Penn's Stewards, Spring 2006
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PENN’S STEWARDS News from the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Pennsylvania’s Natural Legacy Spring 2006 disagree with baseball legend Satchel Paige who once said It was also at this time that Pennsylvania’s first state park was I “Never look back, you don’t know what might be gaining on purchased—Valley Forge State Park (which then became Valley you.” When looking ahead, it is helpful to know from where Forge National Historical Park in 1976). you came, so let’s take a look back at the complex history of our state park and forest system. Joseph Rothrock, the Father of Pennsylvania Forestry, and the first President of Pennsylvania In 1921, a National William Penn recognized the value of the Pennsylvania forests Forestry Association, was appointed and in 1681 issued his Charter of Rights to settlers, ordering the the first Commissioner of Forestry in Conference on State colonists to leave one acre of trees for every five acres of land 1895. Rothrock promoted the ideas Parks lead by cleared. This was disregarded, but the woods remained rela- of conservation, recreation and Stephen Mather, tively intact until about the 1850s. Much of the American econ- health. As commissioner, he began purchasing lands for a forest reserve, of the National Park omy in the nineteenth century was based on a forest products Service, was held to industry—demands for lumber were staggering. Early rail some of which later became state needed 80 million crossties a year for expanding lines. Histori- parks. The lands were used to pre- encourage a state- ans estimate that every iron furnace (there were 145 in 1850) serve, protect and propagate forests wide park system needed between 20,000 and 35,000 acres of forest to sustain it. as well as to protect watersheds. modeled after the Hemlock bark was the primary source of tannin for the leather Rothrock applied his knowledge of health and healing to establish camps NPS. At the time of industry. Pennsylvania, abundant with hemlock forests, attracted the conference, four tanneries, which in turn brought sawmills and pulp mills to use in forest reserves for people with lung or bronchial infections. Mont the harvested wood for lumber and paper. parks existed in Alto was the first of these camps. Pennsylvania. Behind the loggers came uncontrolled wild fires, soil erosion, By 1900, 110,000 acres were and flooding, leaving in its wake unbelievable devastation. The acquired for the forest system. It was state’s north central region became known as “Pennsylvania’s also at this time that the status of the Division of Forestry was Desert”. Due to the efforts of visionary leaders and citizens to raised to the State Department of Forestry. protect and restore the land, this area today is known as the “Pennsylvania Wilds.” Pennsylvania lacked fire wardens and lost one acre of land in five to the wildfires that plagued the landscape. Rothrock, and Let Protection Begin his successor Conklin, worked to establish a forest academy, which later became part of the Pennsylvania State University. Spurred by the 1889 flood in Johnstown that took the lives of Other steps taken to reduce the devastation of fires were to 2200 people, Governor James Beaver recognized the need for enact campfire laws and to follow restoring our lands. As timber companies abandoned land, they Oregon’s lead in developing public often failed to pay taxes, and formerly forested lands came up camping areas—or campgrounds. for tax sale. The state began to purchase some of these lands for By managing and containing watershed protection. Around this same time period, citizens campfires, forest fires were greatly were organizing to protect, study and care for forests. Out of reduced. this grew the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, a group that pushed for a state agency devoted to forestry. A New Department A bill signed in 1893 formed the PA Forestry Commission, Gifford Pinchot became the whose role was to extinguish forest fires and to establish a governor of Pennsylvania in 1922. forest reserve system. The system began with the purchase of Pinchot was well known as the 7500 acres in Clinton County to be used to “furnish timber, “Father of Conservation” move- protect the water supply of Young Woman’s Creek, and ment for his work while in the provide recreation for citizens.” Gifford Pinchot with President Roosevelt Photo: DCNR —Continued on Page 6 Page 2 From the President—Marci Mowery s I read the various forays into the woods in search of deer later A publications regard- became adult forays in search of elk. Views of President ing the history of our bear, rattlesnakes, and other wildlife rewarded the Marci Mowery state park and forest quiet and patient hiker, as did vast patches of system in preparation for blueberries and raspberries (although no need to Board of Directors writing the opening story be quiet here—noise was more the order so as to for this newsletter, I was discourage any face-to-face bear encounters!) Chair struck with the concept Linda McKenna Boxx of our personal histories This legacy of connection to the lands of Pennsyl- Chairman, Katherine Mabis McKenna with the outdoors. My vania continues as my family still visits the cabin Foundation guess is that if you are reading this newsletter, you annually, taking with us not one but two new understand that concept….Who took you on your Vice Chair generations to float in the creek and run pell-mell first nature hike? Where did you run in the grasses through the fields. The creek now supports life, Hank Barnette or climb trees? History, for me, is made up by the Chairman Emeritus, Bethlehem Steel a testament to nature’s resilience (and perhaps everyday lives of people, yet we often read history a testament to the fact that I have aged, but we Secretary from the perspective of great battles, accomplish- won’t go there!) Five generations have enjoyed Brian Clark ments, or obstacles. the lands and waters surrounding the cabin; a Buchanan Ingersol cabin that was once part of a lumbering camp What is YOUR personal history with nature? that had previously denuded the forests of the Treasurer “Wilds.” Our personal histories intertwine with Robert Griffith My fascination with Mother Nature began as a this piece of land and the surrounding acreage— Director, PA Recreation and child on our annual family treks to the “cabin” on our lives shaped by the memories. Park Society the Bennett Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek. It is my hope, that as spring spreads her warm Peter S. Duncan My grandfather would load us into his Jeep Wran- breath across the land, that we will load our cars, Former Secretary, PA DER gler—my parents and my two siblings—and drive mount our bicycles, or put on our walking shoes, north for a week of exploration and play in the William C. Forrey and head out into nature, be it an abandoned field, section of state we now call the “PA Wilds.” RBA Group a greenway or trail, a family or rented cabin, a The creek became our pool, its rocks our skipping city or county park, or one of our many public Bruce Heggenstaller stones, its current supplying endless hours of lands, and create another season of memories in V.P. of Operations, Woolrich, Inc. tubing in mere inches of water. The creek at that our personal histories with nature. Clifford L. Jones time held little life, a victim of the byproducts of Former Secretary, PA DER mining, but my young mind was too immature to understand the significance of this lifelessness. Yours in the outdoors —Marci Wendy McLean Lentz Law Do to space limitations, we were unable to put in The cabin sits on the edge of the Quehanna Wild Marci’s “President’s Pick” column—please visit our Raphael J. Musto Area, where wildlife abounds. Our youthful website to read about the Great Allegheny Passage. State Senator, 14th District Tom Norris Former CEO of PH Glatfelter Welcome New Board Members Michael Nutter Philadelphia City Councilman Pennsylvania State Senator Rob Wonderling Senator Wonderling received his B.A. from Allegheny College and has a Masters Degree in John C. Oliver, III Senator Wonderling represents Government Administration from the University Former Secretary, PA DCNR the 24th district which includes of Pennsylvania. He resides in Lower Salford Rob Wonderling parts of Northampton, Lehigh, Township with his wife Kristin and their three Bucks and Montgomery coun- State Senator, 24th District sons. ties. He is Chairman of the Ex-Officio Communications and Technol- Michael DiBerardinis ogy Committee and is working Bruce Heggenstaller Secretary, PA DCNR on numerous legislative initia- Bruce Heggenstaller is Vice The newsletter is published by the tives to reduce business and President of Operations for PA Parks & Forests Foundation. property taxes, lower health care Woolrich, Inc., located in Wool- To be added to the mailing list, or to costs, and promote economic development and job rich Pennsylvania. His areas of comment, contact Marci Mowery at growth in the Commonwealth. [email protected]. responsibility include catalog and internet, distribution, MIS, Editing, layout and design: Prior to becoming a Senator, he served in the production control, marketing, Ellen Zeph—[email protected] Ridge Administration as Deputy Secretary of bottled spring water and all cus- Transportation. He also worked in the private tomer services departments. PA Parks and Forests sector for the Allentown-based Air Products and Foundation Chemicals, and headed up a tri-state business An avid outdoorsman, Bruce has a strong appre- 105 N. Front Street, #305 association called the PENJERDEL Council. He ciation of our Commonwealth's natural assets.