Education
Explore the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania’s Lumber Heritage Region The Underground Railroad was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom, and Pennsylvania’s Lumber Heritage Region played a vital role in this historic movement. Daniel Hughes, a lumb... Read more
Heritage
Explore what 'Moon Trees' are, what they represent, and the connection between the Earth's Forests and the night sky. Learn more about this unique heritage and some of the places it continues to grow within the Lumber Heritage Region under some of the darkest skies East of the Mi... Read more
News & Updates
Van Wagner’s 53rd tree climb in Jefferson County highlights the importance of Pennsylvania’s forests, their connection to our heritage, and the role of sustainable management. Hosted by the Lumber Heritage Region, this climb was part of his mission to ascend the tallest tree at t... Read more
Wood On Glass
Two men work together with a crosscut saw, removing a trunk section of a peeled hemlock tree that broke when it fell across another tree already down. A break like this was undesirable, for sawmills could not create boards from the tree unless the damage was removed. Loggers prid... Read more
Wood On Glass
Bark peelers sometimes used bark shacks as a temporary dwelling. They constructed a wood frame and covered it completely with large hemlock bark slabs. By overlapping the slabs, the men had a relatively rainproof place to sleep. Bark peelers were no doubt used to harsh living ... Read more
Wood On Glass
Clarke photographed this group of unidentified children in a series of images made during the winter. Posing them on a “rough and tumble” log pile was dangerous. Logs could shift suddenly and break bones or instantly crush a person. Children no doubt were cautioned not to climb t... Read more
Wood On Glass
Slides were used to move logs to the rail heads wherever practicable in North Central Pa. Water was used to ice the slides in cold weather. Spikes were often placed at critical junctures to slow the speeding logs. Where slides could not be built due to terrain problems, teams of ... Read more
Wood On Glass
Clarke made a group of images of the Norwich Millpond & Sawmill for the Goodyear Lumber Company. This view from that series. The Norwich operation sawed its first log in 1912 and cut its last lumber on August 20, 1921. Operations consisted of long hours six days per week, only pa... Read more
Wood On Glass
The growth of Cross Fork was phenomenal after a large sawmill opened there on May 3, 1894. Four months after the mill converted its first tree into boards, the local newspaper, the Tribune, boasted that Cross Fork had: “2 drug stores, 3 meat markets, 5 grocery stores, 3 millinery... Read more
Wood On Glass
Frank H. Goodyear of the Goodyear Lumber Company is credited with adapting the basic idea of the portable steam shovel, patented by Henry M. Barnhart in 1884, to the logging industry around 1887. The Barnhart loaders operated from rails fastened to the tops of the log cars; allow... Read more
The Lumber Heritage Trail
Nestled in the heart of Tionesta, Pennsylvania, the Forest County Historical Museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich history of Forest County. Read more
Newsletters
Below is a list of links to the archive of past newsletters from the Lumber Heritage Region (LHR). These newsletters provide valuable insights into the region’s initiatives, updates on ongoing projects, historical features, and information on upcoming events. They are an excellen... Read more
Explore
Dive into the heart of Pennsylvania’s rich history, vibrant arts scene, and breathtaking landscapes with the Lumber Heritage Region as your guide. From fascinating museums and scenic waterways to charming wineries and lively theaters, the LHR offers something for everyone. This i... Read more
Grants & Projects
This short film was produced and shared by the Austin Dam Memorial Association as part of a project in partnership with E.O. Austin Home and Historical Society, the PA Lumber Museum, and the PA Historical & Museum Commission. Financed in part by The Lumber Heritage Region and Pen... Read more
Lodging
Surrounded by the beautiful central Pennsylvania mountains, The Cramer Family Mountain Inn sits in the center of town and is one of the largest well known homes on the mountain top. This B and B is just one mile off of interstate 80 and 25 miles to State College, PA. The property... Read more
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