City of Sunbury on the southern p of Packer’s Island. The Marina is a major regional des na on for boa ng and water sports.

Milton State Park is an 82-acre island on the West Branch Susquehanna River, between the Boroughs of Milton and West Milton. The northern half of the park has day use facili es and the southern half remains in a wooded state for hiking and nature study. Enhancements are underway in the park, where trails are being expanded and rus c camping areas will be constructed in proximity to a new so boat landing. Shikellamy State Park and Marina

Heritage Goals 3.101 COUNTY PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS

R. B. Winter State Park covers 695 acres of the Ridge and Valley Province Jakey Hollow Natural Area is located along a small tributary of Li le in central Pennsylvania. Located within Bald Eagle State Forest, the Fishing Creek a few miles north of Bloomsburg in Mt. Pleasant Township. park lies in a shallow basin surrounded by rocky ridges covered with an Set aside for study and enjoyment, the lower half of this 59-acre hollow oak and pine forest. The focal point of the park is Halfway Lake which contains an excellent mixed stand of second growth oak, hemlock and is fi lled by spring-fed mountain streams and contained by a hand-laid, hardwoods while the upper half is covered with virgin hemlock, white na ve sandstone dam. Open year-round, the park provides diverse pine and hardwoods. opportuni es for recrea on. Developed and maintained by the Columbia County Commissioners and Bald Eagle State Forest, which straddles the county line between Union the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Briar Creek Lake Park in and Centre Coun es, off ers many recrea onal opportuni es and includes Columbia County off ers excellent fi shing and recrea onal opportuni es. several natural and wild areas. The Joyce Kilmer Natural Area is a 77 Briar Creek Lake Park includes the 50 acre lake, picnic area and the restored acre tract of “virgin white pine and hemlock” located in Union County, Fowlersville Covered Bridge, which was moved to the park in 1986. six miles west of Hartleton on Paddy Mountain. The Hook Natural Area covers 5,119 acres and the en re watershed of the North Branch of Located in Montour County, PPL Montour Preserve is situated in a broad Buff alo Creek, making this the largest natural area in Pennsylvania. valley in the Appalachian foothills of north central Pennsylvania. At the center of the preserve is 165-acre Lake Chillisquaque, developed to provide a backup reservoir of cooling water for the PPL power plant. The preserve off ers a variety of educa onal and recrea onal opportuni es, including hiking, birding, boa ng and fi shing.

Horse-Drawn Carriage at R.B. Winter State Park. Birdwatching at Montandon Marsh Courtesy of Robert M Brown, Premier Studios, Danville

3.102 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Lake Augusta, the body of water created by the Adam T. Bower Dam, was In western Union County the 3,581-acre White Mountain Wild Area named a er a fron er outpost located in the vicinity of Sunbury during covers the east end of White Mountain and is bounded on the north by Colonial mes. When the dam is fully infl ated it raises the water level two Penn’s Creek and on the south by Weikert Run. The area is accessible to three feet and aff ords 13 miles of recrea onal boa ng access and serves only by the Long Path Trail, now part of the Reeds Gap Spur to the Mid- as a colorful backdrop to the City of Sunbury’s downtown riverfront. State Trail.

Faylor Lake is a 140-acre impoundment in Snyder County that is managed In addi on to it numerous parks and natural areas, several signifi cant by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Shoreline and boat angling are stream tributaries in the region off er top-quality fi shing, hiking, boa ng, permi ed, but all boats must be manually powered. bird watching, and camping opportuni es.

Walker Lake, located in Snyder County, is a 239-acre impoundment of RECREATIONAL CORRIDORS Middle Creek, a Susquehanna tributary. The lake is owned and managed by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission for fi shing and boa ng. The Susquehanna River and its tributaries are the hallmark of the Middle Susquehanna landscape. These waterways serve as important natural At McKees Half Falls, located along Routes 11 and 15 in Snyder County, corridors for wildlife and are the cornerstone for the region’s emerging near Port Treverton, large rocks create scenic rapids on the otherwise network of trails and greenways. The most signifi cant of these greenways languid Susquehanna River. A picnic area and rest stop encourage is the Susquehanna Greenway, a mul -state eff ort headquartered in travelers to take in the view. the region (Union County) that aims to connect communi es across 22 Pennsylvania coun es to each other and to the Susquehanna River. When complete, the Susquehanna Greenway will extend nearly 500 miles throughout the state and will provide a wide variety of cultural, environmental, and recrea onal experiences for residents and visitors alike.

A more localized greenway eff ort currently underway in the Warrior Run School District (Union, Northumberland & Montour Coun es), known as the Warrior Run Pathways Project, is involving residents in the planning of an extensive network of trails running throughout their community. Other localized projects include the proposed North Branch Canal Trail that extends between Berwick and Danville, the Fishing Creek Rail Trail in Columbia County, and, a project in the planning stage, the Snyder County Rail Trail.

Another excellent river-related trail resource found within the region is the Susquehanna River Birding and Wildlife Trail. The Pennsylvania Audubon Society recently established an illustrated trail guide that iden fi es and describes in great detail loca ons in 39 coun es that off er opportuni es to view birds and wildlife. The guide features 12 sites included within the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Region. Youths swimming in Lake Augusta at Pinekno er Park in Northumberland

Heritage Goals 3.103 PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PRIVATE LANDS

The Merrill W. Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy and the Belles Property – This is a 33-acre property adjoining the 500-acre Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy are two local land trusts that Montandon Wetland Complex. It features special plants and geologic work to protect and preserve signifi cant ecological sites within the fi ve features and was purchased in 1997. The wetlands are home to many bird county heritage region and beyond through the purchase and stewardship species including the least bi ern, marsh wren, American Bi ern, Sedge of land parcels. Many of these proper es harbor unique plant and animal Wren, Henslow’s Sparrow. The complex also contains a well-documented communi es that can be experienced by the general public via trails and popula on of a state-iden fi ed endangered plant species, including the interpre ve sta ons. bull sedge (Carex bullata).

The following proper es can be found within the Middle Susquehanna The Johnson Property buff ers Penns Creek, a high-quality, limestone Heritage Region: spring-fed tributary of the Susquehanna River. The creek is classifi ed as a 1A priority for Pennsylvania Scenic River designa on. Known for its class Dale/Engle/Walker Farm – A 137-acre easement established 10/19/89 “A” trout fi shery, the Penns Creek frontage of this property encompasses located in Buff alo Township has trail access with a variety of scenic views, an unstocked, “no harvest” sec on of the creek. The property is adjacent geological features, wildfl owers, and birds. Habitat includes the Buff alo to the White Mountain Natural Area and the 156-mile-long Mid-State Creek fl oodplain with sycamores, a pond, and fi elds in various stages of Trail. ecological succession, and a mature hardwood forest.

Koons Property – A 17-acre farm beside the Hassenplug Covered Bridge within the Borough of Miffl inburg under easement since 1992. The property features trail access to a mix of open fi elds and riparian woodlands bordering Buff alo Creek. Spring and early summer wildfl owers along the stream, and vernal ponds are found with shrimp and amphibian larva.

Montandon Marsh - Central Builders Property – A 77.5-acre parcel in West Chillisquaque Township, Northumberland County under easement since 2003. Public access through Conservancy-sponsored walks reveals one of the few remaining diverse riparian wetlands ecosystems in central Pennsylvania along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The area is a refuge for migratory waterfowl and as a permanent home for many wetland birds and the spade foot toad. Diverse plant communi es include sundew, sphagnum, and cranberry, in addi on to bulrush and sedge communi es normally found on the Atlan c coastal plain.

Carl and Faye Oberheim Property – A 133.3-acre easement established in 2003 along Penns Creek in Hartley Township. Riparian area along Penns Creek and White Thorn Run provides habitat to a wide variety of wild fl owers, migratory and nes ng birds, mink, fox, deer and raccoons. A river landing on the Isle of Que

3.104 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study OUTDOOR RECREATION EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS Evaluation

Snowfest at R.B. Winter State Park (Union County) - This annual event Together, these many natural areas and recrea on areas combine to features hikes, stories, guest speakers, and basic instruc on on winter form a network of resources that are highly compa ble with heritage “adventures” such as snowshoeing and cross country skiing. There are area development and enhancement. Exis ng recrea onal opportuni es ac vi es planned for children and adults in both indoor and outdoor and des na ons will benefi t the fl edgling heritage area by a rac ng an se ngs. established target audience to the region where they can discover and explore other facets of the heritage area. In turn, the heritage area can Canoe Susquehanna and Sojourn (Union County) is a regional canoe help recrea on-based a rac ons off er more than a one-dimensional ou i er that off ers guided canoe and kayak adventures on the West experience to visitors. The heritage area can help organiza ons enrich Branch of the Susquehanna River and several of its tributaries. Canoe recrea onal experiences by incorpora ng heritage learning and Susquehanna caters to groups and families and is a crucial resource for interpreta on, or adding cultural dimensions to their off erings. visi ng and resident outdoor adventure enthusiasts. The region is increasingly being recognized as a place for outdoor sports T and D’s Cats (Snyder County) - provides the opportunity to view up-close and recrea on ac vi es. They have specifi cally been spurred by the River a variety of wildlife in hopes of crea ng an unforge able and meaningful Town Race Series. There is growing interest in crea ng trail systems and in educa onal experience. T and D’s Cats of the World’s purpose is to rescue crea ng a regional network of trails. As noted, the most feasible places for wildlife, especially exo c felines from situa ons of abuse, mistreatment, trails o en correspond with historic resources (canal tow paths, railroad abandonment, or when they are no longer wanted as “pets.” To give bridges and lines, etc.). Heritage area development can help further these loving care and permanent homes to these wild animals and give them eff orts and bring them into frui on. It can also emphasize the historic the chance to peacefully live out their lives is the noble mission of this signifi cance and heritage connec ons of new recrea on resources. facility.

Clyde Peeling’s Rep land (Union County) - an AZA accredited zoo specializing in rep les and amphibians. Since opening in 1964, Rep land has provided the public a link to the less-loved members of the animal kingdom. Rep land is also an offi cial host site for Evolu on- an online course for teachers.

Knoebel’s Amusement Resort (Columbia and Northumberland Coun es), the largest free amusement park in Pennsylvania, has a rich and interes ng history. Family-owned, Knoebel’s dates to the turn of the twen eth century.

Red Deer Farm (Montour County) – Providing fun and educa onal hands- on ac vi es for adults and children. Farm features red deer and elk. Tours are available.

Knoebels Grove Amusement Resort

Heritage Goals 3.105 Community & Regional Planning The Importance of Planning

The character and way of life of the Middle Susquehanna Valley is shaped by ght-knit communi es and their unique fl avors of small-town America and by rural farmsteads with a mix of outbuildings, crops and livestock. It is shaped by the surrounding rolling fi elds of crops, divided by hedgerows and woodlots, creeks and runs, or the undeveloped forested ridgelines, stretching into the distance above the valleys.

Residents and visitors alike value the rural character and slower pace of life in the area and want to see those traits carried on into the future while also promo ng economic vitality and smart growth. Community and regional planning are essen al mechanisms which lay the groundwork to protect these resources and move the region forward in a desirable and sustainable manner.

The region’s heritage connec ons and the integrity of its varied natural, cultural and historic resources are in mately linked with regional character and iden ty. Thus, any heritage planning should promote growth and development in the region that will protect and enhance the integral pa erns, features and characteris cs that set the Middle Susquehanna Region apart as a dis nc ve, enjoyable and invi ng place to live, work and visit.

As much as heritage planning and development will promote projects and eff orts that celebrate and strengthen regional iden ty and local resources, any successful heritage area necessarily relies on community and regional planning to take the lead in carrying the region forward in a contextually sensi ve and viable manner, both economically, and environmentally, as well as culturally.

Pennsylvania Heritage Areas are part of a state-level program, yet they depend on support at the local and regional level. As such, it is necessary that the values and goals of heritage area planning be supported by exis ng and concurrent planning eff orts within the region. Throughout the Middle Susquehanna Area, a range of community and regional planning ini a ves complement and refl ect the principles and values behind heritage area planning.

3.106 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study From the Susquehanna Greenway to county and local comprehensive This heritage area feasibility study is very much in line with current trends plans, this sec on outlines the major planning eff orts that have or are towards large-scale collabora on and broad visioning which are also being undertaken in the region. These plans will play a cri cal role in refl ected in two major regional planning eff orts and several county plans shaping the direc on and future character of the region, so it is heartening that are completed or underway. that the trend with the region’s plans is to place greater value on resource protec on, sustainability, smart growth and regionalism as a whole. SUSQUEHANNA GREENWAY Regional Planning in the Middle Susquehanna The Susquehanna Greenway is a planned corridor of green infrastructure composed of interconnected water-based and land-based trails, parks, Due largely to Pennsylvania’s commonwealth structure which favors river access points, riparian buff ers, and pathways linking the Susquehanna local control and rights over regional and statewide control, there has River and its West Branch with ci es, towns, rural areas, conserved natural tradi onally been very li le a empted and achieved in the way of regional lands and forests in Pennsylvania. It is nearly 500 miles in length, making planning. This is especially true in more remote and rural areas, including it Pennsylvania’s largest greenway. The Susquehanna Greenway provides the Middle Susquehanna Region. a green corridor along Pennsylvania’s longest river that contributes nearly half of the fresh water entering the Chesapeake Bay. While strong local governments and property rights are s ll valued in the area, there is also a growing interest in regionalism, promo ng regional The Susquehanna Greenway is a large landscape ini a ve with a holis c iden ty and developing regional plans and partnerships. Regional approach to conserving, restoring and interpre ng the natural and planning and partnerships are seen as way to achieve and work towards a cultural heritage of the Susquehanna Valley. The Greenway engages unifi ed vision for the region which cannot be achieved through numerous and connect people and communi es with each other and their natural localized and poten ally disparate plans. environment, providing new opportuni es for recrea on and alterna ves to automo ve travel, linking residen al areas with schools, libraries, and downtowns. The Greenway is about containing sprawl, fostering smart growth, revitalizing river communi es that have lost their industrial base, and ul mately it is about crea ng healthy, sustainable Susquehanna communi es.

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is dedicated to developing and sustaining the Susquehanna Greenway to connect communi es and enrich lives through enhanced recrea on, healthy living, economic prosperity and environmental stewardship. (Susquehanna Greenway Strategic Ac on Plan)

The Susquehanna River runs with the cultural and ecological lifeblood of the central Pennsylvania region, yet most residents are limited in their ability to easily and regularly appreciate or interact with the river. Many river towns have fl oodwalls and levee systems that protect them from periodic high waters, yet those same protec ve features also cut off

One of the views over Buff alo Valley

Heritage Goals 3.107 views to the water, crea ng physical and psychological barriers between will improve throughout the region. Individual projects can help achieve communi es and the river that historically did not exist. Today, drivers regional goals by enhancing the natural beauty of a place, promo ng might catch glimpses of the Susquehanna from roadways and bridges, but mul -modal travel, connec ng people to the outdoors, and revitalizing there are few places where people can spend signifi cant amounts of me historic neighborhoods and business opportuni es. in the presence of the river. Just as connec ons to the river landscape decrease, obesity rates are rising throughout the na on, children are Due to its important geographic loca on at the confl uence of the spending less and less me out-of-doors, and many natural and scenic Susquehanna’s North and West Branches, the heritage area can play an resources are being lost to the development of rural areas. important role in addressing many of the goals of the greenway which are common to the two ini a ves. Representa ves of The Susquehanna Many Pennsylvanians have recognized and felt troubled enough by these Greenway Partnership sit on the task force for the Middle Susquehanna trends to consider how they might be redirected into a more posi ve Heritage Area and the SGP is in full support of heritage area designa on. outlook for the future. Percep ons of the Susquehanna have been colored by its threat of fl ooding and long-polluted state, but recent clean-up JOHN SMITH TRAIL DESIGNATION eff orts and interest in recrea on have resulted in the river generally being The Forum for Pennsylvania’s Heartland and the Susquehanna Colloquium viewed today as a highly valuable and grossly underu lized resource. are collabora ng with the Friends of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake In light of changing percep ons and in the face of growing concerns, the Trail to persuade the Na onal Park Service to include the Susquehanna Susquehanna Greenway Partnership was formed in 2002 by Pennsylvanians River in the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network. If successful, the who also recognized that they are fortunate enough to live in an area that Susquehanna River would be offi cially designated as a connec ng trail to is s ll very rich in cultural, natural, and scenic resources. The Partnership the Captain John Smith Chesapeake Na onal Historic Trail, and the eff ort sees the mighty Susquehanna River as an incredible resource that can be should present organiza ons and communi es in the Middle Susquehanna embraced and employed for the benefi t of the region. The long-ignored Heritage Area with addi onal opportuni es for historical interpreta on and underu lized river can be reconnected to by residents, giving them and funding. Recently, several representa ves from partner organiza ons places to recreate, spend me outside, enjoy nature and live healthful submi ed le ers of support to the Na onal Park Service regarding this lives. eff ort.

Through greenway development, a en on turned to the Susquehanna can also be aimed at protec ng and improving the regional environment, fi sh and wildlife, and the func on of vital natural processes. Economic benefi ts will arise from smart-growth ini a ves, a rac ng families and businesses to the revitalized river towns whose strong iden es are ed to their heritage, the landscape, and a variety of public ameni es that foster community pride and connec vity.

Part of the beauty of the Susquehanna Greenway is that regional goals can be achieved through the implementa on of many local, small and mid-scale projects so that the total eff ect is greater than any individual eff ort. As each project builds upon or complements another, quality of life

3.108 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: VALLEY VISION 2020

The LUTED planning project shows the interest at the state level in regional For the central region, the Valley Vision 2020, A Plan for Pennsylvania’s planning and greater coopera on between exis ng state agencies. In the Heartland iden fi ed the following as key objec ve areas for the region: face of ghtening budgets and growing common interests, three state agencies came together to develop the LUTED ini a ve which will help • Community Revitaliza on and Community Development them pool their resources and fund projects with shared objec ves. Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, o Maintain and enhance livability, sense of place and quality of life within the region’s communi es. Department of Transporta on, and Department of Conserva on and Natural Resources view their respec ve missions of promo ng land use, • Energy Conserva on and Development transporta on and economic development as interrelated and in need of a shared approach. o Create economic vitality while preserving the region’s natural resources through energy conserva on, the use Recognizing that interests, concerns and priori es vary throughout of distributed energy, and local engagement in energy Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth charged each Local Development produc on. District with a year-long planning ini a ve to iden fy those regional priori es and the goals and ac ons needed to address them. The fi ve • Environmental Conserva on & Recrea on coun es of the Middle Susquehanna are included within SEDA-COG’s 11- o Protect, maintain, and enhance the region’s rural county Local Development District which covers a signifi cant por on of character and natural systems through regional central Pennsylvania. Unique interests within the 11-county region led the conserva on planning. Support regional planning of project team to iden fy 5 sub-regions, of which the Middle Susquehanna ac ve and passive recrea on resources to ensure healthy- Area was largely defi ned as one of the areas. The fi rst phase of the LUTED ac ve communi es. regional planning eff ort was completed in June 2008. • Public Infrastructure and Services

o Encourage comprehensive regionaliza on of public services and infrastructure investments • Regional Planning & Community Educa on

o Promote a regional approach for planning coordina on, informa on sharing, and coopera on on mul -municipal and mul -county ini a ves. • Transporta on & Land Use

o Build be er communi es through integrated transporta on and land use planning, programming, and projects.

The LUTED process defi ned the regional planning priorites for 11 coun es in Central Pennsylvania

Heritage Goals 3.109 Although the next phase of LUTED has not yet been outlined at the state COUNTY PLANS level, the ini al planning that has already been undertaken for central Pennsylvania provides a valuable guide for future project iden fi ca on Union County is currently undertaking a planning process that will and development in the region. The objec ves of the LUTED ini a ve are result in a new comprehensive plan for the county and mul -municipal viewed as highly compa ble with heritage development and are likewise plans for three regions within the County. The new plan will be called intended to promote sustainable and smart growth within the region Cul va ng Community, a plan for Union County’s future; it is “intended that builds upon the special features, strengths and resources of central to guide decision-makers in managing future growth, promo ng Pennsylvania. sustainable economic development, and preserving its rural landscape.” The comprehansive plan will include “policy goals for every aspect of the REVITALIZING RIVER TOWNS municipality, including land use, transporta on, housing, parks and open space, public u li es, schools, health and safety, historic preserva on, In 2008, an ini a ve was launched in ten of the Middle Susquehanna’s river and economic development.” towns that is extremely complementary to heritage area development. Revitalizing River Towns is an asset-based development ini a ve that seeks Union County’s comprehensive plan will specifi cally address the Middle to promote the Middle Susquehanna as a region with a dis nc ve mix of Susquehanna Heritage Area ini a ve as one supported by the county. small towns off ering authen c small town experiences and lifestyles. The The plan will also recommend par cipa on in heritage area development ini a ve iden fi es the strengths and assets of ten of the region’s river as a means of addressing county goals of promo ng cultural awareness towns, from Berwick on the North Branch down to Selinsgrove on the and heritage tourism. main stem, and up as far as Watsontown on the West Branch. The four remaining coun es in the region are in need of updated Community assessment and experience maps are being developed comprehensive plans as well as greenway and open space plans. As new for each of the river towns. Subsequently, task force members and planning eff orts are undertaken within each county, heritage area project regional stakeholders will iden fy a range of strategies and collabora ve team members will con nue to provide informa on and recommenda ons opportuni es that will promote regional iden ty, strengthen the as to how heritage development interests and objec ves can be addressed downtown economy of the river towns, enhance river connec ons within other plans as well as how heritage area programming can support and preserve and strengthen the unique character and iden ty of each goals iden fi ed by the county. community. Strategies to be considered for recommenda on will include physical design enhancements, marke ng and promo onal ini a ves, event and programming opportuni es, organiza onal capacity building and technical assistance, and resource sharing and networking through partnerships.

3.110 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Community Planning in the Middle Susquehanna Region

Eventually, any successful large scale plan or project must be embraced At the current me, several communi es are engaged in comprehensive and implemented at the local level. As a regional body without any planning, plan revisions, or developing strategic plans for implementa on. direct authority or municipal powers, the heritage area organiza on These communi es include Bloomsburg, Northumberland, Sunbury will be highly reliant on local municipali es to reinforce or at least not and Selinsgrove. In Bloomsburg and Northumberland, where plans are undermine the integrity of the heritage area through local planning and being wri en, the project teams have both indicated that their plans will development. It is therefore cri cal that heritage area organiza on reach support heritage area development and coopera on. out to communi es and iden fy shared values and strategies for achieving program goals at the local level. MAIN STREET AND ELM STREET PROGRAMS

On the ground projects are o en the most visible products of heritage area The la er half of the twen eth century saw a rise in malls and shopping development. As much as possible, the heritage area should coordinate on centers outside of tradi onal downtown business districts resul ng in a upcoming projects, both to provide professional knowledge and exper se general decline in the vitality of those former town cores. Today, challenges and to promote regional heritage area goals through complementary con nue within historic downtowns, both in maintaining aging structures, local projects. This process should begin casually even prior to heritage retaining exis ng businesses and in a rac ng new businesses as well as area designa on as a means of establishing rela onships with local cri cal masses of local and out of town consumers. In the face of challenge, organiza ons and also to reinforce regional heritage related values. Once a number of towns in the region now par cipate in Pennsylvania’s Main designa on is granted, the process will be formalized as groups seek to Street Program or have established local organiza ons to promote healthy work with the heritage organiza on and to receive project funding. downtowns.

Several projects are being planned locally that are highly complementary Bloomsburg, Miffl inburg, Milton, Danville, and Lewisburg each have to heritage area development. These include the North Branch Canal a current Main Street Program and a number of other communi es Trail Project between Danville and Bloomsburg which has recently had have par cipated in Main Street in the past, while several are currently a feasibility study completed. Between Lewisburg and Miffl inburg, the interested in the program. In Milton, The Improved Milton Experience poten al to develop a rails-to trails project is being evaluated. Within the (TIME) has recently completed installa on of interpre ve signage coal region, the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau has overseen an eff ort celebra ng the historic features of downtown and Milton Heritage along to develop an interpre ve driving tour which takes visitors through the a half-mile walking tour. Selinsgrove, Sunbury and Mount Carmel are lower anthracite region to Shamokin, Mount Carmel and Centralia. three communi es that have downtown organiza ons who ac vely work to revitalize and maintain their downtown districts. Looking beyond specifi c project ideas, local comprehensive plans can be a great place to include language in support of the heritage area and to Sunbury, Lewisburg, Miffl inburg and Berwick each have Elm Street set local goals for cultural conserva on, educa on and interpreta on Neighborhood Programs in diff erent stages of development to promote of heritage resources, recrea on planning and for partnering with the revitaliza on of a community neighborhood. In comparison to the Main heritage area organiza on to achieve mutual goals. Street Program, Elm Street focuses on community enhancements and works with residents as opposed to business owners.

Heritage Goals 3.111 FARMLAND PRESERVATION SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PURCHASES BY COUNTY - 4/13/06 Conserva on of farmland in the region is of growing concern. Farming No. of Purchase Average Price/ County Acres pa erns have changed no ceably since the 1950’s; contour farming is Farms Price Acre much more common now than in the past and average farm size is on the Columbia 18 1,952 1,859,834 953 rise. The total acreage of farmland fell by more than 200,000 acres in the Montour 9 725 578,247 797 fi ve county area between 1950 and 2002, although over 450,000 acres of Northumberland 11 1,366 1,367,088 1,001 farmland are s ll in produc on. The total number of farms was cut in half Snyder 17 1,967 2,034,261 1,034 to 3,212 farms in 2002, but at the same me average farm size rose by Union 42 4,691 5,169,657 1,102 43% from an average of 98 acres in 1950 to 143 acres in 2002. TOTAL 97 10,702 11,009,088 4,887

In the face of diminishing quan es of agricultural lands and pressure of growth in rural areas, the region has begun to take steps towards prime farmland preserva on. All fi ve coun es par cipate in farmland preserva on and maintain an ac ve Agricultural Land Preserva on Board with oversight from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farmland Preserva on and State Agricultural Preserva on Board. Although more farmland is expected to be lost to development in coming years, there has been a marked rise in the awareness by the public regarding the need for farmland preserva on in the region. As of 2006, there were nearly 100 farms and over 10,000 acres of prime farmland in conserva on within the Middle Susquehanna Region.

2002 Census of Agriculture Average Average Change size of size of Number Number in Land in Land in Change farms farms Change of farms of farms number farms farms in 2002 1997 in farm County 2002 1997 of farms 2002 1997 farmland (acres) (acres) size

Columbia 884 955 -7% 123,514 125,638 -2% 140 132 6%

Montour 304 350 -13% 39,964 45,592 -12% 131 130 1%

Northumberland 719 784 -8% 119,129 125,161 -5% 166 160 4%

Snyder 784 893 -12% 100,034 103,010 -3% 128 115 11%

Union 521 659 -21% 69,424 71,639 -3% 133 109 22%

TOTAL 3,212 3,641 -13% 452,065 471,040 -4% 140 129 8% Farmland is one of the most important resources in the Source: 2002 Census of Agriculture, from the NASS Fact FInders for Agriculture region and is being increasingly preserved.

3.112 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study HISTORIC PRESERVATION Evaluation

The many towns of the Middle Susquehanna Region were se led as Community and regional plans provide a measure of assurance that the far back as the mid to late 1700’s. Today they proudly exhibit their long investments made in heritage development will be supported in the histories through street pa erns, town squares and diamond parks, and, long term by the region’s municipali es. There is s ll clearly room for most of all, historic buildings. Throughout the fi ve coun es, there are improvement regarding planning within the region, but trends should be thousands of structures that are listed on or poten ally eligible for the reassuring. More me and eff ort is being put into planning, and more Na onal Register of Historic Places; many of those are found within the planning is happening at the larger-landscape scale. historic districts designated seven of the region’s towns. As the heritage area is being developed, the organiza on will need to The extensive, although not comprehensive work that has been done ac vely work with muncipali es engaged in planning to see that the to survey and document historic structures in the Middle Susquehanna outcomes are compa ble with heritage goals. The organiza on should Region has iden fi ed the most signifi cant features and led to the provide technical assistance and par cipate in planning processes preserva on and rehabilita on of many buildings. The towns that have whenever possible. been the most successful in their preserva on and revitaliza on eff orts are those that have ac ve historic architectural review boards and codes to complement historic district designa ons. Two of the most notable of these towns are Lewisburg and Bloomsburg.

The iden fi ca on and preserva on of signifi cant vernacular structures, such as the Pennsylvania Barn seen above, is an important part of historic preserva on in the region.

Heritage Goals 3.113 G G

T P

Tourism is not stated as one of the fi ve targeted goals of the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program. It will, however, serve as a mechanism for the economic development of the region and as a means of promo ng resource conserva on and of providing educa o and interpreta on to a diverse audience.

Tourism and related commerce is consistently cited as the second leading industry in Pennsylvania a er agriculture. According to the most recent D.K. Shiffl et and Associates report (2003) on the economic impact of travel and tourism in Pennsylvania, visitor spending in the fi ve-county Middle Susquehanna Valley totaled over $337 million. With the decline of manufacturing and the region’s wealth of natural, cultural and historic assets, tourism is the next logical economic fron er for the Middle Susquehanna Valley. Par cipa on in the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program is a desired step toward regional community-building and a logical step in the region’s overall economic development strategy.

What the region lacks in major, na onal a rac ons (such as Colonial Williamsburg or Disneyland), it makes up for in a wide variety of local a rac ons, scenery and ac vi es for visitors to discover. Vaca ons to the region can be very cost eff ec ve and visitors can fi nd rest, relaxa on and fun for much less than they might in more prominent des na on areas such as the Poconos, Philadelphia or New York City. The region is also conveniently located and within a half-day’s drive of four major metropolitan areas.

Given recent jumps in fuel prices and the downturn of the economy, many Americans are seeking close-to-home vaca on opportuni es. These trends suggest that this could be an opportune me for the Commonwealth as a whole to designate a new heritage area and promote the Middle Susquehanna Region as a des na on, thereby turning a en on to the diversity of close to home or recently popularized “stay- ca on” opportuni es found throughout Pennsylvania.

3.114 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study This sec on provides an overview of tourism within the region, a discussion place to get away from it all” and that “it captures the essence of the of the poten al for the region to draw heritage tourists and an evalua on American ideal with beau ful scenery and many small towns where of the capacity to provide posi ve experiences for heritage area visitors. people of various cultures reside.”

ORGANIZATIONS Much of the region’s appeal is that if off ers visitors the chance to have many quaint, enjoyable experiences that combine into a rich and memorable, Two tourism promo on agencies (TPA’s) oversee the fi ve coun es of but never overwhelming, visit. Special es of the region can be broadly the Middle Susquehanna Region. The Susquehanna River Valley Visitors categorized as “small town experiences,” and the pastoral charm of rural Bureau covers Union, Snyder and Northumberland Coun es. The America. Residents and visitors alike can spend days exploring the dozens Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau oversees those two coun es. of an que shops found in virtually every town and village.

These tourism agencies are presently coordina ng regional promo on Likewise, one never has to feel far from the bounty of the land; a drive objec ves through the “Valleys of the Susquehanna” partnership. into the countryside reveals rolling farms, some of which are s ll worked Together, the two visitors bureaus also cover a po on of the Tourism with horse and plow by Plain Sect farmers. The rewards of these labors Region known as “the Alleghenies and her Valleys”, which also includes are similarly abundant at local farmers markets, at produce and garden the ridge and valley por on of central and south-central Pennsylvania to markets, and at simple roadside stands where visitors are s ll o en trusted the west and south of the Middle Susquehanna Valley. to leave their money in a jar in exchange for a bouquet of sunfl owers or a bag fi lled with sweet corn. Agritourism is growing in recogni on and Both tourism promo on agencies have been ac ve par cipants on the popularity in the region, thanks in part to a recent “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” heritage area task force and fully support heritage area designa on campaign that celebrates fresh farm foods and the role of agriculture in and development. Along with other organiza ons such as the Greater the regional economy. Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, SEDA-COG, the Central Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, and Brush Valley Chambers, the visitors bureaus cooperate on the development of marke ng materials including brochures and websites highligh ng regional a rac ons within the envisioned fi ve-county heritage region.

EXISTING RESOURCES

Local and regional a rac ons abound in the Middle Susquehanna Valley and, although the region a racts larger numbers of visitors each year, they do not come to visit any one primary a rac on or des na on spot. Instead, the draw of the region is in many ways the region itself. Visitors o en come to visit rela ves, to enjoy the open landscape and small towns, to learn about the history of the region, and to relax for a few days amidst a slower pace of life.

In a recent survey conducted for the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau (SRVVB), visitors described the Susquehanna Valley as a “beau ful Agritourism can take place in many venues such as the Lewisburg Farmers Market

Heritage Goals 3.115 REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS

Beyond the homegrown produce, visitors can also fi nd a wide range of Local a rac ons abound in the Middle Susquehanna Region; shown on the map ar san cra s and wares made by local ar sts throughout the region. to the right, these are just some of the des na on spots and events that visitors Dozens of events showcase locally made goods and, if no show is being can explore and enjoy in each county. held, visitors can explore the Route 45 Ar sans Trail, “Art Thrives on 45” or seek out workshops both on and off the beaten path. A rac ons 1 - Clyde Peeling’s Rep land, Union County The joy of explora on and discovery can be had on any number of ou ngs 2 - Miffl inburg Buggy Museum, Union County and tours. Many towns, from New Berlin to Bloomsburg, off er self-led 3 - T & D’s Cats of the World, Snyder County historic walking tours that highlight past events and rich arrays of civic and 4 - Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, Columbia County residen al architecture. Visitors can also tour around to see the region’s 5 - Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, Columbia County covered bridges, connec ons to the Underground Railroad, explore art 6 - Rohrbach’s Farm Market, Bakery, & Gi Shop, Columbia County and culture, or to discover a variety of hidden gems along historic Routes 7 - Catawissa Railroad Cabooses, Columbia County 104, 15, and 45. Regional Events 8- Christkindl Market, Union County 9- McClureBean Soup Fes val, Snyder County 10- Iron Heritage Fes val, Montour County 11- Bloomsburg Fair, Columbia County

POINTS OF INTEREST 12- Dale/Engle/Walker House, Union County 13- Hower-Slote House, Northumberland County 14- Warrior Run Church, Northumberland County 15- Sodom School, Northumberland County 16- Herman School House, Snyder County 17- Original Union County Courthouse, Union County 18- Cameron House, Northumberland County 19- Campus Theatre, Union County 20- Selinsgrove Speedway, Snyder County 21- Joseph Priestley House, Northumberland County 22- Knoebels Grove Amuesment Resort, Northumberland County 23- Centraila Mine Fires, Columbia County

Several major metropolitan areas are located within a few short hours’ drive of CANAL REMNANTS the region.

3.116 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study R A

1 13 14 33

4, 5, 32 24 18 11, 36 12 19 15 10 34 7 2 8 6 17 27 21 3 29 22 28 30 16 26 35 23 20 25 9

31

Recreation Attractions 31- McKees Half Falls, Northumberland & Snyder County 24- R.B. Winter State Park, Union County 32- Milton State Park, Northumberland County * 25- Faylor Lake, Snyder County 33- PPL Montour Preserve, Montour County 26- Walker Lake, Snyder County 27- Shikellamy Lookout, Northumberland County Universi es 28- Adam T. Bower Dam, Northumberland & Snyder County 34- Bucknell University, Union County 29- Lake Augusta, Northumberland, Snyder, Union County 35- Susquehanna University, Snyder County 30- Tall Timbers/Snyder Middleswarth State Park, Snyder County 36- Bloomsburg University, Columbia County

Heritage Goals 3.117 VISITOR INFORMATION

The following travel and tourism sta s cs within this sec on were collected From a seasonal perspec ve, almost half (49%) of all visits to the as part of a separate marke ng eff ort done by the Susquehanna River Susquehanna River Valley are made during summer. Spring and fall visits Valley Visitors Bureau. As such, they specifi cally apply to only three of the are almost split at a quarter each, with just 5% of all visits being made fi ve coun es within the proposed region, but, as the most detailed and during winter. This seasonal drop-off in tourism is certainly due to the accurate informa on available, the study fi ndings can be used to paint a rela vely harsh winter condi ons that exist in the region yet overall broad picture of the state of tourism in whole of the Middle Susquehanna unsuitability for developing winter sports parks. Area. Regional sta s cs are provided courtesy of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau. Perhaps surprisingly, visitors who come to the Susquehanna River Valley are as likely to make fi ve or more trips to the area annually as they In May, 2008, The Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau (SRVVB) are to only visit once (32 and 33%, respec vely). 17% of visitors come concluded a nine month branding campaign of intensive market research twice a year, 12% make the trip three mes, and only 6% visit four mes and analysis by revealing a new name, tagline and logo. Formerly known annually. as the Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau, the agency is now the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau and has the tagline “Every Turn The primary purposes of visitor trips to the region are to a Treasure,” which explains the visitor’s experience of discovering the • See the beau ful countryside region to a tee. • Relaxa on and escape • The research and analysis confi rmed many of the commonly held Visit friends and rela ves beliefs about how visitors see the Susquehanna River Valley. One stated • Visit historical sites that “driving through it, I wanted to see more. The hills and mist were • Daytrips beau ful. It looked calm and rural.” Others call it “Classic Pennsylvania • Fall foliage Countryside” and fi nd themselves reminded of America’s early history. The combina on of charming small towns surrounded by gorgeous These reasons for visi ng refl ect the character of the region as authen c countryside and outdoor ac vi es is the most-o en cited asset of the Americana. It is home for many and a place for family reunions where region. Visitors tend to love the region most as a whole and as the sum of visitors feel they can connect equally with American history and the many dis nc ve parts, rather than as the se ng for any par cular place beauty of pastoral American landscapes. or event. ACCOMODATION Over half of overnight guests to the Susquehanna River Valley are from From farm stays and Victorian bed and breakfasts, to vaca on rentals and in-state, while another full quarter of overnight guests come from states hotels, travelers to the region can fi nd a range of small and mid-sized bordering Pennsylvania. Out of 11 defi ned “LifeMode Groups” 41.5% accommoda ons. Many of these off er personal service and one-of-a-kind of overnight visitors can be categorized as from the two most affl uent lodgings. The two visitors bureaus list a total of 26 bed and breakfasts, LifeModes so they are an ideal group to target that clearly already displays 35 hotels, motels and inns, eight vaca on rental houses and co ages, an interest in the region. The next two largest sectors make up 28.5% of and one farm vaca on in the region. In addi on, visitors are able to fi nd overnight visitors and coincide with the top two resident LifeModes in the campsites in some of the state park or at one of the thirty-odd privately Susquehanna River Valley. run campgrounds within the region.

3.118 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study FOOD SERVICE ACCESS

SRVVB’s branding campaign included a survey of recent visitors who were One of the greatest charms of the region is how convenient it is to major asked to describe the Susquehanna River Valley as if it were a person. metropolitan areas, yet how far away one feels from such places once Survey results indicated that it would be in it’s 50’s, married and with one arrives. Interstate 80 runs through the northern por on of the region, children, and either blue collar or a farmer. The Susquehanna Valley connec ng it with New York City and Ohio. Route 45, also known as the “person” would be conserva ve and so spoken, but also friendly and Purple Heart Highway, was once the major highway running west out of would typically wear worn work clothes. This exercise in understanding Danville towards State College. The major north-south corridor is Route the character of the Valley is helpful for ge ng a feel of the types of 11/15 which follows the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg north towards dining op ons available to residents and visitors. I-80 and Williamsport. Route 61 runs from Sunbury through the anthracite coal region towards the Schyulkill River Valley and Philadelphia. There is a predominance of American-style and family restaurants in the region. Meals can easily be had on low to moderate incomes. Indeed, TOURISM EXPENDITURES fi ne dining op ons are somewhat limited and tend to be concentrated around the college towns of Lewisburg, Selinsgrove and Bloomsburg According to the Economic Impact of Travel & Tourism in Pennsylvania- which cater to a broader audience of diners. Ethnic op ons are similarly Travel Year 2006 Report by Global Insight, “Spending by travelers in limited and residents taking part in recent focus groups about the region Pennsylvania totaled $26.97 billion in 2006, represen ng 5.1% growth expressed a strong interest in encouraging a more diverse range of dining over 2005’s tally of $25.66 billion and 7.3% growth over 2004’s total of establishments throughout the Susquehanna Valley. $25.12 billion”. Total tourism spending in the Middle Susquehanna Area was $487.41 million in 2006, up from $337 million 2003, an increase of Visitors will readily fi nd choices of places to eat in most towns and along 31% over three years. the major thruways of Routes 11 and 15 and along I-80. From a posi ve standpoint, locally-owned cafés and restaurants are very common. Chain The Middle Susquehanna Area represents 5 of 14 coun es grouped restaurants and fast food is available for those who want it, but they are together within the tourism region “The Alleghenies and her Valleys”, not pervasive within the region, especially in the more rural areas. which also includes Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Fulton, Hun ndon, Juniata, Miffl in and Schuylkill Coun es. As a region, The Alleghenies and her Valleys a racted 7.4% of total visitor spending. The regions capturing the largest amounts of tourism spending were Philadelphia and its Countryside (33.7%); Dutch Country Roads (23.4%), Pi sburgh & its Countryside (19.7%); Northeast Pennsylvania Mountains (7.9%). Trailing the region in total visitor spending in 2006 were Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes (4.2%); and Pennsylvania Wilds (3.7%).

The Lewisburg Hotel is one of the region’s many one-of- a kind lodgings

Heritage Goals 3.119 TRENDS TARGET VISITORS

Historically, it has been the role of visitors bureaus to focus on promo ng The Pennsylvania Heritage Tourism Study study found signifi cant overlap a rac ons and des na on spots. Recently, however the region’s bureaus between outdoor enthusiasts and heritage tourists, sugges ng that the have no ced a marked increase of interest in event-based tourism. mix of natural and historic resources of the Middle Susquehanna Region Residents and visitors to the region are looking more and more to visit should hold a strong draw for heritage tourism. Indeed, the SRVVB places for a par cular event being held there, rather than visi ng only research suggests that an ideal target audience may be more of those for the place itself. This trend presents a tremendous opportunity for who are already fi nding affi nity with the region. The members of the expanding heritage tourism through events centered around or including “Upscale Avenues” “High Society” “Senior Styles” and “Factories and a living history component, such as the popular Iron Heritage Fes val in Farms” LifeMode groups make up almost 70% of the region’s current Danville. visitors. These are all groups that can appreciate the slower pace of life, peace and relaxa on of the region, but who are also a racted for diff erent Likewise, heritage tourism is a growing market within the United States reasons to local culture and heritage. and within Pennsylvania in par cular. From 1996 to 1997 alone, heritage tourism visita on by core heritage travelers grew by 23% (PHTS execu ve MARKETING AND INFORMATION SHARING summary p2). According to the Pennsylvania Heritage Tourism Study conducted in 1999, heritage tourism is broadly defi ned as a “travel In many ways, the challenge of both promo ng and engagin in tourism market that encapsulates a wide variety of historic, cultural and outdoor within in the region is derived from the strength of having a large ac vi es.” On average, heritage tourists stay more than a day longer in collec on of local a rac ons. Visitors have many i nerary op ons in the state and spend more than 40% more money per day than the average the region but may have trouble knowing where to start or choosing a Pennsylvania Leisure visitor (PHTS exec. Summary 3). primary des na on. Both TPA’s promote regional events, a rac ons and ameni es through a variety of methods and media. Each maintains a website with upcoming events, guides for day trips, and lis ngs for a rac ons, lodging, dining and more. In addi on, the TPA’s produce brochures for diff erent self-guided tours and annual visitors guides to the region.

The designated heritage area will add another layer of notoriety and dis nc on for the region, but the heritage organiza on will also need to work closely with the TPA’s so that their marke ng and promo on eff orts complement each other and clarify rather than confuse the region for visitors. Developed properly, the heritage area will serve to strengthen the state of tourism in the region so that the heritage organiza ons and TPA’s collaborate in a mutually benefi cial rela onship.

The Victorian Holiday Parade in Lewisburg. Courtesy of the Lewisburg Downtown Partership.

3.120 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study EVALUATION

Heritage tourism, through heritage area designa on and development, stands in a prime posi on to be greatly expanded and promoted throughout the region to economically benefi cial ends. In 2001, a report on Moving Heritage Tourism Forward in Pennsylvania was prepared for DCNR, DCED, PHMC and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Among other important fi ndings, this report detailed a set of key issues that are holding heritage tourism development back in Pennsylvania.

The report found a fragmenta on of eff ort and lack of integrated leadership in the state. It also noted a lack of public educa on and awareness rela ng to heritage tourism and development. Both of these could be aided by the designa on of a heritage region and having a heritage area organiza on that would partner with the TPA’s to promote heritage tourism and raise the overall quality of heritage resource protec on, interpreta on and educa on throughout the region.

The report also noted insuffi cient investment at the state level in heritage tourism development. Again, heritage tourism designa on would help direct funds towards areas of need in the region. The designa on of a new heritage area will also strengthen the case for increased funding for the heritage area program at the state level.

Heritage Goals 3.121 Keystone Principles

Although not directly associated with the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Keystone Principles for Program, the designa on of the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Growth, Investment and Resource Conserva on Principles would establish a regional organiza on commi ed to advancing broader statewide goals for smart growth and resource conserva on. In May, 2005, The Keystone Principles & Criteria for Growth, Investment & Resource 1. Redevelop fi rst Conserva on were adopted by the Economic Development Cabinet to 2. Provide effi cient infrastructure foster sustainable economic development and conserva on of resources throughout Pennsylvania’s diverse communi es. The ideals outlined by 3. Concentrate development the ten principles are refl ected in heritage area planning which recognizes 4. Increase job opportuni es the role that resource conserva on and enhancement plays in the overall health and vitality of a region’s economy. 5. Foster sustainable businesses 6. Restore and enhance the environment The Keystone Principles will be used as an addi onal framework for 7. Enhance recrea onal and heritage resources planning the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area and achieving its stated target areas of Economic Development, Educa on & Interpreta on, 8. Expand housing opportuni es Cultural Conserva on and Recrea on, Open Space and Natural Heritage. 9. Plan regionally; implement locally The values espoused by the heritage area program, such as the apprecia on of authen city and integrity of regional and town character, 10. Be fair are supported by the Keystone Principles.

U lizing the Principles will serve to strengthen the heritage area by protec ng the character and resources that make the Middle Susquehanna Region dis nc ve and worthy of heritage area designa on. In turn, the Heritage Area can serve as an advocate for the Keystone Principles, helping to enlighten residents and visitors to the importance of smart growth, investment and resource conserva on. They can demonstrate the role that the Keystone Principles play in protec ng Heritage Area vitality and by extension, can help residents and visitors understand the broader implica ons and benefi ts of the Keystone Principles in all areas of planning, design and growth.

3.122 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Heritage Goals 3.123

IV - I T

IV - Interpretive Themes

C F: C C A confl uence is defi ned in the Merriam Webster Dic onary as: The Susquehanna River runs for 444 miles from Otsego Lake in New York to Havre de Grace, Maryland. The river’s watershed drains half the land 1: a coming or fl owing together, mee ng, or gathering at one point area of Pennsylvania, a combined total of more than 27,510 square miles across the three states. From headwaters to mouth, the Susquehanna 2 a: the fl owing together of two or more streams b: the place River has stretches that run fast and deep, and others that are shallow of mee ng of two streams c: the combined stream formed by and placid. conjunc on The banks of the river sport numerous towns and industries as well as stretches that are undeveloped, natural, secluded and beau ful. Likewise, the personality of the river changes with the seasons; it is steely and freezing in winter, capricious and fl ooding in spring, yet languid and running low by late summer and into autumn. The Susquehanna is known both as a scenic river where many enjoy boa ng and fi shing, and as a polluted river that has been degraded by industry and altered by dams and fl ood controls along its banks.

Pennsylvania can lay claim to neither the Susquehanna’s headwaters, nor its mouth. There are certainly many beau ful and cap va ng stretches of river with interes ng features, but none are as evident from a large- scale landscape perspec ve as the confl uence of the West and North Branches. The Confl uence of the Susquehanna River is the most easily dis nguishable point along the river within Pennsylvania; indeed, it is one of the most recognizable places along or within a larger geographic feature in the state. Not surprisingly, this major river became a major travel corridor for the state and the confl uence itself grew to be a major des na on and hub along many transporta on routes.

Interpre ve Themes 4.127 P T-T

More than a physical landmark, the confl uence is a metaphor for the The transporta on industry is the most over arching, pervasive and region as a whole- it is a place where many dis nc ve peoples and infl uen al historically signifi cant industry within the region. Without the elements can be seen coming together, as they have done for centuries. river corridor and natural travel ways along which successive modes of The region exhibits a confl uence of cultures and religious groups, transporta on were developed, the region would not have grown as it landscapes and industries. From the Pennsylvania Dutch, among which did. Timber would not have been as easily accessed and fl oated down the Mahantango Valley Dutch claim some of the purest lineage to the old from the Northern Tier to Harrisburg for milling; the iron processed in country, to Welsh, Irish, Eastern Europeans, - many peoples came to the Danville would not have been moved as easily throughout the state; Middle Susquehanna Region and found their own niches within which to anthracite coal would not have been as easily sent from Nan coke and work and live. Shamokin to fuel the iron industry in Danville.

The region is also a confl uence of landscapes. River Valley agriculture runs Within the Middle Susquehanna Region, transporta on, and the ability alongside forested ridges and State Game Lands. Small towns are found to move goods and resources within and out of the region allowed many throughout the agricultural areas, especially along the river. When in localized industries to develop. At the same me, it was the confl uence of town, one never feels too far from nature and the broader countryside. the many industries within a small geographic region that allowed all of them to fl ourish and support each other. Si ng within the heart of Pennsylvania, where so many historical, industrial and cultural threads weave together, the concept of a confl uence is an The confl uence served as a major transporta on hub within Pennsylvania ideal mechanism through which the major themes of the region can be because it was the strategic place where Southern Pennsylvania connected explored. with the Northwest, Northeast, and beyond. Transporta on heritage of the region is readily visible today, and many opportuni es exist to celebrate its many eras, facets and features. The transporta on theme will take visitors back to the me of Na ve Americans, when overland paths and canoes were the primary means of transporta on. It will explore the canal era through the regions many canal traces, remnant locks and the stories of boatyards, inns and taverns.

Even though Na ve American paths and trails no longer exist in the same state as they did in the 1600’s, interpre ve elements can be used to show how they have been adapted and transformed into contemporary highways. Many other transporta on heritage-related features can be seen and enjoyed in the region, including covered bridges, historic train sta ons and the use of buggies by Plain Sect peoples. Finally, the primary theme of transporta on can be explored and developed to reveal how the many facets of transporta on supported local industries which gave rise to the many dis nc ve towns that are seen today. Transporta on, from Na ive American trails to canals, to railroads, forms the primary theme for the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area. Courtesy Ingrid Barnes, Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau

4.128 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study S I T T E

The historical narra ve of the Middle Susquehanna reveals the breadth Industrial themes provide a solid base for heritage planning and of industries that developed throughout the region during the 19th and development, but a limited focus on industry will not reveal the full early 20th centuries. Agriculture, iron, anthracite coal, tex les, lumber, complexity and richness of regional off erings. Strict adherence to industry manufacturing and foundries all grew as a network of interconnected alone would similarly a ract only a segment of heritage tourists and industries, ed together and supported by successive improvements in reduce the overall benefi ts reaped from heritage development. Instead, transporta on. industrial heritage is most benefi cial when it is understood and used as the lens through which the many dimensions of history, heritage, place The Economic Development and Cultural Conserva on sec ons of Chapter and culture can be explored. 3 show that each of these industries is s ll carried on in some form within the region today. Moreover, a variety of extant resources refl ect the Just as the program goals extend beyond historic preserva on and signifi cance of industry in the development of the region, from historic interpreta on to recrea on, open space, educa on and so on, so should mills and factory buildings, to iron furnaces and the grand mansions and the themes of the heritage area seek to explore the inter-connectedness downtown buildings that the successes of industry built. of industry, culture, and nature. The story of industry, for example, is not complete without an understanding of environmental impacts on the As such, these localized industries should all be considered as secondary Susquehanna and the regional landscapes. The alternately rugged and themes for the interpreta on of the heritage area. Because of the pastoral beauty of the region can likewise be drawn upon to teach about symbio c rela onships exhibited between industries, it is recommended the challenges and a rac on of se lement and living off of the land. that industries be explored and interpreted as pairings and collec ons revealing the “confl uence of industries” that shaped the Middle Transporta on and the secondary industrial themes should therefore be Susquehanna Region. explored and developed to reveal the merging and intersec ons between industry and other aspects of life, culture, art, ecology, technology, historic events and the ingenuity of individuals.

Secondary themes will reveal the breadth of industries important to the region as well as the cultural heritage to be found here.

Interpre ve Themes 4.129 B R PHYSIOGRAPHIC AREA

Several approaches may be taken to defi ning the boundaries of a heritage A second approach would be to defi ne a heritage region according to area. Of the 12 designated heritage areas within Pennsylvania, at least topographic boundaries, such as a watershed or around the extents of a three unique approaches have been used. Each will be explained along par cular type of landscape. The benefi t of this boundary type is that it with the respec ve benefi ts and drawbacks associated with each. makes it easier to match the physically designated heritage area with the actual experience of that area.

CORRIDORS Following natural edges as opposed to municipal boundaries more closely The fi rst approach, as demonstrated by the Schuylkill River Heritage relates to how people perceive regions as they move through them; Corridor and the Route 6 Heritage Corridor, is to defi ne the boundaries crossing into a physical dis nc ve landscape tends to be much more using the primary resource of the region, o en a road or river, as a datum obvious than crossing into a new county or township where the only for reference. In these instances, the heritage area is typically defi ned as evidence may only be a small roadside sign. As with corridors, however, a corridor that extends a regular distance from either side of the central topography-based boundaries face the same poli cal challenges of feature. spli ng coun es and smaller municipali es.

The most obvious benefi t of this approach is that it focuses the a en on of the heritage area and related planning around its most important POLITICAL BOUNDARIES feature, providing clarity and, o en, an obvious way to move through the A third approach is to follow municipal boundaries such as county lines. region because of its linear nature. The Lancaster-York Heritage Region and the Endless Mountains Heritage A drawback to the uniform corridor approach is that certain communi es Region both take this approach, drawing their boundaries around two or otherwise signifi cant resources may be arbitrarily le out of the and four coun es, respec vely. This approach is best used when a set region simply because of their distance from the primary resource. Some of coun es is closely associated with a recognized geographic region. heritage corridors may adjust their boundaries to include these types of Following county lines can facilitate the management and organiza on places, yet they s ll tend to incorporate por ons of municipali es such as side of heritage area development. Poli cal boundary lines are recognized townships or coun es, poten ally leading to ques ons and hurt feelings and accepted; using them avoids confusion about where and how the on the part of those who were “le out” of the heritage area. lines are drawn. Including en re coun es also facilitates partnerships at the county level. Because the region centers around the main stem and North and West branches of the Susquehanna River, it is conceivable that the Middle For many reasons, it can be easier and more eff ec ve to u lize follow Susquehanna Heritage region be designated as a “Y” shaped corridor. exis ng municipal boundaries when laying out a new heritage area. In the However, to do so would exclude and deny the signifi cance of the planning and development stages, especially, it makes it easier to develop region’s agricultural heritage, coal heritage, and many of its natural partnerships with exis ng agencies who cover the same geographic area and recrea onal resources. As important as the Susquehanna is as a or whose service area is en rely contained within the proposed heritage transporta on corridor that helped fuel the development of the na on, area. the richness of the region’s heritage is revealed in the juxtaposi on of the river corridor and the surrounding landscape.

4.130 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study P B M M S R

Upon careful evalua on of many op ons, it is recommended that the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area follow municipal boundaries and include the en rety of Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Columbia and Montour Coun es.

Interpre ve Themes 4.131 C S F I

This fi ve county area tends to self-iden fy itself as a region. It is roughly Working from the recommenda on of a 5-county heritage area, there at or just beyond the outlying river towns of Berwick, Watsontown and are then several means of conceptually planning out the region so that Selinsgrove that perceived connec ons begin to shi towards Scranton/ it can be experienced by the visitor. Adop ng a conceptual structure for Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport and Harrisburg, respec vely. The western interpreta on will have a signifi cant impact within the region, especially edge of the region is largely defi ned by the divide created by close ridges during the fi rst few years of development when decisions will be made as within Bald Eagle State Forest. Similarly, the northern and southeastern to how the heritage area expands and grows. borders of the region are typically more remote and less developed and the fi ve county structure places the confl uence at its heart with the The conceptual structure will aff ect everything from signage placement river drawing the region together into roughly equal thirds. Within the and concentra on within the region, to marke ng and promo on of proposed boundaries, the densest clusters of towns draw the visitor into primary and sub-themes, to the priori za on of project funding so that the confl uence, crea ng opportuni es for both gateways and a central target areas for heritage based educa on, interpreta on, and recrea on core for interpreta on. can be developed throughout the region in a logical manner over me. Due to the widespread implica ons of selec ng a conceptual structure, There are many merits to the proposed fi ve county heritage area. With several op ons are proposed for review within the Management Ac on that understanding, it is also recommended that the boundaries be Plan, where the fi nal decision will be made. viewed as fl exible because the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area’s has the unique poten al to establish connec ons and e the themes and programs of adjacent and nearby areas together within the region. Upon designa on, the heritage area will create a con nuous link between the Lumber Heritage Region, the Schuylkill River Heritage Corridor, and the Endless Mountains Heritage Region. The eastern edge will also sit mere miles from the upper reaches of the Delaware and Lehigh Na onal Heritage Corridor.

Seeing that the Middle Susquehanna’s iden ty has grown out of historic connec ons made within the area, it is appropriate that the heritage area serve a similar purpose today. In the development of the long-range plan for the region, the project team should coordinate with other heritage area programs and determine if any overlap of boundaries, programs and themes would be desirable and benefi cial.

4.132 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study CENTRAL SPINES The Susquehanna River is a central feature within the proposed heritage area and can serve as the organiza onal element for the region. The two branches and main stem of the river separate the region into roughly even pieces and join together at the region’s center. The Susquehanna then, could form the “spine” of the heritage area and it could be used as a primary reference point for orienta on of visitors. Travel within the region could also be directed along the river and visitors would be encouraged to understand the development of the region as emana ng from the river as a transporta on corridor and source of power and food. A benefi t of this approach is that it is a natural way to orient the visitor within the region. At the same me, it could place too much emphasis on the river at the expense of the many other diverse and valuable regional resources.

STRING OF PEARLS: HUBS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA The river towns of the Middle Susquehanna Region have been shown to refl ect the industrial heritage from which they grew. The largest of the river towns are spaced out along the Susquehanna at a distance of no more than 12 miles, off ering, in eff ect, a string of pearls. These could be treated as a series of unique river town with experiences for visitors to explore and enjoy. They could likewise be used as launching points for excursions into the larger region. The “string of pearls” conceptual structure would promote authen c downtown experiences and showcase the river as the central spine that es the region together.

Interpre ve Themes 4.133 HUBS AND SPOKES Like the string of pearls approach, the interpre ve framework for the region would be based out of core communi es. However, instead of focusing on river towns, a “hubs and spokes” approach would extend arms out to the core valley towns and coal region communi es. The designated towns would be launching points into unique parts of the region.

Depending on loca on, poten al and capacity, the towns could be designated as gateways or internal hubs for the region. The confl uence, at Sunbury, Northumberland, or Packers Island, should also be considered as a loca on for a central, primary hub and star ng point for regional explora on. Towns in outlying loca ons or with limited capacity for heritage tourism could serve as secondary hubs for local explora on.

‘Hubs and spokes’ is a well known organiza onal tool, but in promo ng the region, it will not necessarily pair towns which are historically connected or which have much in common. If this framework is adopted, the utmost care should be taken to be inclusive and to keep towns on the spokes from feeling marginalized by the heritage area program.

BULL’S-EYE: CENTERING ON THE CONFLUENCE This conceptual structure for the region would emphasize the confl uence as the Heart of the Susquehanna. Visitors would fi rst be brought in to see the confl uence and learn about the natural history, heritage, industry and culture around that juncture. The confl uence would ground them in the region and they could then be sent out to explore other areas based on their own interests. Tours built around specifi c sub-themes could loop out from the confl uence into diff erent parts of the region, bringing visitors back to the confl uence area at the end of the day.

This approach is similar to “hubs and spokes”, but uses sub-themes to create zones within the region. This approach is conceptually clear, but may suff er from being too structured for visitors who want to chart their own i nerary.

4.134 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study GEOGRAPHIC ZONES

An alterna ve to a point-based approach to exploring the region is to take a “zone” approach. Zones could be defi ned according to a variety of criteria. They could correspond with geomorphology, with “broad river valley”, “western ridges”, and “lower anthracite” districts and so on.

These geographic zones would not necessarily be defi ned according to the physiographic features of the region. They could also relate to the human component and heritage area sub-themes. Following this approach, the zones could relate to cultural tradi ons, or localized industries, thus tying in with the heritage area themes.

A COMBINED APPROACH Many heritage areas take a layered approach to organiza onal planning. A combina on of zones, hubs, and spines can o en be the best way to create hierarchy within a heritage area and a manageable, comprehensible structure. Within the region, the river should be viewed as the spine of the region. One or more towns can be iden fi ed as hubs that will serve as jumping off points for diff erent zones or districts within the region. Through a layering of spines, zones and hubs, heritage development can be broken down and phased in a logical manner, while s ll giving due a en on and considera on to each part of the region, including outlying areas and smaller towns.

Interpre ve Themes 4.135 C

From one perspec ve, it is understandable that the Middle Susquehanna comes late to the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program. Unlike some of the other Heritage Areas, this region lacks major urban areas which are o en be er posi oned with the organiza onal capacity and cri cal mass of stakeholders needed to carry an area through the designa on process. Likewise, the many small, but dis nc ve towns surrounded by open space throughout the Middle Susquehanna have prolonged the crystalliza on of a regional iden ty and delayed region-wide eff orts.

In another light, the signifi cance of the region as a major transporta on corridor through the valley of the Susquehanna is, perhaps, more subtle and challenging to grasp in the modern era now that major highways and personal vehicles allow for rapid movement throughout the state. The former topographical barriers such as ridges are not obstacles for vehicular traffi c on paved roadways as they were for traders on foot, wagons and buggies, or even for trains. Moreover, the region is one where many small wonders collide, yet no single feature calls out for inclusion into a heritage area in the way that other places do, such as the Philadelphia area with its direct links to the birth of the na on.

Each of the above listed factors have contributed to the Middle Susquehanna Region’s being overlooked and delayed admi ance into the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program. Yet at the same me, many have expressed surprise that the Middle Susquehanna was not designated as one of the fi rst heritage areas nearly twenty years ago. What many regional residents and heritage professionals across Pennsylvania see is a region with a meaningful story of movement, travel, and successive waves of transporta on that caused the area, state and na on to change and grow. Likewise, they see a region where the many themes around which the Pennsylvania program is built visibly unite with substan al need and opportuni es to share those linkages with others.

4.136 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Interpre ve Themes 4.137

V - F W: M A P Development of a state heritage area within the Middle Susquehanna Region is found to be not only feasible, but also merited and desired. V – F W: M A P The Management Action Plan Overview (MAP) Upon the an cipated acceptance of this feasibility study by DCNR and the State Heritage Area Review Board, the project study team will be Recommendations for Future Steps required to develop a Management Ac on Plan (MAP) for the heritage development of the region before offi cial designa on is granted. While A wealth of heritage based resources exists within the Middle Susquehanna this feasibility study has presented the merit-based case as to why the Region and strong interest exists to preserve those resources and share Middle Susquehanna deserves to become a heritage region based on them with residents and visitors. With its connec on to many industries resources and organiza onal capacity, the Management Ac on Plan and central loca on within the state, the region can grow to be a keystone will iden fy how the heritage area will be successfully developed and within the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program- tying remote areas and managed. their industrial paths together. Heritage tourists can come together at the Confl uence at the heart of the Susquehanna River and then set out to Two primary goals will be accomplished through the Management Ac on explore wider circles beyond. Plan work. First, the organiza on who will ul mately oversee and develop the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area will be established or iden fi ed The heritage resources of the Middle Susquehanna Region played a and a business plan created that will integrate public par cipa on and central role in the comprehensive industrial development of Pennsylvania involvement within the Heritage Area Program. Secondly, a 10-year, long by providing a cri cal link of transporta on between abundant natural range management strategy and course of ac on will be laid out for that resources of the rural fron er lands and the major metropolitan centers organiza on to follow in the development of the heritage region which of the east. At mes, the events and industries of the region have been will assure that the fi ve goals of the PHAP are met. of na onal signifi cance, par cularly in war mes from the French and Indian War in the mid 1800’s to WWII. Locally, this heritage is known and In addi on, the Management Ac on Plan will fi nalize the selec on of appreciated, and many opportuni es exist for it to be further explored regional industrial heritage themes and will complete the inventory of and shared with others. resources within the region. Lastly, the plan will make fi nal decisions on alterna ves proposed within the feasibility study and will make Through the feasibility study process, dozens of individuals and recommenda ons on special purpose studies and implementa on organiza ons have expressed enthusiasm for the heritage area concept projects that will help achieve the heritage area goals as the region is and, most importantly, they have demonstrated the willingness and being developed. collabora ve spirit necessary to bring a heritage area to life and to fulfi ll its mission. Having demonstrated the capacity needed at the organiza onal This sec on provides a scope of work for the MAP as it relates to the level to develop and run the Heritage Area Program and, having shown Middle Susquehanna Region. Each perspec ve heritage area enters suffi cient cultural, natural and recrea onal resources of statewide and the MAP phase of planning with varying levels of exis ng research and na onal importance, the project team and task force believe that the compiled resource inventories, organiza onal capacity and experience Middle Susquehanna Region meets all of DCNR’s requirement for entry developing partnerships at the regional scale. The following me line in State Heritage Area Program. The project team requests that, based on an cipates how and when the MAP requirements will be met based upon this feasibility study, the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area be approved exis ng condi ons, needs and opportuni es within the region. Ini al for designa on upon successful comple on of the Management Ac on cost es mates for the MAP are provided and poten al sources of funding Plan. are also iden fi ed. Lastly, recommenda ons are made for types of early implementa on projects which should be considered for undertaking concurrent with MAP work.

Future Work: the Management Ac on Plan (MAP) 5.141 Project Management

Due to the breadth and depth of the Management Ac on Plan, it will As the representa ve group of regional stakeholders, the task force will be necessary to bring together a team of experts who can apply their con nue to play a major role in guiding the direc ons taken with the MAP. knowledge to the diff erent realms of study. Per the recommenda ons In addi on to playing a central role in public outreach, the task force will of the MAP guidelines, the consultant team will directly include or sub- be involved with major decision making, including fi nal theme selec on, contract with experts from the following fi elds: early project iden fi ca on, and selec ng or developing the organiza on that will manage the designated heritage area. • Landscape Architecture/Historic Preserva on • Economic Development-Public Private Financing Work Plan for MAP • Planning/Urban Design • Tourism The comple on of a Management Ac on Plan is a signifi cant undertaking • History that needs to be given due me for comple on. It is expected that 18-20 • Cultural Anthropology/Folklife months will be required to successfully work through the MAP process. • Parks and Recrea on The following are each phase components of the MAP process. • Business Management and Organiza on

PREPARATION It is an cipated that SEDA-COG will take a leading role in coordina ng There will be a period following the an cipated approval of this feasibility the MAP, in a similar fashion to the feasibility study itself. SEDA-COG, study and the commencement of the Management Ac on Plan. During as a regional council of county governments, is in a unique and willing that me, an applica on will be made to DCNR for MAP funding. Upon posi on to oversee and coordinate the development of a Management no fi ca on of funding, the project team will be formed and prepara ons Ac on Plan for the Middle Susquehanna Region. made to commence with the MAP. SEDA-COG has the ability to assemble a project team internally with staff members from several applicable professions including landscape PROJECT VISIONING & GOALS architecture and historic preserva on, planning, and economic The fi rst stage of the MAP process will focus on organiza on and goal development. Elements of the Management Ac on Plan that cannot se ng to successfully achieve the tasks ahead in an effi cient and well- be completed in-house will be sub-contracted out to consul ng planned manner. Goals will be developed based on the recommenda ons professionals. of this feasibility study and the scope of work laid out by the MAP One benefi t of this approach is that SEDA-COG has a long history of Instruc ons Packet. working within the region. As such, SEDA-COG understands local issues The reconvened task force will need to be evaluated and possibly and already has rela onships established with many of the organiza ons increased to bring in members from underrepresented parts of the who will be ac vely involved in heritage area development. Public region or stakeholder groups. The ability of poten al members to look par cipa on and outreach to stakeholder groups will be a major part of beyond local issues and interests and to think instead about regional management plan development. issues, opportuni es and approaches should be considered as part of the selec on process.

5.142 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study COMPLETE INVENTORY AND MAPPING OF RESOURCES It will be important to maintain a balance in the size of the task force so Resources inventoried within this feasibility study have focused on those that all key stakeholder groups are present yet the size of the task force of statewide and na onal signifi cance. This inventory will be expanded remains manageable. It may be advisable to increase the size of the group in the Management Ac on Plan to also include resources of local and by a few members so that subcommi ees can be formed around each regional signifi cance. The following resource types will be inventoried, of the fi ve heritage area goals as well as tourism and marke ng. A sub- commi ee may also be needed for community outreach to the public and the media. • park and recrea on resources • natural resources and those of ecological or environmental During this early visioning and goal-se ng stage, early implementa on importance projects will also need to be selected. These projects will be developed • cultural features concurrently with the MAP to show the benefi ts of Heritage Area Program • folklife resources par cipa on and to build momentum for the long-term eff ort that • historic and industrial developing a successful heritage area will require. A complete discussion • educa onal programs and resources of early implementa on projects and poten al eff orts for the Middle • heritage or culture related special events. Susquehanna Area follows at the end of this sec on. Due to the localized nature of the many historical socie es and heritage groups throughout the region in combina on with the clear need for more historic research to be done focusing on the region, it will be necessary to REVIEW FEASIBILITY STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALTERNATIVES devote a signifi cant por on of me, resources and energy to developing This feasibility study serves as the background and knowledge base for the a comprehensive inventory of resources. Once compiled, eff ort should also be made to subdivide heritage-based resource groups, especially development of the complete MAP package. The alterna ves presented as interpre ve themes are chosen, which will greatly aid in marke ng within this study will need to be reviewed and fi nal alterna ve selec ons and promo on of resources, a rac ons and events to visitors based on made by the end of the process. In select instances, special studies may themes. be necessary before fi nal decisions can be made, but it should be the goal of the project team to fi nalize the form and direc on of the heritage area as much as possible within the fi nal MAP document, as that will serve as the guide for long-term heritage development within the region.

In par cular, boundaries will need to be fi nalized, primary and secondary industrial heritage themes confi rmed or revised, and a spa al concept for heritage development within the region will need to be chosen.

Future Work: the Management Ac on Plan (MAP) 5.143 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT One of the most important outcomes of the MAP will be the development Three types of public outreach will need to be considered. At the most of an organiza onal structure to manage the heritage area once it basic level, the public needs to be educated about the heritage area is designated. Whether the heritage area is overseen by an exis ng concept, what it will mean for the region and why heritage development organiza on or a new one is formed to do so, many decisions will need should be supported by the public. This type of outreach can and should to be made as to how that agency will approach heritage development be done through several media, including public mee ngs, newsle ers, within the region. The development of a business plan will be necessary and media coverage. to ensure fi nancial viability over me, to lay out how funds will be used to accomplish the 5 heritage area program goals, and to formalize the Task force members will serve an important role as ambassadors for process for working with regional partners and local agencies. the heritage area within their own communi es and they should be Specifi c considera ons for the business plan will include: encouraged to par cipate in public mee ngs and to advocate for the heritage area informally as well. The goal of general outreach should be to raise awareness of the heritage area and to build enthusiasm for • Sustaining the organiza on heritage development within the region that will help sustain momentum • Organiza onal oversight structure for the heritage area through and a er designa on. • Memberships • Heritage area funding alloca on process Outreach also needs to be done with the public and local organiza ons • Long range plan implementa on strategy that is aimed at partnership building and encouraging par cipa on and ac ve involvement with the heritage development process (leading to the MAP and beyond). Presenta ons will need to be made to many diff erent types and sizes of organiza ons, including historical socie es, university PUBLIC OUTREACH & PARTICIPATION groups, downtown organiza ons and municipal governments. Public educa on, outreach and partnership building should be looked Due to the extent of specialized outreach that will be necessary, it may upon as some of the most important realms of work as the MAP is being be advisable to have a special sub-commi ee within the task force to developed. Addi onal studies can always be conducted to learn more organize and lead these public-rela ons mee ngs. At the end of this about the region’s heritage and resources, but insuffi cient energy spent process, local groups should know how they can work with the heritage reaching out to the public, building knowledge and enthusiasm about area organiza on in the future and what types of projects they could the heritage area and encouraging public par cipa on would likely be approach the heritage area with for collabora on. devasta ng to the long-term success of the regional program. Heritage areas are sustained by the energy collabora on and commitment of The opinions of stakeholder groups should also be considered as local organiza ons and residents. It is therefore incredibly important to the organiza onal structure and business plan for the heritage area engage the region’s communi es and organiza ons early on and regularly organiza on is developed. In par cular, a process for collabora on and throughout the process. overseeing heritage development studies and implementa on projects will need to be developed that is manageable, equitable, and relevant to the heritage area goals.

5.144 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Lastly, outreach and partnership building will occur at the statewide Theme development and tag-lines will lead into a comprehensive branding level and with the other heritage area managers. As much as possible, eff ort. The direc on taken will certainly aff ect how visitors learn about and the experiences and lessons learned in the development of other state perceive the region, but even more immediately and directly, it will aff ect heritage areas should be taken into account in the development of the how the region is developed from a heritage perspec ve. Branding will MAP for the Middle Susquehanna Region. Just like with public outreach have a major eff ect by infl uencing which special studies are undertaken and educa on, this process has been started during the feasibility study, and which projects are selected, and how the themes and connec ons but it needs to be ac vely con nued and pursued. Upon comple on of within the region will be marketed and emphasized to visitors, ul mately the full MAP document, it is recommended that an execu ve summary be aff ec ng visitor experience and direc ons for economic development in developed as a stand-alone publica on that can be distributed within the the area. region and around the state. A short video or power point presenta on would also be a useful means of dissemina ng informa on about the Branding and themes will naturally be developed based on regional proposed heritage area. resources, heritage and character. However, once themes are iden fi ed, addi onal me and eff ort will be spent teasing out and packaging the Beyond outreach directed to the public, there will also be many occasions many specifi c resources that elucidate the experiences, stories and when informa on and opinions will be sought from the public, local lessons behind each individual theme. experts and ac ve community members. Informa on needed to inform and direct the MAP may be gathered through key person interviews, focus During the heritage development phase of work, the project team and groups, surveys or public workshops. task force sub-commi ees will collaborate in order to iden fy objec ves, strategies and ac ons that will meet the heritage area program goals for economic development; educa on and interpreta on; cultural IMPLEMENTATION PLAN conserva on; recrea on, open space and natural resources; and Laying out a strategy for heritage development in the Middle Susquehanna community and regional planning and partnerships. Region will necessarily be a major component of the MAP. This por on of Whenever possible, projects should be developed to meet mul ple goals, the fi nal document will serve as the primary guide and reference item for such as having mul ple specialized agencies partner together to create the fi rst 10 years of designa on. The plan will therefore need to include an opportunity for both heritage learning and recrea on while protec ng short, mid and long-term strategies for mee ng the fi ve heritage area a natural resource. Projects such as these are not only possible, they are goals. already happening within the region, as evidenced by the North Branch Canal Trail project in which two coun es are working together to create Once the primary industrial theme has been confi rmed and its sub-themes a recrea onal trail that protects and celebrates the historic canal and iden fi ed, the conceptual interpreta on and presenta on of those natural resources of the area. Integrated projects of this nature should be themes and the region as a whole will need to be considered. For example, encouraged and pursued as a direct strategy of the MAP. transporta on will likely be confi rmed as the primary industrial theme, but it could be presented using several concepts, such as “Susquehanna Travelways” or “Natural Corridors: from a river to paths, canals, rails and roads”. Similarly, a tag line can developed for the region that will allude to its sense of place and industrial heritage; “The Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area: Confl uence of Industries,” would be one such example.

Future Work: the Management Ac on Plan (MAP) 5.145 Through goal and strategy development, the implementa on plan needs An ini al set of poten al projects will also be developed through the to address a general plan for each of the following areas: MAP process. These should be evaluated for their poten al to address heritage area goals in combina on with the amount of community and • Economic development strategy organiza onal will and dedica on to see them carried out. Ideally the • Promo on and marke ng plan ini al package of iden fi ed projects will address the range of program • Resource conserva on and preserva on (cultural , historic, goals and include projects of mixed intensity- some which are easily recrea onal and natural) implementable “low hanging fruit” and others which require long-term • Heritage theme experience and conserva on eff orts or major investments, but for greater rewards. • Educa on and interpreta on • Heritage Area management and administra on The projects list should also consider the evolu on of the heritage • Circula on plan area over its fi rst ten years; a majority of special studies and planning • Adap ve reuse of structures strategy eff orts should be expected to transi on over to a greater number of • Financial strategy and business plan to fund heritage area implementa on projects a er the fi rst several years. implementa on • Long-range plan to complete major work elements of the heritage area COMPILATION OF MATERIALS INTO THE MAP The fi nal stage of the planning process will involve fi nal decision making The Lancaster-York Heritage Region Management Ac on Plan (LYHR- and the synthesis of the process so far into a physical MAP document. MAP) presents a model for considering several alterna ves throughout the MAP process, of which one is selected and presented in the fi nal The following metable provides a general me frame for each of the plan. As stated in the LYHR- MAP, “ three alterna ves were evaluated phases of work to be accomplished. As may be seen, some tasks will be on the basis of two factors: the amount of resources available, and the ongoing. amount of community will (degree of poli cal leadership and mo va on, organiza onal collabora on) available to implement the ac on plan.” The three alterna ves considered were “‘No Ac on’- no par cipa on in state program, low community will, li le funding, present trends con nue; ‘Low-Octane’ – moderate community will, modest funding; and ‘High Octane’ – high community will, substan al funding”

This approach is recommended for emula on by the Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area team in order to avoid making assump ons about the best course of ac on and to base the selected ac ons on actual capacity and condi ons within the region.

5.146 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Cost Estimates and Funding Sources

The MAP will be a signifi cant undertaking for the region; many local The following municipali es and organiza ons have been very suppor ve organiza ons and resources will need to be brought together and viewed of the heritage area concept and have been iden fi ed as poten al in a comprehensive manner that has not been done in the past. Due to contributors for the MAP matching funds: the extent of work required and the an cipated need to sub-contract • with a variety of professionals, a total project budget of approximately Columbia County • $300,000 is expected. A minimum of $100,000 will be sought locally from Montour County • public and private organiza ons and municipali es. Northumberland County • Snyder County At an es mated total cost of $300,000, the maximum amount that DCNR • Union County can contribute is $200,000. At least 5% of the total cost, $15,000, will • Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau need to be raised from private sources, while the remaining $85,000 can • Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau be contributed from public sources. • Geisinger Heath Systems • Bucknell University Since the last heritage area was designated in 2002, business costs have • Bloomsburg University risen and, if approved, the increase in available state funding will allow the • Susquehanna University same depth and quality of work to be completed for the MAP as has been done with other state heritage areas. Beyond basic increases in doing Other poten al contributors will be iden fi ed in the months leading up business, the total project budget will help correct previous defi ciencies in to the MAP applica on submission. A substan al level of contribu ons, knowledge, research and planning that the Middle Susquehanna Region not refl ected in the cost and match- es mates above is expected to come has experienced in comparison to more urban areas of the state. in the form of volunteer hours and in-kind services. Task force mee ngs, compiling and fi lling out the inventory of resources, and public outreach will require many hours of volunteer me and eff ort which will not go unno ced or unappreciated. Management Action Plan Timeline Months Project Tasks 123456789101112131415161718 Visioning & Goals Inventory & Mapping Analysis Outreach & Public Involvement Heritage Development Planning Compila on of the MAP

Future Work: the Management Ac on Plan (MAP) 5.147 Early Implementation Projects (EIPs)

Typically, projects rela ng to heritage area development are fi rst iden fi ed The following concepts should be considered for early implementa on through the MAP process and only ini ated a er heritage area designa on projects. They should be selected if they meet the following criteria: has been received. While this is a normal and reasonable process, the Commonwealth has insigh ully recognized that having a limited number • They are found to be achievable within the proposed me of projects underway within a proposed heritage area as the MAP is being frame. completed can help show the benefi ts of the new heritage area and build • Matching funds can be secured to meet the project budget enthusiasm for the program within the region. Moreover, they can be • Projects will provide benefi ts to the region regardless of the used to build the capabili es of local organiza ons to address heritage Heritage Area designa on development within the region and they set the stage and direc on for • There is general support and enthusiasm for the project on the future projects. part of the public.

As noted, only a limited quan ty of projects can be considered for “early implementa on” funding and those that are considered must meet certain qualifi ca ons. First and foremost, they must be stand-alone projects that, while they would fi t within heritage area programming, are not dependent on the actual designa on of the heritage area or crea on of a heritage area management organiza on. Secondly, according to state requirements, early implementa on projects must “generate signifi cant public awareness of the overall goals of the Heritage Area eff ort.” These projects can be a great way to encourage collabora on between diff erent groups and to iden fy poten al leaders for future projects and heritage area ini a ves.

Projects selected for early implementa on are eligible for up to $100,000 in grants from DCNR which must be met dollar for dollar in outside contribu ons.

In order to be in accordance with their purpose of building momentum and providing visible results within the region around the me that heritage area designa on is an cipated, early implementa on projects should be selected and work ini ated shortly a er the MAP process is itself launched. To that end, it is worthwhile entering the MAP process with a range of poten al EIP projects in mind.

5.148 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study POSSIBLE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS

• Come Together at the Confl uence- This could be a mul -day event • Oral History Project - Regional heritage could be preserved celebra ng and sharing knowledge about the Susquehanna through recording oral histories of seniors. Local youths could with the public. It could be staged at Packers Island (Shikellamy be involved with the project to learn about heritage and develop State Park Marina). Natural history, Na ve American se lement interviewing skills if the project were designed to partner school encampment, heritage, culture, and recrea on would all be part districts with senior centers. of the fun. Events could include a paddle race around the island, a 5k on land. • Tanks at the Test Track- Berwick could celebrate its local heritage as a town that manufactured tanks for WWII by • Community Gateways- This project could involve designing and acquiring a tank to bring back to its former tes ng grounds at implemen ng gateways and entrance corridors to celebrate the Test Track Park. local character of one or several towns in the region. • Railroad Excursion Trains - Off ering scenic excursions along • Guidebook to the Middle Susquehanna Region- Crea ng a historic railroads would give residents and visitors a chance guidebook could help visitors discover the many a rac ons and to enjoy the history and beauty of the region from a new historic resources found throughout the region. perspec ve. • Land from Water: Video/publica on- An informa ve video could be produced to teach the public about regional ecology and history. The video could be produced from the perspec ve from the Susquehanna River and how everything that happens on land is seen from the water.

• Discovering River Towns- This could be an event about exploring the heritage of the Middle Susquehanna river towns by boat, train, bike auto and foot. E (scavenger hunt between the river towns- river fl oat- mini-events in each town showing of local town character.

• Rail Trails & Canal Trails - More trails could be developed along historic transporta on routes, expanding a regional network of recrea on opportuni es and interpre ve elements.

Future Work: the Management Ac on Plan (MAP) 5.149

A

A C

Appendix A - Regional Industries Ecomonic Profile 155 Appendix B - Regional Profile - Population by Ancestry 178 Appendix C - Regional Religious Profile 190 Appendix D - Historic Demographics 192 Appendix E - Historic Resources - Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places 196 Appendix F - Historic Resources - Properties Eligible For the National Register of Historic Places 200 Appendix G - Task Force Members & Associated Organizations 209

Selected Bibliography 210

Appendix 153 154 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study A A - R I E P A - F S

Appendix A.155 A- W M S

A.156 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study A-F-F-H-M

Appendix A.157 A-F-F-H-M ()

A.158 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study A - E - R

Appendix A.159 C

A.160 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study E S

Appendix A.161 E S (S)

A.162 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study F - I

Appendix A.163 H C - S A

A.164 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study H C - S A (S)

Appendix A.165 I

A.166 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study M

Appendix A.167 M (S)

A.168 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study M C - E

Appendix A.169 O S

A.170 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study P - S - T S

Appendix A.171 P A

A.172 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study R E - R - L

Appendix A.173 R T

A.174 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study T - W - U

Appendix A.175 W T

A.176 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Appendix A.177 A B - R P - P A S A

B.178 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study D

Appendix B.179 E

B.180 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study F ( B)

Appendix B.181 G

B.182 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study I

Appendix B.183 I

B.184 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study P G

Appendix B.185 P

B.186 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study S-I

Appendix B.187 U

B.188 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study W

Appendix B.189 A C - R R F (Q) C

C.190 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study B A, M C

Appendix C.191 A D - H D S R D 5-C R 1870 C

Source: http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus

D.192 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study E D 5-C R 1790 1870

Source: http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus

Appendix D.193 P D C D 5-C R 1790-2000

Source: http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus

D.194 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Appendix D.195 A E - H R - P N R

Resource Inventory Historic Name Municipality County Material Date Built Key # Category ID

Catawissa Friends Mee ng House Catawissa Borough Columbia Building Stone 1789 1233 1214 Bloomsburg Historic District Bloomsburg town Columbia District Stone 1845 79672 79577 Rohrbach Covered Bridge Franklin Township Columbia Structure Wood 1846 50766 50672 Rupert Covered Bridge Montour Township Columbia Structure Wood 1847 50755 50661 S llwater Covered Bridge S llwater Borough Columbia Structure Wood 1849 50764 50670 Hollingshead Covered Bridge Catawissa Township Columbia Structure Wood 1850 50754 50660 Parr's Mill Covered Bridge Cleveland Township Columbia Structure Wood 1865 50756 50662 Riegel Covered Bridge (Destroyed) Franklin Township Columbia Structure Wood 1870 50765 50671 Wagner Covered Bridge Locust Township Columbia Structure Wood 1874 50763 50669 Knoebel, Lawrence Covered Bridge Cleveland Township Columbia Structure Wood 1875 50771 50677 Davis Covered Bridge Cleveland Township Columbia Structure Wood 1875 50758 50664 Hess, Josiah, Covered Bridge Fishing Creek Township Columbia Structure Wood 1875 50762 50668 Pa erson Covered Bridge Orange Township Columbia Structure Wood 1875 50752 50658 Chris e, Jud, Covered Bridge Jackson Township Columbia Structure Wood 1876 50748 50654 Eckman, Sam, Covered Bridge Pine Township Columbia Structure Wood 1876 50747 50653 Kriegbaum Covered Bridge Cleveland Township Columbia Structure Wood 1876 50769 50675 Eckman, Sam, Covered Bridge Greenwood Township Columbia Structure Wood 1876 50747 50653 Jackson Mansion & Carriage House Berwick Borough Columbia Building Stone 1877 77423 77329 Richards Covered Bridge Cleveland Township Columbia Structure Wood 1880 50770 50676 Creasyville Covered Bridge Jackson Township Columbia Structure Wood 1881 50749 50655 Shoemaker Covered Bridge Pine Township Columbia Structure Wood 1881 378 378 Furnace Covered Bridge Cleveland Township Columbia Structure Wood 1882 50757 50663 Johnson Covered Bridge Cleveland Township Columbia Structure Wood 1882 50753 50659 Wanich Covered Bridge Hemlock Township Columbia Structure Wood 1884 50750 50656 Fowlersville Covered Bridge North Centre Township Columbia Structure Wood 1886 379 379 Y-Covered Bridge Sugarloaf Township Columbia Structure Wood 1887 50768 50674

E.196 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Resource Inventory Historic Name Municipality County Material Date Built Key # Category ID

Berwick Armory Berwick Borough Columbia Building Brick 1922 96444 96345 Davis, Brigadier General Edward L., Armory Berwick Borough Columbia Building Brick 1922 96444 96345 Kramer Covered Bridge Greenwood Township Columbia Structure Wood 50751 50657 Snyder Covered Bridge Locust Township Columbia Structure Wood 50759 50665 Montgomery, Gen. William, House Danville Borough Montour Building Stone 1777 1004 985 Danville Historic District Danville Borough Montour District Brick 1792 92557 92461 Keefers Covered Bridge Liberty Township Montour Structure 1853 1003 984 Brown, Go lieb, Covered Bridge Liberty Township Montour Structure Wood 1881 50832 50738 Beaver, Thomas, Free Library & Danville Y.M.C.A. Danville Borough Montour Building Stone 1886 82497 82402 Danville West Market Street Historic District Danville Borough Montour District 86597 86502 Mooresburg Schoolhouse Liberty Township Montour Building Brick 1626 1607 Beck House Sunbury City Northumberland Building Stone 1796 1030 1011 Snyder, Caspar, House Lower Augusta Township Northumberland Building Brick 1798 1031 1012 Hopper-Snyder Homestead Delaware Township Northumberland Building Stone 1800 1034 1015 Sodom Schoolhouse West Chillisquaque Township Northumberland Building Stone 1814 1037 1018 Zion Stone Church Rockefeller Township Northumberland Building Stone 1814 50998 50904 Crosskeys Northumberland Borough Northumberland Building Brick 1815 1042 1023 Priestley, Dr. Joseph, House Northumberland Borough Northumberland Building Brick 1815 1042 1023 Kirk, William, House Delaware Township Northumberland Building Brick 1828 1039 1020 Pa. Canal/Limestone Run Aquaduct- W Branch Division Milton Borough Northumberland Site 1830 1041 1022 Rishel Covered Bridge West Chillisquaque Township Northumberland Structure Wood 1830 50830 50736 Warrior Run Presbyterian Church Delaware Township Northumberland Building Brick 1835 1036 1017 Cameron, Col. James, House West Chillisquaque Township Northumberland Building Brick 1842 86748 86653 Hower-Slote House Lewis Township Northumberland Building Brick 1850 1032 1013

Appendix E.197 Resource Inventory Historic Name Municipality County Material Date Built Key # Category ID

Northumberland County Courthouse Sunbury City Northumberland Building Brick 1861 1040 1021 Himmel's Church Covered Bridge Washington Township Northumberland Structure Wood 1874 50831 50737 Knoebel, Lawrence Covered Bridge Ralpho Township Northumberland Structure Wood 1875 50771 50677 Kriegbaum Covered Bridge Ralpho Township Northumberland Structure Wood 1876 50769 50675 Richards Covered Bridge Ralpho Township Northumberland Structure Wood 1880 50770 50676 Brown, Go lieb, Covered Bridge East Chillisquaque Township Northumberland Structure Wood 1881 50832 50738 Keefer Sta on Covered Bridge Upper Augusta Township Northumberland Structure Wood 1888 50829 50735 Allenwood River Bridge Delaware Township Northumberland Structure Steel 1895 52 52 Milton Armory Milton Borough Northumberland Building Brick 1922 96447 96348 Watsontown River Bridge Watsontown Borough Northumberland Structure Concrete 1927 239 239 Sunbury Armory Upper Augusta Township Northumberland Building Brick 1938 96471 96372 Sunbury Historic District Sunbury City Northumberland District Log 50965 50871 Lewisburg Historic District West Chillisquaque Township Northumberland District Brick 87134 87038 Northumberland Historic District Northumberland Borough Northumberland District Wood 86726 86631 Milton Historic District Milton Borough Northumberland District 77368 77274 Milton Freight Sta on Milton Borough Northumberland Building Brick 1038 1019 Snyder, Governor Simon, Mansion Selinsgrove Borough Snyder Building Stone 1800 845 827 Selinsgrove Hall & Siebert Hall Selinsgrove Borough Snyder Building Brick 1858 846 828 Dresse's Covered Bridge Beaver Township Snyder Structure Wood 1870 50842 50748 Gross Covered Bridge Spring Township Snyder Structure Wood 1878 847 829 Aline Covered Bridge Perry Township Snyder Structure Wood 1884 50843 50749 Bridge between Monroe & Penn Townships Monroe Township Snyder Structure Concrete 1919 148 148 Bridge between Monroe & Penn Townships Penn Township Snyder Structure Concrete 1919 148 148 North Oriental Bridge Perry Township Snyder Structure Wood 86604 86509 East Oriental Covered Bridge Perry Township Snyder Structure Wood 86603 86508

E.198 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Resource Inventory Historic Name Municipality County Material Date Built Key # Category ID Packwood House Lewisburg Borough Union Building Wood 1813 831 813 American Hotel Lewisburg Borough Union Building Wood 1813 831 813 Old Union County Courthouse New Berlin Borough Union Building Brick 1815 825 807 Hassenplug Bridge Miffl inburg Borough Union Structure Wood 1825 50855 50761 New Berlin Presbyterian Church New Berlin Borough Union Building Brick 1843 823 805 Buff alo Presbyterian Church Buff alo Township Union Building Brick 1846 830 812 Millmont Red Bridge Hartley Township Union Structure Wood 1855 50854 50760 Slifer House Kelly Township Union Building Brick 1861 822 804 Chamberlin Iron Front Building Lewisburg Borough Union Building Brick 1868 829 811 Heiss, William A. House & Buggy Shop Miffl inburg Borough Union Building Wood 1870 826 808 Factory Covered Bridge White Deer Township Union Structure Wood 1880 50856 50762 Hayes Bridge West Buff alo Township Union Structure Wood 1882 86600 86505 Reading Railroad Freight Sta on Lewisburg Borough Union Building Brick 1884 92734 92638 Griff ey, Benjamin, House Gregg Township Union Building Brick 1886 828 810 Allenwood River Bridge Gregg Township Union Structure Steel 1895 52 52 Watsontown River Bridge White Deer Township Union Structure Concrete 1927 239 239 Civilian Conserva on Corps Hartley Township Union Structure Stone 1933 88878 88782 CCC Hartley Township Union Structure Stone 1933 88878 88782 Halfway Lake Dam (R.B. Winter State Park) Hartley Township Union Structure Stone 1933 88878 88782 Lewisburg Armory East Buff alo Township Union Building Brick 1938 96469 96370 Lewisburg Historic District Lewisburg Borough Union District Brick 87134 87038 Miffl inburg Historic District Miffl inburg Borough Union District 824 806

Appendix E.199 A F - H R - P E F N R Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID Roaring Creek Valley Quaker Mee ng House Columbia Locust Township Building Log 1796 21263 21172 West Creek Mill Historic District Columbia Benton Township District Tin 1800 112484 109586 German School Columbia Miffl in Township Building Brick 1850 21291 21200 Patrio c Sons of America, Washington Camp No. 684 Columbia Miffl in Township Building Brick 1850 21291 21200 Trembly, William, House & Store Columbia Sco Township Building Brick 1852 21362 21271

Exchange Hotel Columbia Miffl in Township Building Weatherboard 1860 21285 21194

Ye Olde Hotel Columbia Miffl in Township Building Weatherboard 1860 21285 21194 Carver Hall, Bloomsburg University Columbia Bloomsburg town Building 1867 21236 21145 Schain's Department Store Columbia Berwick Borough Building Brick 1880 20563 20472 East Bloomsburg River Bridge Columbia Catawissa Township Structure Steel 1893 394 394 County Bridge #42 Columbia Main Township Structure Steel 1903 132749 119486 Old Science Hall, Bloomsburg University Columbia Bloomsburg town Building 1906 119562 112215 Chestnut Street School Columbia Berwick Borough Building Brick 1911 20528 20437 Columbia Locust Township Structure Concrete 1913 21264 21173 Fenstemaker Alumni House, Bloomsburg University Columbia Bloomsburg town Building Wood 1929 119550 112211 Benjamin Franklin Hall, Bloomsburg University Columbia Bloomsburg town Building Brick 1930 119553 112212 Junior High School Building Columbia Bloomsburg town Building 1939 119565 112216 Laboratory High School Columbia Bloomsburg town Building 1939 119565 112216 Navy Hall, Bloomsburg University Columbia Bloomsburg town Building 1939 119565 112216

Magee Center, Bloomsburg University Columbia Bloomsburg town Building Stone 1946 119559 112214 Magee, Harry L., Residence Columbia Bloomsburg town Building Stone 1946 119559 112214

F.200 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID Market Street School Columbia Berwick Borough Building 20531 20440 Sco Township School Columbia Sco Township Building 110559 108358 Benton Boro Building Columbia Benton Borough Building 106145 106043 Briar Creek School/Boroughhall Columbia Briar Creek Borough Building 110379 108278 Exchange Historic District Montour Anthony Township District 1840 101867 101767 Welsh Hill Historic District Montour Danville Borough District 1850 92556 92460 Voight, Daniel, House Montour Mayberry Township Building Brick 1858 115443 110660 Danville State Hospital Montour Mahoning Township District Brick 1869 106692 106313

State Hospital for the Insane at Danville Montour Mahoning Township District Brick 1869 106692 106313 Montour County Courthouse Montour Danville Borough Building Brick 1871 125979 114138 Danville State Hospital, Buildings No. 31 & 33 Montour Mahoning Township Building Wood 1880 86729 86634 Occupa onal Therapy Buildings Montour Mahoning Township Building Wood 1880 86729 86634 Washingtonville Bridge Montour Derry Township Structure Steel 1887 419 419 Gatehouse (49) & Garage (49a) Montour Mahoning Township 1888 106694 106314 Danville State Hospital, Buildings No. 49 & 49a Montour Mahoning Township 1888 106694 106314 Danville State Hospital, Buildings No. 18 & 18.1 Montour Mahoning Township Building Brick 1899 86731 86636 Edgewood & Edgewood Annex Montour Mahoning Township Building Brick 1899 86731 86636 Farmers' Na onal Bank at Exchange Montour Anthony Township Building 1907 101868 101768 Thompson Bridge Montour Valley Township Structure Concrete 1915 136975 123712

Danville State Hospital, Building No. 16 Montour Mahoning Township Building Brick 1932 86730 86635 Oakwood Montour Mahoning Township Building Brick 1932 86730 86635 Danville State Hospital, Industrial Buildings Montour Mahoning Township Building 102250 102149

Appendix F.201 Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID

Yarn Factory Montour Danville Borough Building 105033 104932 Farm Cluster No. 2 Montour Mahoning Township Building 102252 102151 Quitman Mill Property Montour Mayberry Township Building Stone 89636 89540 Danville State Hospital, Farm Cluster No. 3 Montour Mahoning Township Building 102249 102148 Industrial Buildings (Cluster B) Montour Mahoning Township Building 102250 102149 Mahoning Township Building Montour Mahoning Township Building Brick 90421 90325 Washingtonville Delong, Jane, Memorial Hall Montour Borough Building Brick 90420 90324 West Hemlock Sandel, Carl, Property Montour Township Building Weatherboard 97431 97332 Danville State Hospital, Farm Cluster No. 2 Montour Mahoning Township Building 102252 102151 Farm Cluster No. 3 Montour Mahoning Township Building 102249 102148 Turbotville Historic District Northumberland Turbotville Borough District 1800 119648 112254 Armstrong, Anthony, Farm Northumberland Turbot Township Building Brick 1810 112149 109405 Wa s, John, Farm Northumberland Point Township Building Asphalt 1816 110742 108469 Aldine Hotel Northumberland Sunbury City Building Brick 1850 86734 86639 Young, James C., Residence Northumberland Delaware Township Building Brick 1850 102352 102251 Phillips, Layman Larue & Mary Louse, Residence Northumberland Delaware Township Building Brick 1850 102355 102254 Northumberland Kohl, Lena D., Property Northumberland Borough Building 1850 97744 97644 West Chillisquaque Frederick Brothers Farmstead Northumberland Township Building Brick 1856 127111 115122 West Chillisquaque Chillisquaque Creek Farm Northumberland Township Building Brick 1856 127111 115122 Nicholas, Donald I., Property Northumberland Delaware Township Building Wood 1860 102358 102257

F.202 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID

Watsontown Historic District Northumberland Watsontown Borough District 1860 112509 109604 Shamokin U.S. Post Offi ce Northumberland Shamokin City Building Stone 1865 63299 63205 Snydertown Public School Northumberland Snydertown Borough Building Brick 1867 116753 111219 Messner, Mrs. Kenneth, Residence Northumberland Delaware Township Building Wood 1870 102356 102255 Lower Sagon Northumberland Coal Township District Vinyl 1870 119718 112283 Eisenbrown, Penrose Farm Northumberland Washington Township Building Wood 1871 92229 92133 Meadowbrook Farm Northumberland Washington Township Building Wood 1871 92229 92133

Saint Edward's Roman Catholic Church Northumberland Shamokin City Building Stone 1873 103383 103282 Shamokin, Sunbury, & Lewisburg Railroad Sta on Northumberland Sunbury City Building Brick 1880 86740 86645 Saint Ma hews Lutheran Church & Parsonage Northumberland Mount Carmel Borough Building Brick 1888 111776 109176 Lower Mahanoy Ressler, Frame House Property Northumberland Township Building Asphalt 1892 101248 101148 Penn-Lee Hotel Northumberland Shamokin City Building 1900 63294 63200 Our Mother of Consola on Church & School Northumberland Mount Carmel Borough Building Limestone 1905 111762 109162 Madison, James, Hotel Northumberland Shamokin City Building Brick 1905 63296 63202 Sagon/Webster School Northumberland Coal Township Building Brick 1905 119715 112282 Lehigh Valley & Pennsylvania Railroad Mount Carmel Depot Northumberland Township Building Weatherboard 1907 111770 109170 Lehigh Valley & Pennsylvania Railroad Depot Northumberland Mount Carmel Borough Building Weatherboard 1907 111770 109170 Powers-Buinoski-Hodrick House Northumberland Mount Carmel Borough Building Aluminum 1913 111772 109172 Shamokin Middle (High) School Northumberland Shamokin City Building Brick 1914 63281 63187 Lower Mahanoy Klock Property Northumberland Township Building Stone 1925 101249 101149

Appendix F.203 Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID

Mount Carmel Saint Marys Roman Catholic School Northumberland Township Building Brick 1926 118954 111967 Turbotville Community Hall Northumberland Turbotville Borough Building Stone 1928 107873 107200 Northumberland Mount Carmel Borough Structure Steel 1930 137219 123956 Anthracite Fire Company Northumberland Mount Carmel Borough Building 111075 108767 Mount Carmel Mount Carmel Viaduct Bridge Northumberland Township Structure 111299 108887 Mertz Family Historic District Northumberland Point Township District 110834 108547 Sunbury to Erie Division, Pennsylvania Northumberland Railroad Northumberland Borough District 111039 108744 West Chillisquaque Keyser Property Northumberland Township Building 110836 108549 Lower Augusta Johnson Propoerty Northumberland Township Building 100496 100396 Upper Augusta Packer Farmhouse Northumberland Township Building Brick 86725 86630 Sunbury to Erie Division, Pennsylvania Railroad Northumberland Point Township District 111039 108744 West Chillisquaque Dentler Farm Property Northumberland Township Building 110835 108548 West Chillisquaque Saint Joseph's Catholic Cemetery Northumberland Township Site 111070 108762 West Chillisquaque Barnhart Farm Property Northumberland Township Building 110837 108550 Dentler Farm Property Northumberland Point Township Building 110835 108548 Gullick Farm Property Northumberland Point Township Building 110833 108546 Susquehanna Mills Historic District Northumberland Sunbury City District 95070 94974 Shamokin Historic District Northumberland Shamokin City District 93741 93645

F.204 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID

Mount Carmel Locust Gap Colliery; Reading Antracite Northumberland Township Structure 92958 92862 Sunbury to Erie Division, Pennsylvania West Chillisquaque Railroad Northumberland Township District 111039 108744 Buck Ridge Mine & Ranshaw Village Northumberland Coal Township District 116408 111025 Mount Carmel Viaduct Bridge Northumberland Mount Carmel Borough Structure 111299 108887 Pomfret Castle: a Fron er Fort Snyder West Perry Township Building Stone 1756 87181 87085 Stees, Frederick Mill (Schnee's Mill) Snyder Perry Township District Stone 1769 47329 47235 Herrold, George, House Snyder Union Township Building Wood 1780 87177 87081 Herrold Family Structures No. 1 Snyder Union Township Building Wood 1780 87177 87081 Backus-Leight Dwelling Snyder Perry Township Building Stone 1800 87178 87082 Conrad/Miller Farm Snyder Penn Township Building Stone 1800 100855 100755 Troxelville Historic District Snyder Adams Township District Wood 1800 87182 87086 Herrold, Simon, House Snyder Union Township Building Stone 1813 110489 108331 Herrold Family Structures No. 2 Snyder Union Township Building Stone 1813 110489 108331 Herrold, Frederick, House Snyder Chapman Township Building Stone 1815 110486 108330 Herrold Family Structures No. 3 Snyder Chapman Township Building Stone 1815 110486 108330 Swartz, Henry Dwelling Snyder Adams Township Building Stone 1817 87175 87079 Pawling, Joseph, Estate Snyder Penn Township Building Stone 1820 87169 87073 Shamokin Dam Ho enstein, Isaac, House Snyder Borough Building Brick 1820 87170 87074 Saint Johns Church & Cemetery Snyder Chapman Township Building 1820 110495 108333

Graybill, Christain & Barbara, Residence Snyder Jackson Township Building Brick 1820 115363 110612 Herrold Family Structures No. 5 Snyder Union Township Building Stone 1823 110510 108338 Blasser-Herrold House Snyder Union Township Building Stone 1823 110510 108338 Pennsylvania Canal, Susquehanna Division Snyder Chapman Township 1827 110519 108341

Appendix F.205 Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID

Pennsylvania Canal, Susquehanna Division Snyder Union Township 1827 110519 108341 Canal Store Snyder Union Township Building Wood 1840 110492 108332 Herman, George E., Farm Snyder Jackson Township Building Brick 1840 115392 110629 Middleburg Historic District Snyder Middleburg Borough District 1850 102145 102045 Witmer Farmstead Snyder Union Township Building Brick 1850 110504 108336 Swineford Historic District Snyder Middleburg Borough District 1850 102145 102045

Herman's School House Snyder Penn Township Building Weatherboard 1854 102880 102779 App's Mill Snyder Monroe Township Building Stone 1859 97013 96914 Kantz House Snyder Penn Township Building Brick 1868 106166 106064

Selingsgrove State Colony for Epilep cs Snyder Penn Township District Brick 1868 120506 112516 Farm Group Property Snyder Penn Township District Brick 1868 120506 112516 Herrold-Reichenbach House & Store Snyder Chapman Township Building Wood 1870 110507 108337 Rine, J.S., House Snyder Chapman Township Building Wood 1890 110516 108340 McKees Half Falls Historic District Snyder Chapman Township District 1890 110513 108339 Independence School Snyder Chapman Township Building Wood 1890 110501 108335 Snyder Franklin Township Structure Metal 1890 138098 124835 Vine Street Bridge Snyder Jackson Township Structure 1932 115959 110843 PP&L Sunbury Steam Electric Sta on Snyder Monroe Township District 1949 109990 108010 Shamokin Dam PP&L Sunbury Steam Electric Sta on Snyder Borough District 1949 109990 108010 Brown Farm Property Snyder Monroe Township Building 110832 108545 Hehn, Captain J., Farm Snyder Monroe Township Building 110829 108542 Blair Property Snyder Monroe Township Building 110822 108535 Hoch, Jacob, Jr., Farm Snyder Monroe Township Building 110831 108544 Hoch, Jacob, Farm Property Snyder Monroe Township Building 110830 108543

F.206 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID

Herrold Family Structures No. 4 Snyder Union Township Building Stone 110498 108334 Beavertown Historic District Snyder Beavertown Borough District 119110 112043 App, Solomon, Farm Snyder Monroe Township Building 110826 108539 Herrold, W.G., House Snyder Union Township Building Stone 110498 108334 Wagner, William, Farm Snyder Monroe Township Building 110838 108551 Shamokin Dam Hummel, Daniel, Tavern Snyder Borough Building 110824 108537 Meiser, Frederick, Grist Mill Snyder Perry Township Building Brick 87180 87084 App Family Homestead Property Snyder Monroe Township Building 110828 108541 Erdly Farm Snyder Penn Township Building 119694 112275 Shamokin Dam Aurand Hotel Snyder Borough Building 110825 108538 Kessler, James, Property Snyder Monroe Township Building 110823 108536 Selinsgrove Historic District Snyder District 121027 112656 Chamberlin-Hoff a-Grove Mill Union Kelly Township Building Wood 1783 87103 87007 Dale-Walker House Union Buff alo Township Building Limestone 1793 87104 87008 Dale-Engle-Walker House Union Buff alo Township Building Limestone 1793 87104 87008 Dale, Samuel, House Union Buff alo Township Building Limestone 1793 87104 87008 Penns Valley & Brush Valley Rural Historic District Union Hartley Township District Weatherboard 1800 119404 112142 Kling, Richard & Shirley, Farm Union White Deer Township Asphalt 1815 112148 109404 McCurley, Jacob, Farm Union White Deer Township Asphalt 1815 112148 109404 New Berlin Historic District Union New Berlin Borough District 1817 87117 87021 Cameron-Harrison-Cook House Union Lewisburg Borough Building Brick 1828 87102 87006 Dill-Stoughton Building Union Lewisburg Borough Building Brick 1828 87106 87010 Zeller/Walters Farmstead Union East Buff alo Township Building Brick 1840 30907 30815 Union Church Union Hartleton Borough Building Brick 1841 102255 102154

Appendix F.207 Resource Date Inventory Historic Name County Municipality Material Key # Category Built ID

Lowry, Robert, House Union Lewisburg Borough Building Brick 1856 87116 87020 Brubaker-S tzer-Glover House Union Miffl inburg Borough Building Brick 1879 87100 87004 Bucknell Hall Union Lewisburg Borough Building Brick 1886 87101 87005 Raudenbush-Walter House Union Buff alo Township Building Brick 1886 87120 87024 Union Gregg Township Structure Wrought Iron 1889 138862 125599 Beaver Memorial United Methodist Church Union Lewisburg Borough Building Stone 1890 96341 96242 Union Hartley Township Structure Steel 1904 138876 125613 Pennsylvania Village for Feeble-Minded Sandstone/ Women Union Hartley Township District Brownstone 1913 64467 64373 Sandstone/ Laurelton State Hospital Union Hartley Township District Brownstone 1913 64467 64373 Union West Buff alo Township Structure Concrete 1916 138914 125651 Gas Sta on Union Gregg Township Building Wood 1928 87152 87056 Vine Street Bridge Union New Berlin Borough Structure 1932 115959 110843 U.S. Northeastern Peniten ary Union Kelly Township Brick 1932 127400 115416 Lewisburg Peniten ary Union Kelly Township Brick 1932 127400 115416 Campus Theatre Union Lewisburg Borough Building Brick 1939 101979 101879 Dietrich Farm Union Buff alo Township Building Brick 119706 112279 Weller Property Union Union Township Building 110808 108521 Trexler Property Union Union Township Building 111069 108761 Old Rte. 15 Bridge Union Gregg Township Structure 97354 97255 Winfi eld Historic District Union Union Township District 110839 108552

F.208 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study A G - T F M A O Pat Arduini, Miffl inburg Heritage & Revitalization Association Andrea Bashore, Executive Director, Joseph Priestley House Gary Bloss, Executive Director, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Caru Bowns, Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture Dept., Penn State University Jim Charles, Selinsgrove resident Bob Deff ner, Manager, R.B. Winter State Park, DCNR Dennis DeMara, Regional Supervisor, Bureau of Recreation & Conservation. DCNR Daniel Greene, Executive Director & Elm Street Manager, Lewisburg Neighborhoods Corp. Bette Grey, Vice President, Berwick Borough Council Becky Hagenbaugh, Main Street Manager, Miffl inburg Heritage & Revitalization Association Stuart Hartman, Catawissa Area Revitalization & Enhancement Helen ‘Sis’ Hause, Montour County Historical Society Barbara Heintz, Main Street Manager,Downtown Bloomsburg Inc, Cindy Inkrote, Director, Northumberland County Historical Society Kathy Jeremiah, Director, Northumberland County Tourism Offi ce Barb Johnson, Sunbury Revitalization, Inc Sandra Kehoe-Forutan, Professor, Department of Geography & Eart Science, Bloomsburg University Jean Knouse, Executive Director, Danville Area Community Center David ‘Otto’ Kurecian, Director, Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau Pam Mabus, Community Planner, Union County Planning Commission Forrest McLintock, President, Catawissa Area Revitalization Inc. Andrew Miller, Executive Director, Susquehanna River Valley Visistors Bureau Jessica Newell, Main Street Manager, Selinsgrove Projects, Inc. Deb Owens, Main Street Manager, The Improved Milton Experience Dave Ramsey, Northumberland resident Dawn Raszecewski, Director of Communications & Resources, Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Alf Siewers, Assistant Professor of Medieval Literature, English Dept., Bucknell University Ed Slavishak, Assistant Professor of History, Susquehanna Univeristy Linda Sterling, Directory, Lewisburg Downtown Partnership Vanyla Tierney, Bureau of Recreation & Conservation, DCNR Erica Shames, Downtown Lewisburg Partnership Marty Walzer, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Kim Wheeler, Community Planner & Local Government Specialist, Northcentral Region, DCED Jim Wilson, Executive Director & Main Street Manager, Danville Business Alliance Angela Zimmerman, Executive Director, Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority

Appendix G.209 S B

Alliance of Na onal Heritage Areas “Economic Impact of Heritage Tourism Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania County Data Book. Montour Spending- 2005” ANHA, 2005. County. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Dept. of Commerce, 2007.

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210 Middle Susquehanna Heritage Area Feasibility Study Fenstermacher,Ted. Tracking Yesterday. 1st ed. Compila on of News Ar cles. History of County and Township Aff airs in Northumberland, Montour, Snyder and Bloomsburg: Press-Enterprise INC., 1983. Union Coun es, 1772-1938. In WPA Wri ngs of the Northumberland County Historical Society. Sunbury, PA, 1938. Fenstermacher, Ted. “Compe on Spurred Pennsylvania Canal.” The Press- Enterprise, A Bicentennial View, July 4, 1976, p.5. History of Northumberland County Pennsylvania with Illustra ons. Philadelphia: Everts and Stewart, 1876. Fenstermacher, Ted. “Steamboat Explosion.” The Press-Enterprise, March 24, 1979. History Of Columbia And Montour Coun es, Pennsylvania . 1st ed. J.H. Ba le. Chicago: A. Warner & Co., 1887. Fenstermacher, Ted. “ Tracking Yesterday: Thousands toiled to wrest canals from Sipe,C. Hale. The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania: Tragedies on the Historical and Bigraphical Annals of Columbia and Montour Coun es Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Fron er. 2nd ed. Lewisburg: Wennawoods Publishing, 1st ed. 1, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1915 1999. Historical and Bigraphical Annals of Columbia and Montour Coun es Pennsylvania. Fenstermacher, Ted. More Tracking Yesterday. 1st ed. Bloomsburg: Press 1st ed. 2, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1915. Enterprise, INC., 1984. Hoff mann, Philip J., and William H. Shank. A Picture-Journey Along the Fenstermacher, Ted. “Tracking Yesterday: Area forts hub of security.” The Press- Pennsylvania Main Line Canal, 1826-1857. York, PA: American Canal and Enterprise, October 18,1982, p.14. Transporta on Center, 1993.

Ferry, Natalie M. “Percep ons of the Force Changing Central Pennsylvania’s Industries in Northumberland County Pennsylvania 1772-1939, vol. I &II. In WPAs. Economy” Informa onal Briefs, Penn State Coopera ve Extension. Sunbury, PA, 1939. University Park 2002. Kalp, Lois. A Town on the Susquehanna, 1769-1975. Lewisburg: Colonial Prin ng, Foulke, Arthur Toye. My Danville, Where the Bright Waters Meet; Historical 1980. Sketches of His Hometown Danville, Pennsylvania. N. Quincy, Mass: Christopher Pub. House, 1969. Kline, Benjamin and Taber, Thomas. Logging Railroad Era of Lumbering in Pennsylvania Series. 13 Vols. Stratsburg: Pennsylvania Historical & Foulke, Arthur Toye. Picture-Book for Proud Lovers of Danville, Montour County, Museum Commission, 1971-1973. and Riverside, Pa. North Quincy, Mass: Christopher Pub. House, 1976. Freeze,John. A History Of Columbia County, Pennsylvania From The Lontz, M. B. Early Railroads of Union County Pennsylvania. Lewisburg, PA: M.B. Earliest Times. 1st ed. Bloomsburg: Elwell & Bi enbender, Publishers, Lontz, 2002. 1883. Marsh, B. Paleoperiglacial Landscapes of Central Pennsylvania: Sixty-second “Fron er Fort Was Built When War cry Terrorized Region.” Berwick Enterprise: Annual Reunion, Northeast Friends of the Pleistocene : 1999 trip : May Sesquentennial Edi on, June 26, 1936. 22-23, 1999. Lewisburg, Pa: The University, 1999.

Glaze, Oliver. “Ra ing on the Susquehanna River”. The Snyder County Historical Miller, R. M., & Pencak, W. Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth. Society Bulle n, Vol 2, no. 5, 1943. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.Mancall, Peter. Valley of Opportunity: Economic Culture along the Upper Susquehanna, Graham, Jenny. Revolu onary in Exile: The Emigra on of Joseph Priestley to 1700-1800. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2002. America, 1794-1804. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1995. McCullough, Robert, and Walter Leuba. The Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. York, Pa: American Canal and Transporta on Center, 1973.

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Murphy, R. E., & Murphy, M. F. Pennsylvania; A Regional Geography. Harrisburg, Prolix, Peregrine. Journey Through Pennsylvania, 1835, by Canal, Rail, and Stage Pa: Pennsylvania Book Service, 1937. Coach. York, Pa: American Canal and Transporta on Center, 1975. Reich, Michael. “Last Bloom Hangings in 1878.” The Press-Enterprise, June 10, Northumberland County Historical Society Proceedings and Addresses, vols. I- 2001. XXIX. Sunbury, PA: The Sunbury Item. Reynolds, Patrick M. “Pennsylvania Profi les: The Hook and Eye.” Sunday Patriot Northumberland Co., Pa. Northumberland County History Historic Site Inventory. News, Harrisburg, PA, November 4, 1990. [s.l.]: The Commission, 1977. The Northumberland County Historical Society. Early Events in the Susquehanna Ra ery, Liz. “Inventor didn’t take dad’s advice.” The Press-Enterprise, December Valley. Millville, Pa: Pricision Printers Inc., 1981. 11, 2006, p.1,5.

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