Shawnee on the Delaware in Pennsylvania
Upon arrival at our villa at the Shawnee Ridge Top Resort, we had several visitors that just strolled by. First there were a flock (sometimes called a rafter) of twelve Wild Turkeys, about an hour later three deer (Does) walked by. The very next day we really had the ultimate surprise. We had just returned from grocery shopping, Bobbie had already taken an armload of bags into the house and Cullen was gathering up another load from the rear of the car when he heard a noise behind him. This female black bear was walking right toward Cullen. He quickly threw the groceries back into the car and slammed the rear deck down and jumped into the front seat while shouting for Bobbie (in the house) to get the camera.
For the farm boy who never had much of a chance at education, providing that opportunity for others was always an important priority. As early as 1909, Hershey and his wife Catherine established the Hershey Industrial School, a school for orphan boys we know today as the Milton Hershey School. In 1918 and with no fanfare, Hershey transferred the bulk of his considerable wealth, including ownership in the Hershey Chocolate Company, to the Hershey Industrial School. I can't wait to purchase his biography when I get home so I can learn more about this wonderful man!
Ashland Pennsylvania
Another interesting side trip was to the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine in Ashland, PA. We actually were taken inside the mine, 1800 feet inward and 400 feet down. Temperature was a brisk 52 degrees and water dripped from the ceiling. The coal here is anthracite, one the highest grades of coal available.
In 1828 bustling coal towns filled with opportunists, adventurers and fortune hunters were popping up overnight. Prospectors scarred the mountains with pits and trial shafts. When these filled with water at 30 to 40 feet, they'd dig others. Soon, operators discovered that they could dig much farther by tunneling straight into the mountain from a ravine or the foot of a hill using horizontal mining.The original Pioneer Colliery was operated in Mahanoy Mountain at Ashland in the late 19th century and gave its name to the Pioneer Tunnel, which was owned and operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company from 1911 to 1931. It echoed the grunts of gritty-faced miners, the crunch of pick against coal, the screech of overloaded iron wheels. Water dripped from the dank, heavy timbering overhead to mix with the sweat of straining mules. Oil torches, and later, carbide lamps flickered in the darkness, pointing bright fingers at the glistening rock. And when the day was over, scores of tired, dirty eyes came out and squinted in the fading light. Electricity sparked the Anthracite industry to its peak and greatly improved the miner's lot in life. Electric mine motors pulled the ore cars and huge motors pumped away the water. Brilliant lights brought day into the dark. A trip through Pioneer Tunnel today brings back some of the early miner's lore - his way of life.
In 1828 bustling coal towns filled with opportunists, adventurers and fortune hunters were popping up overnight. Prospectors scarred the mountains with pits and trial shafts. When these filled with water at 30 to 40 feet, they'd dig others. Soon, operators discovered that they could dig much farther by tunneling straight into the mountain from a ravine or the foot of a hill using horizontal mining.The original Pioneer Colliery was operated in Mahanoy Mountain at Ashland in the late 19th century and gave its name to the Pioneer Tunnel, which was owned and operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company from 1911 to 1931. It echoed the grunts of gritty-faced miners, the crunch of pick against coal, the screech of overloaded iron wheels. Water dripped from the dank, heavy timbering overhead to mix with the sweat of straining mules. Oil torches, and later, carbide lamps flickered in the darkness, pointing bright fingers at the glistening rock. And when the day was over, scores of tired, dirty eyes came out and squinted in the fading light. Electricity sparked the Anthracite industry to its peak and greatly improved the miner's lot in life. Electric mine motors pulled the ore cars and huge motors pumped away the water. Brilliant lights brought day into the dark. A trip through Pioneer Tunnel today brings back some of the early miner's lore - his way of life.
Before we left Pennsylvania, we thought we would see some of the water falls. So we headed North to Milford to see the Dingmans Falls only to find out, the area was closed for the Season. So we found a smaller place close by called George Childs Park and we were able to walk right up to the water.