Outta the Way

Broad Top Snake

2012-01-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

If you find yourself walking the woods of the Broad Top mountain be careful where you step or more precisely where you sit. A legend passed from the 1800's tells the tale of a lumberjack who sat on a log one day to enjoy his lunch. His face turned a pale white when he realized his crude bench began to move. Since then tales have surfaced and sightings have occurred of an exorbitant serpent roaming the lands.

Numerous locals in the Huntingdon county area pass along tales of an 18-20 foot long snake with yellow markings around its neck and eyes. Travelers through the rural area have reported running over small logs only to spot them slither across the road. During the 1950's several strip miners in the area also recognized an abnormally sized serpent roaming the mountaintop.

Broad Top mountain isn't the only place in Pennsylvania where large snakes have been spotted. Several years ago in York county a gentleman found a massive snakeskin in the woods. Others in the county have reported spotting a snake as large as 14' long and over 18" inches in diameter. This is certainly not an indigenous creature leading many to believe these sightings should be attributed to careless pet owners. But many years before owning exotic snakes was a common practice, many Gettysburg citizens claimed to have spotted an immeasurable snake slithering throughout the nearby thickets. This vermin evoked so much fear in the residents that he was named "the devil." The vast monster was thought to make his home in a nearby boulder field which was affectionately known as "Devil's Den."
Those who study snakes often attribute these sightings to large black snakes. Though new evidence has surfaced showing that a species known as the pine snake has been spotted throughout several isolated pockets of the Appalachian states. The snake has been known to grow quite lengthy, but don't measure much more than a few inches in width. If you find yourself hiking or camping near the Appalachian mountain range and see a colossal creature slithering by, don't say you weren't warned!

Thunderbirds of Pennsylvania

2012-01-28T04:16:00.000-08:00

Native Americans often paid tribute to large predatory raptors. Most totem poles feature a likeness to a thunderbird perched high on top. The natives often held these mammoth birds in high regard. They believed these feathered creatures held supernatural powers, including the power to cause hazardous storms. It was believed that their flapping wings created thunder, while their dark ominous eyes were capable of causing lightning strikes. The natives passed these tales onto the early settlers, as well as stories of the monstrous birds swooping down to attack deer and even small children. They described the birds as having talons as large as human hands, glassy black beaded eyes, and heads larger than a yard long. But are they real?

It's quite easy to dismiss these tales as simple early American folklore passed down from generation. What's not so easy to dismiss is the inordinate amount of eyewitness accounts in the past two decades. Alarmingly a majority of these reports come from the black forest region of northern Pennsylvania. Several witnesses have reported immense birds roaming the area, ranging in size from 14 to 22 feet in length. Often they resemble small aircraft, yet have the appearance of a large bat. More shockingly is there are a host of witnesses in every county of Pennsylvania who can attest to spotting one of the gargantuan creatures. I do know one thing for certain, on future Outta the Way trips were gonna be keeping our eyes on the sky as well as the road.

"The Town that Was" Centralia, Pennsylvania

2012-01-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

"The Town that Was" is an intriguing and thought provoking documentary on the small mining community of Centralia, Pennsylvania. A town that has lived and died with the coal industry. Centralia was once a bustling borough that thrived on the anthracite coal buried deep beneath the surface, but on the surface was a town of dedicated, hard working individuals. This film mainly pays it focus on them, instead of the fire that burns deep beneath the surface of this near ghost town.

Centralia was once a standard mining community. Row homes with well manicured lawns dotted the streets, while local churches and taverns served as meeting places, and homes away from home. But since a warm Summer day in 1962 the times have been a changing. A controlled trash burn on Labor Day weekend, escaped into an underground mine and ignited the slow burning coal. Since then the fires been spreading and the residents have been fleeing, but not all.

The documentary shares stories of past and present, from current and former residents. As well as their concerns and grievances about the town and the controversy that surrounds it. The picture mainly pays attention to Centralia's youngest resident, John Lokitis. The film follows him through his daily routines of helping to maintain the small town charm that still remains there. The passion he shows for his hometown shines through immensely. Being one of less than a dozen remaining citizens, John thrives to keep the "Town that Was", a town that's never forgotten.
Watch "The Town that Was" free on Hulu

Legend of Hell's Funnel

2012-01-06T12:26:00.000-08:00

On the outskirts of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, there is a ghostly spirit known to haunt the rural surroundings. Off of a seemingly pleasant rural route, lies a dark history. Legends abound telling the tale of a man and his mill.

Early in the 20th century while working feverishly one day in his mill, the man sustained an accident. The sharp spinning blades from the mill dismembered the gentleman's hand. Since the area was quite remote, phones and neighbors were scarce. The man rushed to his home which sat on the property, his wife could do nothing but watch her husband suffer and bleed to death. Being so distraught over the loss of her husband, she took her own life.

The area surrounding their former home is thought to be haunted by the spirits of both. There is a small lake near the home where most of the apparitions have appeared. I've heard stories that people have seen a woman in a white dress walking around the lake, as well as hovering above. There are also tales of those who have been scratched on the arm while approaching the lake.

On a nighttime visit to Hell's Funnel, Outta the Way didn't notice any apparitions, though we did spot a few orbs in photographs and felt an unsettling feeling. "No Trespassing" signs are posted liberally around the area, and Outta the Way asks that you respect these wishes. Besides, maybe it's just my horror movie fascination, but don't all these hand-less spirits usually fashion a hook in the afterlife?

MyMemories Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

Last month we had the opportunity to give away free digital scrapbooking software from MyMemories. The software allows you to create scrapbooking type pages using hundreds of designs and the ability to use any image. It's perfect for hobbyists looking to add an endless supply of scrapbooking options, as well as professionals hoping to spice up web designs. The software is fun and easy to use, and has also just been recently upgraded. MyMemories makes a great holiday gift for many, including yourself. To order visit here. When ordering enter code STMMMS45991 for $10 off and an additional $10 in off in the MyMemories store.

Congratulations to our winner Anna. I have no doubts she's going to make the most of the software. Her love of traveling, her family, and her children will no doubt keep her busy, but hopefully this software will help her commemorate her memories easier. Anna shares her experiences with her family and her full time position being a mom, as well as the joys and turmoils of being pregnant on her blog Wanderlust.

Counrty Junction World's Largest General Store

2011-11-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

Country Junction near the town of Lehighton boasts itself as the World's largest general store. As I got lost strolling through the aisle ways I found their assessment to be true, and never had so much fun being lost. I could have easily spent an hour wandering through their candy lane. Ogling over all the old time favorites, as well as homemade fudge.

Almost every available square inch of floor space is utilized in this massive market. Contained therein is a plethora of assorted merchandise, ranging from hardware, flooring, furniture, and anything in between. The store also specializes in unusual gifts and unique treasures. I found myself in amazement staring at life sized "Scarface" and "Blues Brothers" characters spouting famous lines from their respective films.

Besides all the great merchandise the store also boasts a large petting zoo. The zoo contains llamas, alpacas, bunnies, sheep, and much more. Including a spacious fish pond. If that's not enough the general store also boasts one of the largest wine selections in the region. Definitely something here to appeal to every member of the family, no matter what age!

Paulinskill Viaduct

2011-11-11T01:41:00.000-08:00

Traveling around the byways of New Jersey I began to doubt the directions I found, after all how hard could it be to spot what was once considered a wonder of the world. As I traversed the narrow roadway it began to emerge right before me. Focusing my eyes in between the massive trees the mammoth structure began to develop more. I drove my car to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. There I stood before one of the largest structures of it's kind in the world.

Towering 115 feet above the Paulinskill river, the Hainesburg trestle was originally built by the Delaware,Lackawanna, and Western railroad. The viaduct consists of 7 magnificently designed, intricate arches. Each arch is accessible for inspecting the integrity of the viaduct. Completed in 1910, the Paulinskill viaduct, as it's often referred to was once the largest trestle in the world. That recognition was short lived. The following year after the viaduct opened, a larger more massive one was built in neighboring Pennsylvania. But I wasn't here just to take in architectural beauty and American history.

The rail company used the viaduct until they were eventually outsourced in 1979. In 1985 the tracks were tore up and the viaduct became a popular destination. I approached the massive structure and checked for the normal "No Trespassing" signs, to my surprise, I spotted none. I began my slow ascension to the top of the steep hill, approximately half way up the hill I spotted a climbing rope. I gave the rope a hefty tug to make sure it would support me. I supported myself to the top of the hill and onto the colossal structure. I strode across the behemoth railroading bridge, taking in all the surrounding natural beauty of the area, proceeding with more caution every step I took. Many areas of the extension have no supporting rails and there's nothing between you and a hundred feet dive into the shallow waters below. Adding more danger, the structural stability has also become decayed in numerous areas.

There are also numerous narrow manholes atop the overpass. These manholes lead you into the arches of the Paulinskill viaduct. It's the enthrallment of exploring these internal chambers that brings so many urban explorers to this particular place. Getting inside these arches can be quite difficult and very dangerous. Inside the arches are small ladders which guide you from arch to the next, climbing higher in elevation the further along you traverse. There is nothing inside these arches to prevent you from falling into serious injury, or possibly death. Since the demise of the railroad the locals have been braving trips into these abandoned and dangerous chambers.

The once magnificent arches are now mainly covered in graffiti. Most of it your normal obscene art that most teens so proudly display, but also disturbing satanic images are prevalently displayed. Many who live nearby, believe that inside these chambers, rituals are held to summon evil spirits. Throughout the years several murder victims have been found within the vicinity of the viaduct, and several suicides have also taken place at the abandoned structure. It's also believed that during construction a worker died and was buried within the trestle. Maybe that's why I felt someone was spying on me during my entire visit!

My Memories: Digital Scrapbooking Give-Away

2011-11-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

November is the month for art every day. Folks around the World are encouraged to be creative and artful. In celebration I decided to share "My Memories", not so much my personal experiences but a new software I recently uncovered.
My significant other first introduced me to this digital scrapbooking software. On first mention of it I'll admit I wasn't all that enthused. I thought the idea was ingenious and creative, but it didn't peak my interest too much. The more days that passed the more she began to rave. Finally I took a look and played around with the software myself. Pretty soon we both found ourselves immersed in the software, and began designing new blog headers.

Since then I have begun to realize the potential and the ease at which you can make numerous designs. I have also been creating digital scrapbook pages that I can use to forever remember our unique travels. Putting these pages together has helped me to recall all the fun and interesting moments we've shared, while allowing me to create a digital photo scrapbook that will last forever.

November is the month to be creative and "My Memories Suite" is a fun, unique, and easy way to get your creative juices flowing!
My Memories has given me a copy of their digital scrapbooking software to giveaway!

To enter to win My Memories, pick out your favorite paper pack or layout. Then leave a comment below with the name of your favorite. Make sure I have a way to get in touch with you if you win!

If you don't win or can't wait to get started, I have a great deal for you! Get the MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking Software $10 off!! Find it here MyMemories Scrapbooking Software and use code STMMMS45991 when you check out. Plus, after you purchase the software, you receive $10 off in the MyMemories store. That's a total of $20 off!!

**Make sure to use the code above to get the discount. (Tip: cut and past the code to make sure you get it correct!)

Giveaway winner will be announced on Wednesday November 16, 2011 2pm EST.

Legend of Toad Road and the 7 gates of Hell

2011-11-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

Located in Hellam Township, in the middle of York county, lies a mysterious road. Trout Run road is often referred to by it's more sinister name, Toad road.

According to local legend, there was once an insane asylum located deep in the woods off this road. During the 1800's, there was a large fire in the institution. Due to the Toad road asylum's location in the woods, the firefighters were unable to get back to the hospital to assist in extinguishing the blaze. What ensued was total chaos, something right out of a horror film. Hundreds of criminally insane individuals ran rampant through the dark, dense, woods. The State police were eventually called in to handle the situation. According to local legends the police combed the woods and beat into submission all the patients they were able to track down. It's been thought that for many years there were still survivors in the woods just waiting for a trespasser to find his old burned out home.
Traveling down the road it seems like your average rural thruway. Lively trees dot the pavement, country homes pass by, and farmlands sprinkle the pathways. But just as your immersing up the country beauty, something strange occurs on this seemingly pleasant way. The road becomes unpaved, and quite rocky, a feeling occurs like you should no longer be here. As you pass around a sharp bend, you notice a red gate and an abundance of "No Trespassing" signs. Welcome to the first gate of hell!

The City of York supposedly put these up to discourage folks from trespassing back the paths. Local legend states that there are six more of these gates located in the woods, if you find the seventh gate you'll be on the site of the burned out institution-or you'll be in Hell itself!

The City of York of course denies all these stories, and unfortunately there's not much hard evidence to support the folklore. Many people claim the city did all they could to cover up these heinous activities. Could you blame them?

For the full effect of this trip we would recommend a nighttime visit, when our imaginations seem to run a little bit higher. If you put the windows down, maybe you can still hear the screams and cries of a lost psychopath roaming the woods, still waiting for that unsuspecting visitor!

WARNING!! Entering the woods on Trout Run road without permission will attract an unwanted visitor and they will have no problems issuing a citation for trespassing!

Happy Halloween:13 Horror Movies You Should See!

2011-10-28T01:07:00.000-07:00

Hope you've been enjoying the monster and ghost tales we've been sharing all month. Besides having a passion for visiting odd and haunted locations, I also have a love for cinema, particularly the horror genre. In celebration of Halloween I decided to share some of my favorites, and of course in Outta the Way fashion I chose 13, okay, it's really 14 films that I feel are obscure, hidden or lost horror gems.

One of the first feature length horror films is also one of the best. "Nosferatu" is a 1922 adaptation of Bram Stroker's "Dracula." Instead of the suave Count Dracula that is normally depicted, this film shows a repulsive man portraying the vampire Count Orlok. German actor Max Schreck gave such an eerie and ominous performance that most on the set were even afraid to approach him. In fact some even believed the methodical actor was in actuality a real life vampire.

Director Tod Browning is most famous for directing the horror classic "Dracula," but his 1932 film "Freaks" is far more scary and much more realistic. His use of real sideshow "freaks" in the film was deemed highly controversial, and pretty much ruined the director's career in Hollywood. The film depicts the daily lives and tribulations of sideshow workers from behind the scenes. Many accused Browning of exploiting the sideshow people, they obviously missed the message of the movie!

1955's "Night of the Hunter" portrays a menacing Robert Mitchum, as a villainous Preacher in search of his former cellmate's hidden loot. Only problem is the man's children are the only ones who know where the stolen money is hidden. The movie is a pleasant mix of suspense, fantasy, and Gothic settings, but it's Robert Mitchum's performance as the nightmarish man of the cloth, that will be haunting your psyche for days.

In 1960 the sleazy horror-drama "Peeping Tom" was released to harsh criticism and unprepared crowds. Many were disturbed by the films brutal storyline. The plot revolves around a psychologically disturbed individual who finds art in photographing women, while he simultaneously is murdering them. Most were so put off by the subject matter, that they didn't notice many of the groundbreaking directing styles. Michael Powell's film is a disturbing tale which will leave a lasting impact, it certainly did on numerous top name directors who site the film as highly influential to their careers.

In 1963 most motion picture audiences weren't prepared for the smorgasboard of blood and guts that Herschell Gordon Lewis was about to unveil on them. "Blood Feast" centers around a group of individuals who wish to partake in an ancient Egyptian, religious tradition. Problem is this bizarre ritual involves the eating of human organs and flesh. This film spares no punches, hearts and intestines are shown being torn from bodies, than consumed by unsuspecting participants. This B-movie helped to earn Herschell Gordon Lewis the illustrious title "Godfather of Gore!"

The deranged, psychotic family in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" has nothing on the strange Merrye family, featured in 1964's "Spider Baby." The three remaining relatives from this branch of the family, suffer from a rare and peculiar disease known as Merrye Syndrome. They have a strange fascination with spiders, and a thirst for blood. They've been entrusted into the care of the family chauffeur, a man who tries to steer the young siblings away from evil, but it may already be too late!

David Lynch's 1977 full length premiere "Eraserhead", is an incredibly strange, bizarre, and surreal journey sure to leave you scratching your head. The film delves into the lives of a particularly odd couple and their abnormal newborn child. The world they inhabit is a noisy, industrial, lifeless wasteland. The film has a unique was of delving into the back of our subconsciousness. Haunting you for days, having yourself trying to answer questions that were never asked.

Not too long after horrors appeared at Crystal Lake, many carbon copies tried to repeat that film's success. Though only one other truly stands out from the others in my opinion. 1983's "Sleepaway Camp" is a pretty standard slasher film. Teens gather at a Summer camp, party, have sex, and get iced. What sets this one apart is it's truly unique ending, in fact another film won an Oscar for best screenplay using a very similar ending. Before that kid was seeing dead people, this was the horror ending that had everyone shocked!

When "Re-Animator" hit the big screens in 1985 it gained an immediate cult following. The film centers around Dr. Herbert West and his quest to re-animate dead human tissue. Once the dead come returning, the gags come flying, the blood comes splashing, and the severed heads start...well you'll just have to watch to see that unforgettable scene. The film's mix of pitch black humor, and grisly horror, remain the reason it's remained a cult classic for over 25 years.

"Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" opened in limited release in 1986 and had viewers terrified and horrified at what they were witnessing. The film gives an almost documentary look into time spent with a serial killer. It's frank brutality is sure to offend and be too overwhelming for some viewers. Those who do make it through this provocative film, find the experience to be unsettling, disturbing, and most importantly, thought provoking.

Before Peter Jackson was winning Academy Awards he was serving up a bloody great time in the 1992 zombie comedy "Dead-Alive." Poor Lionel has to deal with his constant overbearing mother all the time, until she becomes infected with a strange virus. Now he might have to kill her! This film is a great blend of slapstick humor, and slayed heads. Be warned this film is often considered to be the goriest movie of all-time, and it definitely lives up to the hype! If the sight of blood repulses you, don't bother! If you always thought it would be great to see Laurel and Hardy meet "Night of the Living Dead," this is right up your alley!

Takashi Miike's 1999 film "Audition" sets up perfectly as a romantic art film. A widowed single father is having difficulties meeting women. During a phony casting call he sets up, he sees the woman of his dreams, before he even meets her, he's infatuated. As their romance begins to blossom, we begin to realize she has a disturbing secret. The tension in the film builds to an insurmountable high, as her dark secrets begin to unveil themselves. Eventually the skeletons don't come out of the closet, they tear the whole damn door down. All her past secrets are revealed, and the nightmare begins!

Many may not consider 2003's "Oldboy" to be a true horror film. The film follows around a man who has just been released from being captive for 15 years, now he has 3 days to find out why, and exact his revenge. As the mystery unravels before us, we begin to realize the torrential physical and psychological tortures that are being placed upon our protagonist. When the truth comes to light and we realize the shocking conclusion, the horrors placed upon our hero are atrocities we wouldn't wish on our worst enemy!

2007's "Teeth" was a nice breath of fresh air in a genre that was literally killing itself! No pun intended! The movie deals with a young Christian girl striving to keep her purity, problem is every man in her life seems to only be interested in one thing. Once Dawn gets violated, she realizes she has a gift or a curse, one that could cause pleasure or pain. Dawn finds a unique way of exacting revenge on these perverted deviants. This film gave women a sense of empowerment not often seen in horror films. While Dawn is exacting her revenge on the degenerate men in the film, women are applauding, while men cross their legs in trepidation!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

"Dawn of the Dead" Mall

2011-10-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

"Slow down, will you wait for me?" I hear echoing through the parking lot.
I turn around to notice my companion lagging far behind, as I briskly rushed to the mall's entry way. I'm not a big fan of shopping, there were no great going out of business sales, yet I made a special detour on our trip to visit this commercial haven.
As I approached the staff elevator I could barely contain myself. I felt like a giddy young boy getting a peep at my first nudie magazine. Or a horror geek posing by a photo of the Godfather of the zombie film, George Romero, which I was! On the wall are various other photos taken during the filming of the horror classic, paying homage to both the mall and the movie.
The Monroeville Mall, on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, played a central character in the movie "Dawn of the Dead." George Romero used the mall as a safe haven for our protagonists, while feeding on our needs for consumerism and gore, I'm still not sure which is the more disturbing habit. Unfortunately most of the mall has been made over tremendously since the filming took place here in 1977, but the die hard fans are sure to still recognize some similarities. The mall still gladly embraces it's unusual fame and recognition, just pay a visit to the Monroeville Zombies attraction in the mall and see for yourself!

Spirits at New Bethel Cemetery: A Personal Experience

2011-10-25T00:58:00.000-07:00

As we drove along Hawk Mountain road the full moon illuminated the sky, as a thin vapor of fog began to come across the mountain. When we made the turn onto New Bethel Church road all of our pulses sped up for a fleeting moment. We all began to feel our trip was about to get more exciting.

I pulled the car into the New Bethel Church parking lot. Cemeteries rest on either side of the parking lot, that's why we were here. Pennsylvania's first known serial killer, Mathias Schambacher is buried in this rural church graveyard. Many late night visitors have witnessed strange flying lights flickering throughout the area, and felt a strange abnormal presence nearby.
Mathias was known to have killed at least a dozen people during the mid 1800's. Many believe these lost spirits may still be roaming the area, as well as the spirit of Mathias himself.

I hopped out of the car to take a look around for Mathias' gravestone, while my passengers sat admittedly frightened in the vehicle. I stepped into the older of the two cemeteries with only the moonlight guiding me along the path. As I strolled around amongst the dead, I felt a presence around, but nothing overwhelming. While meandering about I spotted colored lights reflecting off a tombstone in the far. The lights seemed to change from red, to blue, to yellow. As I attempted to whisk off and investigate I was directed to return back to the automobile. Gradually approaching the car my passengers were reporting hearing strange noises and wanted to leave immediately. Before we could leave I needed my cohorts to verify the flashing lights I had observed, both passengers exited out of the vehicle to substantiate my findings. We all stepped back into the vehicle to maneuver ourselves on our way.

As we approached the exit I decided I wanted to take a few photos of the historic church. As I attempted to snap some photographs my camera seemed to keep malfunctioning. Every picture taken was showing up as total blackness, the church is completely unrecognizable in every photo. Once back in the car my traveling companions were in even more of a panic, the strange noises they heard earlier were back, and louder this time. I was ordered to exit out of there immediately. I proceeded to put the vehicle into drive and steer us back into some civilization. We merged back onto the road when a loud gasp was exhausted by both riders. I slowed us down to a halt, "what?" I exclaim! A light just flashed across the road they remark. I question their sincerity, both of their imaginations have been on overdrive all night. I immediately dismiss their sighting and continue down the road. Then it happened! A flashing light flew right across the road, into the trees and vanished. I glanced around hoping to see some sort of explanation as to what had just occurred. All of our pulses were now pounding, heartbeats sped up, and adrenaline began to pump through our veins.

We advanced slowly down the backwoods road, fear and tension building to an overwhelming high in the car. Was the evil spirit of Mathias Schambacher right here in our grasps. Every stone flying off the road caused a little more unease in my guests, I began to speed up the pace after seeing the paleness in their faces. An overcoming sense of fear had crept into all of us at this point. As my brain raced trying to calculate an explanation, there it was. It appeared before all of us. We sat in a bewildered state of disbelief, none of us spoke, for none of us were prepared for what we were witnessing. Finally the answer to our strange mystery was right there before us, something we are surely not to forget anytime soon...

two men in a pick-up truck spotting deer!

White Lady of Buckhorn Mountain

2011-10-23T00:04:00.000-07:00

High upon the Buckhorn mountain in Altoona, Pennsylvania, used to sit a luxurious hidden resort. Young honeymooners would often traverse the dangerous curvy roads just to spend quality time in this romantic getaway. Many believe numerous visitors never actually made it to their destination. A particularly treacherous stretch of road known affectionately as the "Devil's elbow" often led to the untimely death of unfortunate couples. Over many decades the resort eventually fell on hard times and was closed for good. Today the mountaintop is a advantageous location for several radio and television transmission devices.

Late one evening, a technician who had just finished some repairs on the equipment, was preparing for his journey back down the mountain. While navigating his way through the treacherous curves, he spotted a female in a white shimmering dress, attempting to hitch a ride. The overzealous driver was struck by her beauty and came to an immediate halt. Pulling over, he offered her a ride, in which she gladly accepted. The man began to go forth on his adventure home, feeling smitten with such a beautiful woman by his side. When he again attempted to soak in her stunning beauty, he realized she was gone, just as quickly as she appeared.

Murder in Hex Hollow

2011-10-20T01:58:00.000-07:00

Deep in the heart of Southern York County, lies a strange area commonly known as Spring Valley County Park. What’s so scary about a County Park? Nothing really, except the fact that this land encompasses an area famously known as Rehymeyer’s Hollow or Hex Hollow. There’s been numerous books written about this area, including a 1988 film called “Apprentice to Murder” starring the great Donald Pleasance. I recommend this film, though it’s difficult to find.

Upon entering the park you’ll see a lot of small tributaries of the Codorus creek, which at night have been known to take on a blood red glow. To all you anglers out there, this place is actually one of the top fishing spots in the area! It’s very easy to get lost in this park if you are unfamiliar; there are many intertwining dirt and stone roads, which at times are so narrow their difficult to navigate. Throughout the roads you’ll find some old foundations from homes long gone.

As for the park itself, there is a lot of hiking and horseback riding, but that’s about it. There is still a home that stands in this area though and it’s got quite a history behind it! It is the former home of Nelson Rehmeyer.

Nelson was what is commonly known as a Powwow Doctor. Today he may be referred to as a sorcerer or a witch. There were many of these types in this area in the early 1900’s. My father himself has told me stories about his visit to powwow doctors as a child and the things that would be done to cure him. For example, he was told to put a shirt in the door to rid a wart that was pestering him for quite a time.

One of the Nelson’s neighbors at the time was having a run of bad luck; his name was John Blymire. Ancestrally I’m actually related to this guy. John had gone to see a witch by the name of Nellie Noll, a/k/a River Witch. Nellie had told him that his problem was Nelson. Nelson was causing all the difficulties John was having. In order to fix his situation, John would have to steal Nelson’s spell book and a lock of his hair and bury them 6 feet under the ground.

On a rainy dark night in November, Blymire - along with two teen accomplices whom Blymire had convinced that Rehmeyer was the source of their hard times as well – went to Rehmeyer’s house. They stayed up late telling stores and in the morning after staying the night, Blymire tried to convince his young friends to go to Rehmeyer’s basement to retrieve his book of spells. The boys were too terrified to proceed. The next night the three returned, but this time Blymire was more determined then ever. It took all three men to tackle the imposing Rehmeyer who stood over 6-feet-tall. Upon refusing to give up his spell book, they hitched a rope around his neck and proceeded to beat Rehmeyer to his death.

The three were still too hesitant to invade Rehmeyer’s basement. Instead they covered his body in lamp oil and set him ablaze. Stepping out into the rainy November chill, they left poor Nelson to lie ablaze with his body charred. Nelson was murdered and word traveled fast about the witch being killed by his neighbor. The story grabbed National headlines and was the taboo tabloid story of its time.

The Rehmeyer house withstood the fire, though a hole in the floor around Nelson’s body leaves a constant reminder of the horrors that occurred here. Today the great-grandson of Nelson owns the home and is actually trying to make the house a historic exhibit. Although with the place becoming a tourist attraction, it may lose some of its eeriness. It would make for an interesting Bed and Breakfast.

The whole area of Rehmeyer’s Hollow has a sense of unease as though there are still spirits there roaming the area. From what I’ve gathered about Nelson Rehmeyer, his spirit would be more likely to guide you away from the evil then guide you into it.

Chickies Rock & the Supernatural

2011-10-18T01:56:00.000-07:00

Approximately one month ago hundreds of spectators flocked to the Chickies Rock county park near Columbia, Pennsylvania. The park offers a panoramic view of the Susquehanna river flowing mightily below. During the flood of 2011 this was a safe place to view the wrath of Mother nature, though most weren't aware they were deep in the presence of a supernatural wrath.
Since the first settlers discovered this majestic place, several abnormal occurrences have been witnessed. The Susquehannock Indians who occupied the land were said to have seen numerous spirits inhabiting the area with them. They passed along tales of love-struck and love-stricken couples ending their own lives by jumping to the jagged rocks 200 feet below. But its not just the natives who have witnessed spirits. Numerous ghostly figures have been spotted at the park for centuries. It's not shocking considering this area is known prominently for numerous accidental deaths as well as countless suicides.
But ghostly figures aren't the only strange thing happening here, the area is a prime hunting location for cryptozoologists. Ever since the natives first settled in the area, a small strange hairy creature has been spotted throughout the dense woods. The albatwich or apple snitch is a 3-4 feet apelike creature thought to roam this particular area near the river. The Native Americans from the past were so fearful of the small creatures, they carved their image into their battle shields in order to instill fear in their enemies.
They are named apple snitches due to their uncanny love of apples. It's said the creatures would often steal the apples of unsuspecting picnickers, then discard the cores by throwing them at the startled couples.

It's believed that this strange species is now extinct or close to extinction. In the 1950's as well as in the 1970's, numerous park visitors spotted an odd manlike creature roaming about the woods. As recently as a few years ago another of these creatures was spotted on the other side of the river. Locals throughout the area often hear what resembles the sound of a cracking whip. The same scare tactic the albatwich was thought to have used to scare away predators.

In case your planning any visits to this county park, be wary of any spirits materializing, and you may wanna bring along a few apples. Just in case!

General Lafayette Inn's Spirits

2011-10-16T01:03:00.000-07:00

In 1778 the history of the Bunker Hill Hotel would forever be altered. During this time the historic inn would operate as headquarters for General Lafayette and his troops.

Built in 1732, the Inn is one of the oldest operating inns in the United States. It was once a very popular stop for travelers going to and from Philadelphia. It was originally known as the Three Tuns and went through many hardships. But the Barren Hill Battle of 1778 would forever place the inn on the map of American History. General Washington sent General Lafayette and 2200 troops to the hilltop. From there they were to keep watch for the British troops. One early spring morning the British came, outnumbering General Lafayette and his troops as well as approximately 50 Native Americans battling on the United States side. The American troops boldly fought back and were able to force the larger more experienced British Army into retreat.

The Bunker Hill Inn was severely damaged during the battle and needed to be substantially restructured. The Inn has since suffered from many hardships. It has changed hands numerous times, as well as had several periods of abandonment.

In 1946 the Inn was changed to the General Lafayette Inn to forever commemorate the brave soldiers and their fearless leader who fought for our freedom.

Many believe General Lafayette still enjoys paying visits to his former headquarters. Former owners and workers have seen doorknobs rattle with no one on the other end. They have also heard phantom footsteps sneaking throughout the building. There have even been sightings of an older woman seen roaming the hallways at night. I guess when you’re the fifth oldest tavern in America and have hosted historical battles, you deserve a few friendly spirits!

The Tommyknockers

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

October 1824, deep in the coal mines of Western Pennsylvania, two miners are working alone in a small shaft.
"Where's my hammer?" exclaims Henry.
"I don't know!" replies John.
Henry fires immediately back "c'mon I got lots of work to do yet!"
"Seriously, I haven't seen it" John snaps back at his co-worker.
"Well it didn't just get off and walk away!" Henry shouted back.

Suddenly a obvious knocking sound was heard coming from the other end of the shaft.
Knock, knock, knock!
As the knocking became louder and closer, dirt began to crumble onto the top of the miner's heads. The supporting timber beams began to splinter and bend as the weight of the above ground was forcefully coming down. The two men eagerly grabbed their tools and hoped to make a quick retreat. Unexpectedly and out of nowhere the two men spotted a green gnome creature go barreling right past them. The startled pair stood in amazement and disbelief at each other as the weight of the earth came collapsing upon them.

The Tommyknockers are a greenish gnome-like creature originating out of Cornish folklore. They are closely similar to Leprechauns, except they primarily occupy mines, often seen working side by side with the miners. Tales of their existence in Western Pennsylvania began in the 1820's. As more and more immigrants descended on the area, the popular myths and legends from the Mother countries became more prevalent. The Tommyknockers name is derived from the knocking sounds miners would often hear before a cave-in. Many believed these impish trolls were actually the spirits of previous miners who succumbed to the industry.

The Tommyknockers were known to be a very mischievous bunch. They would often play practical jokes on the miners, often times taking the food from the lunches, as well as hiding their tools. Many in the mining field believed theses strange gnomes possessed the powers to change your life, for the better or worse. In fact, in some parts of the country miners were so fearful of the Tommyknockers that mines were actually closing due to overwhelming anxieties.

The Tommyknockers were known to do tremendous deeds. They would do favors and bring fortunes to those who believed. They were also known to cause mayhem, injury and even death to those who refused to believe!
(Art by Sam Thiewes)

Ghost of Midnight Mary

2011-10-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

It's Spring of 1934, a young couple are cruising along the shore of Tullytown lake in Bristol, Pennsylvania. The anxious pair are on the way to their high school prom. The boyish man is dressed in his finest suit, his lovely date in her most gorgeous pink dress, with a flower corsage adorning her wrist. As the inexperienced couple traveled along the road, the young man must have become distracted, perhaps he was too enamored with his date. Abruptly the car swerves around a sharp turn at a high rate of speed. The young gentleman fights to regain control of the automobile, suddenly they veer off the road and into the surrounding lake bed. A passerby saw the vehicle become completely submerged in the body of water. The youthful pair were believed to have perished in the horrid accident, though only the boy's body was found.

55 years later a truck driver is passing along Bordertown road. He's on his way to make a delivery at a local company. The man then unexpectedly spotted a young woman walking along the road in a fashionable pink dress. Fearing for the young lady's safety the driver immediately pulls over and offers her a ride. As she climbed into the cab of the truck, the driver could tell she was obviously distraught. As they meandered along the road, the young lady began sobbing and murmuring about her boyfriend leaving her. The driver continuously drove while trying to console the saddened girl. As her cries become more incessant, the good samaritan glances over in an attempt to embrace the somber teen. His heart skipped a beat, his spine tingled, and his rig nearly ran off the road. When he looked over all that remained was a puddle of water and a flower corsage.

Werewolf of Northumberland, Pennsylvania

2011-10-12T09:02:00.001-07:00

Near the turn of the 20th century in the sparsely populated county of Northumberland Pennsylvania, a young girl was about to form a bond with an isolated older man that would alter their lives forever.

Young May Paul lived on a modest farm with her reserved family. May's major responsibilities on the farm included herding and tending to the family's sheep. The young lady was very well liked throughout the tiny community and had no trouble making friends. However she quietly caught the attention of an elder gentleman whom everyone was fearful of. He would often be seen following the young lady around town, as well as watching her from afar as she tended to the flocks. Their kinship seemed strange and disturbing to many individuals, though never seemed to cross any boundaries.

As strange occurrences began to happen on surrounding farms, the Paul family farm seemed to stay safe. Wolf attacks on the surrounding sheep herds were becoming common place. Onslaughts were being reported in broad daylight, yet the Paul family stayed safe from any encounters and didn't suffer one casualty.

Due to all the recent attacks on the docile creatures, bounties were being paid out for hunters who could produce a dead corpse. Late one evening a nearby neighbor spotted the glowing eyes of a wolf being lit by the full moon. The man quickly retrieved his rifle and let off a fiery blast. The yelp and cries from the wolf echoed for acres. Feeling content that the predator was taken care of, the man retired for the evening. The following day, early dawn the man trudged through his land until he found a trail of blood. Through the thicket of trees he followed the crimson trail until he came upon the body of the elder gentleman. The man laid dead from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Many arousing suspicions claimed the frightening old man was in reality a werewolf.

Strangely enough May Paul never had a single sheep perish due to a wolf attack, even though quite often a large gray wolf would be seen menacing about the perimeters of her property, staring so ominously at the woman from afar.

Witchcraft Road & Witches Hill

2011-10-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

Traveling along Witchcraft road, small farmhouses dot the area while the trees give way to magnificent views of the rural farmlands. But why does a pastoral farming area in northeast Berks county have such a sinister name?

The early settlers in the area were mainly of German descent, they often referred to the nearby mountain as Hexe Dans or Witches Hill. They believed the area was cursed by witches, demons, and poltergeists. This was mainly attributed to the fact that there was a spot on the crest of the hill where no agriculture would grow. The early settlers believed these rampant supernatural spirits were trampling the fields, making it impossible for any crops to grow. Rousing the locals suspicions even more was the way their horses would refuse to even cross the ridge of the hill.

Annually the locals would gather on the hill and hold festivities and ceremonies to rid the area of any evil spirits. Walpurgisnacht tradition was carried over mainly by eastern European settlers and was deemed as a way to scare away unwanted evils. Today this tradition is still celebrated in most parts of Europe and Scandinavia. But are the evils still on Witchcraft road? No one may know for certain! Are you brave enough to find out?

Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine

2011-09-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

Pioneer Tunnel is a horizontal drift mine that goes 1800 feet into the side of the Mahanoy mountain. For a small fee, you can get an educated tour of the mine yourself. You’ll ride in an open mine car that runs on a battery-operated motor. Your guide will even be a miner himself, or a retired one. During the 35-minute tour, you’ll learn how coal is mined from underground. You’ll see large coal seams where the mining was done and even portions of a petrified tree, most of which is displayed in the Smithsonian.

At one point during the tour, you’ll even see nothing as they turn all the lights out to show you how dark it really is in there. You literally can’t see your hand in front of your face. Not to be alarmed, they turn the lights back on. They’ll show you some replicas of mining tools past used, such as dynamite and canary birds.

The Pioneer Tunnel was an active coal mine in the early 1900’s. It ceased operations in 1931. In May of 1963, the mine was opened to the public. The mine is inspected daily by a mining foreman and 100% safe, although chilly with its year-round temperature of 52 degrees.

While there, you can also ride on the Henry Clay. This is an old time locomotive, built in 1927. It’s one of the oldest running steam locomotives. It was used to haul coal from the strip mines. While on the tour, you’ll learn more about strip mining as well as see an abnormally thick seam of anthracite known as the “Mammoth Vein.” Steam shovels pulled millions of tons of coal from the area leaving a wall of solid rock 150 feet high and as far westward as you can see. You’ll also notice a relic of a bootleg coal hole. Those who were willing to defy trespassing laws and risk cave-ins would brave the mines so they could heat their homes.

The train ride is ¾ of a mile long and goes around the Mahanoy mountain, giving you some scenic glimpses of the town of Ashland below you. Outta the Way recommends the visit even though there is a fee. You too, will find why it is consistently voted as one of the top 10 spots to visit in PA.

Historic Stewartstown Railroad

2011-09-22T03:41:00.000-07:00

If the “Little Engine that Could” needed a track to run on, the Stewartstown Railroad would be a perfect fit for it, appropriately called the “Railroad that Refused to Die.” This tiny little railroad, located in Southern York County, has quite a lot of history.

The railroad began operation in 1885 carrying agricultural produce, and passengers 7.5 miles to the town of New Freedom, where the tracks connected with the North Central Railway, which connected to Baltimore, Maryland. Local farmers helped the railroad to thrive, so much so it received the nickname the “farmer’s railroad.” During the Great Depression, this loyal group of shippers helped the railroad to survive. It didn’t hurt that most of those shipping owned some stake in the railroad also.

In 1939 the railroad made a large financial decision that helped them to succeed once again. They had changed the locomotives from stream-powered to gas-powered. This proved to be a wise decision as the railroad continued running up until 1972, while most others in the country went to the wayside. In 1972 shortly after the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with the Penn Central Railroad, Hurricane Agnes tore through the countryside. The Stewartstown Railroad and Station House survived destruction, though the rail tracks owned by Penn Central Railroad didn’t fair as well. Penn Central was already in a financial decline and they refused to fix the tracks, bringing the Stewartstown Railroad to a halt. The Railroad remained abandoned until 1988 when Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation restored the rail line. The railroad’s return would be short lived, however, shortly afterward their largest customer folded and the railroad closed again. In 1992 the County of York fought for the rail line previously owned by Penn Central Railroad. Eventually the County got its way; the Railroad terminated its lease on the lines thus starting the Rail Trail, connecting York with Baltimore on a hiking and biking trail.

In 1997 the railroad and station were put on the National Register of Historic Places. Shortly thereafter the railroad started carrying tourists on round trips to New Freedom. That ended in April 2004 after the train derailed. The railroad has been practically forgotten and abandoned since then. The station house is still standing, though it is beginning to deteriorate. The interior of the station looks the same as it did on its opening on December 28, 1914. A short walk from the station is the engine house. What distinguishes this one from most is that it was used for its intended purpose up until the railroad stopped operations. The Stewartstown Railroad has the distinction of quite possibly being the only railroad in the state that has maintained its right of way through its entire existence.

Though the railroad sits abandoned today, there are a few historical groups hoping to revive this piece of history. I think they can, I think they can, I think they can.

Learn more about saving the railroad here!

Yuengling Brewery History

2011-09-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

When David Yuengling began brewing beer in his home in Germany, I’m sure he had no idea what his legacy would be. After Mr. Yuengling and his family immigrated to the United States, he would change America forever. In 1829, he started the Eagle Brewery on Centre Street in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. But things weren’t easy. In a short 2 years the brewery was destroyed by a fire. Refusing to give up, Mr. Yuengling relocated to Mahantongo Street in Pottsville, and strive to bring his dream to fruition.In 1873, his son Frederick joined forces with David and the brewery changed their name to D.G. Yuengling and Son, still keeping the recognized eagle that emblazoned their products. From here Yuengling would grow rather quickly. By 1895 they had started a bottling operation. Throughout the years and family passings, the brewery continued to thrive, while still maintaining their family roots.

But things were soon going to get tough. In 1919 when Prohibition was passed, the family legacy of Yuengling almost came to an end. But thanks to some quick thinking, the brewery found a few ways to survive. They started brewing near beers, essentially a nonalcoholic brew, but what may have saved the brewery was an idea to make ice cream. They purchased a separate building across the street from the brewery, where the tasty treat was made.

On the brewery’s 100^th anniversary in 1929, the closest thing to beer they were brewing was their near beer. But when Prohibition ended in 1933, it didn’t take long for Yuengling to get rolling again. They sent a special batch of beer to President Roosevelt. Finally, Yuengling was able to get back to doing what it does best, brew beer. From this moment on there was no more looking back. As the brewery kept with its great, long, traditional recipes, its fan base continued to grow. In 1976, the brewery was recognized as being the nation’s oldest brewery. And in 1985, they were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

But Yuengling had another drastic change shortly thereafter. In 1987 due to a larger demand for darker beers, the brewery reintroduced their lager. This would forever change the brewery. The continued growth and success only kept the family ties stronger.Today the lager brand is so popular, folks in the Mid-Atlantic states need only ask the barkeep for a lager and, without a second thought, will be poured a nice cold Yuengling.

Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania

2011-09-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Miles outside one of the nation’s first capital, York, Pennsylvania, lies the remains of a small railroading town that almost was. In 1838 the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad started a rail line connecting Baltimore to York. In 1851 the Hanover Railroad ran rail line westward connecting the Hanover Rail line to the Baltimore Susquehanna Railroad. In 1852 Hanover Junction was born, being the intersection of the railroads. The rail line was originally run by the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad, though the Hanover Railroad owned the trains.

A station was set up including living quarters for the station master and his family. Several small businesses and homes, and even a hotel were built. The hotel also had telegraph service, which would prove to be very important. During the Civil War the hotel’s telegraph dispatching service, proved to be vital to Union Soldiers. The wounded would pass through here on their way from Gettysburg to larger cities such as York and Harrisburg. On June 27, 1863, Confederate soldiers attacked the small town destroying homes and businesses. Somehow the station and hotel survived the ambush. On November 18, 1863 President Lincoln switched trains at the historic station en route to delivering his famous Gettysburg Address. Unfortunately Lincoln would pass through the small town again on April 21, 1865, this time in his funeral procession.

After the war the small town began to flourish again with a small industrial market, so much so there was a large coal yard nearby used for the fueling of the trains. After the demise of railroad traffic during the middle of the 20^th century, industry came to a halt and the town was abandoned. In 2003 the County of York reopened the station house as a museum, giving it a similar appearance it had a century ago. Also on the property are 4 Civil War era cannons and a Lincoln bust.

Outta the Way recommends visiting this little Railroad town that almost was, yet still thrives to be.

Bowman's Hill Tower

2011-09-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

Not too far from Washington’s Crossing is a commemorative monument honoring the great leader. The Bowman’s Hill Tower stands 125 feet and on a clear day offers a 14 mile wide radial view.

The tower was built in June of 1931 out of native stone gathered from nearby, and entirely by the employees of the Washington Crossing Park Commission. During the mid-1930’s, seven major improvements took place including creating two vistas for outstanding views of the valley below. In the 1980’s an elevator was added, though it only takes you ¾ of the way up the tower.

Bowman’s hill is thought to have been a lookout point for General Washington and his men. The tower is also located in the Bowman’s Hill Wildlife Preserve, so if the history doesn’t inspire you, the natural beauty certainly will.

Muddy Creek Forks, Pennsylvania

2011-09-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

In Southern York County, a tiny village still stands that was once an agricultural hub of the county. The small town of Muddy Creek Fork was founded in the 1730’s, several decades before we were even a country. Two mills were incorporated in the town in 1759 and by the mid-1800’s the town was booming. So much so that the Peach Bottom Railroad ran tracks through the town in 1874. The village had become the center of the community. The Ma & Pa (Maryland and Pennsylvania) Railroad handled masses of freight into the small thriving village. 6 daily trains would carry people, the mail and even milk to other locales throughout the country.

In 1888 a gentleman named A.M. Grove bought some land in the area and had a small store and a large country mill used to grind buckwheat flour. Due to the proximity of the railroad, the business took off.

In 1906 Grove had a new 4-story store built. The new business included a modernized roller mill, a 9000 bushel grain elevator, a cannery and even telephone service, a rarity in those days.

But over time the small community vanished into rural abandonment. That was until 1992 when the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society acquired the village. Since then, the town has been transformed back to how it looked at the turn of the century. The natural and rural beauty of the town made it its own character in the flop “For Richer or Poorer” starring Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley.

Today the small town stays thriving offering visitors a 5-mile round trip train ride through the nearby scenic Muddy Creek Valley. And offering costumed guides to help you learn your way around this small village that continues to blossom in many ways.

Flight 93 Memorial

2011-09-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in the hearts and minds of Americans forever. Anyone who experienced that tragic day can quickly attest to exactly what they were doing, or where they were, when they discovered the devastating news. But as the years slowly slip past we quietly remember the heroes and victims of that horrific day less and less.

Slowly memorials have been sprouting up throughout the country to forever memorialize the victims. One of the first makeshift memorials appeared near the small rural town of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Since the attack visitors have been placing mementos and memorabilia to honor those who bravely gave their lives to protect others. Over a remote field, in the middle of farmland, the actions of a few helped to save the lives of thousands.

The brave members of that fateful flight are now forever commemorated in a flight 93 memorial. After years of designing, controversy, and building, the commemorative memorial was opened on the eve of the 10 year anniversary. The monument pays tribute to the 40 individuals who fought back when their freedoms were restricted, forever commemorating their heroic actions and allowing us to never forget!

Nellie Tallman's Haunted Portrait

2011-08-30T09:11:00.001-07:00

No love stems deeper than the love a parent shares with their children. We watch them grow and change from infancy to adolescence to adulthood. Hoping to forever capture the innocent moments of their lives in our memories. Many years past capturing these moments didn't mean pressing a button on a camera and instantly uploading your photo, instead it meant countless hours and some artistic abilities. The process of having your portrait painted was often tedious and time consuming, but not often deadly.

On a chilling somber day Mr. Tallman was working on his own personal masterpiece. His precious 3 year old daughter Nellie, sat patiently while her father painted her portrait. As the world seemed peaceful and serene to the father and daughter bonding, tragedy was soon to strike. Young Nellie Tallman tumbled out of the chair she was resting on and immediately broke her neck. Her young life was abruptly cut short. To forever commemorate his daughter her father continued on with her painting. After completion the artwork was hung for all to admire. But a strange occurrence kept happening. The framed piece of artwork was constantly falling from the walls. Eventually the piece of art was donated to the Thomas Taber museum in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The museum proudly hung the artwork until the same strange incidents began to happen again. Initially the painting fell and was damaged, after being restored it was placed back up and fell several more times. Eventually the museum moved the painting only to have the same fate as before, leaving many to believe that even though Nellie Tallman is no longer with us on Earth, her spirit may be roaming forever.

Little League World Series: Present

2011-08-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Shortly after the Carl Stotz field was replaced by the Howard Lamade Stadium, Little League baseball began to flourish worldwide. Youngsters from foreign lands who had never known the game were quickly beginning to dominate. Japan and Taiwan had won 7 of the past 8 World Series. In 1975 the issue began to concern the officials of Little League. They then fell under much scrutiny and amid controversy banned all Non-United States teams from competing. The ban was short lived and the following year youngsters worldwide were once again able to enjoy America’s pastime. Luckily Little League was able to bypass that brief dark moment in their history, because since then the sport has flourished immensely.

Today there are over 200,000 teams spanning every state in this country and more than 80 others. In 2001 a brand new larger stadium was opened. The Little League Volunteer Stadium was placed directly behind the Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Today the two stadiums host all playoff games and of course the World Series. Little League baseball doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as it deserves. Without the international acclaim, the sport of baseball may have quietly perished. The little league helped to spread the word throughout the globe, opening the door of opportunity for many young men in impoverished countries a place to become superstars. This sport helps to teach young adults the importance of teamwork, dedication and camaraderie, not only amongst themselves but for the entire world.

Little League World Series: Past

2011-08-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

In 1939, Carl Stotz gathered a few local neighborhood boys for a game of baseball in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He marked off 60 feet and used an old newspaper for 1^st base. On this splendid day he would forever change his legacy and revolutionize America’s pastime forever. This beautiful June day would mark the birth of Little League Baseball.

Originally the league consisted of only three teams. The first World Series was held in 1947 on Carl E. Stotz field, in honor of Little League’s founding father. The boys from Lundy Lumber put a pounding on the Lycoming Dairy, winning the first Little League World Series 23-8.

All World Series games were held on this small field until 1959. Continuously the sport began to grow quickly and quietly. Teams began to sprout up all over the country and even in some foreign lands. By 1959 a much larger stadium was needed. After playing host to 12 Little League World Series, the small Carl Stotz field, relinquished the honors onto the new Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

Plum Tree Massacre

2011-08-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

Long before the lumber barons made 4th street their home, the area played an important role in Williamsport's history.

On June 10, 1778 the rich area would become forever remembered. Not for large, luxurious estates, but for impetuous bloodshed. American Indians and British Tories occupied a common plum thicket which grew nearby. The two armies hid between the trees and planned their violent attack on the local frontiersmen. An eventual surprise attack led to the scalping and murdering of 12 settlers. Shockingly 6 of the victims were children and 2 were women.

Shortly after, most of the other settlers left town and retreated to other areas of the state. The surprise invasion was deemed to be a short lived victory, eventually the settlers returned and the area thrived immensely. That very same plum field where so much adversity occurred helped to feed the local citizens for another century after the massacre. Today the plum tree thicket is long gone, and has been ironically replaced with a church.

Millionaires Row of Williamsport

2011-08-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

The small city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania is often attributed as a blue collar middle class city. But at one time this mountain town boasted more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the United States. The abundance of timber in the area as well as the town’s proximity to the Susquehanna River helped to add an abundance of wealth to the area.

During the 1850’s, large homes began to showing up on West 4^th Street in the city. The local lumber barons began to spend their wealth on large luxurious homes. Most of the homes were designed by famed architect Eber Culver. As the timber industry began to expand, the population grew rapidly. Between 1860-1870 the population of Williamsport more than tripled. By the 1880’s, Williamsport was one of the wealthiest cities in the nation. The small city grew so much than an electric street car system was put into place 1 year before Philadelphia’s.

Sadly, by the end of the decade, the money began to wear thin. A flood in 1889 damaged many lumber facilities in the city, and the timber was slowly declining.

Even though the lumber capital of the world was facing many hardships, some growth was still occurring. Up until the 1920’s mansions were still being built in the wealthy west end of the city. But all good things must come to an end. A new decade spawned a great depression that quickly put a damper on the economy. Then in 1936 Mother Nature struck with another flood. This time the disaster affected the homes on Millionaire’s Row. Since the area had become vulnerable, most owners moved to higher grounds. In the 1940’s a community college sprouted up in the area and the large homes were mostly subsidized for renters. Since then most of the owners of the houses have done a tremendous job in up keeping the homes’ historic value. In 1985 Millionaire’s Row was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. What I find so fascinating with Millionaire’s Row, is its uniqueness. Unlike the McMansion neighborhoods of today where every home looks identical, the homes on Millionaires’ Row are each unique. Each home seems to have its own personality. The homes range from Italian Villa, to Greek Revival, Tudor to Victorian. There's certainly something to appeal to our inner architect or the daydreamer in all of us.

Allison's Grave

2011-08-15T01:11:00.000-07:00

Traveling through the rural roads of Duboistown, Pennsylvania the natural beauty of the area shines through. Pristine streams rush alongside the back roads. Tiger lilies poke their heads out at passers-by, and tiny farmhouses dot the streets. But not all is quiet on these serene byways. Nighttime visitors who have traversed these roads have experienced engine malfunctions, after witnessing a wandering headless apparition.

The Mosquito Valley Cemetery contains a grave that's been causing a stir for decades, at least the deceased body that's in it has been. Decades ago local citizen Edna Allison was decapitated in a gruesome accident. Mysteriously her head was never located, the rest of her body was badly burned. Her cremated ashes were spread over the cemetery and a small marker was placed to commemorate her life. Numerous witnesses have spotted a decapitated spirit strolling along the nearby roads, while others have seen her headless vision meandering through the gravestones. More disturbing is those who have found amusement in stealing Edna's modest grave marker. Fortunately a much larger marker has replaced the lost one, forever commemorating the lost soul of Edna Allison.

Clyde Peeling's Reptiland

2011-08-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

In 1964 acclaimed herpetologist Clyde Peeling saw his passion and dreams come true with the opening of Reptiland. His vision to give visitors an up close and personal look at natures less desirable creatures had come to fruition. The zoo holds some of the World's deadliest snakes. From the highly venomous mambas, cobras, and vipers to the bone crushing constrictors, pythons, and anacondas.

The exhibit hosts daily shows as well as live feedings. But besides vicious vipers, Reptiland also inhabits various other reptiles and amphibians. Docile tortoises, ornery alligators, and delicate yet highly dangerous poison dart frogs. Over the years Clyde has seen his dream grow immensely. Today the accredited wildlife park is over 6,500 square feet and is home to over 40 species of animals. Clyde himself has even been featured on Conan O'Brien. Not too bad for a gentleman who enjoys being nicknamed 'The Lizard Man."

Outta the Way! Vol. 22 Williamsport & Surrounding Areas

2011-08-08T02:47:00.000-07:00

In the newest zine were heading into the mountains of Lycoming and Union counties. We'll visit the small city of Williamsport and it's surrounding areas.

We start by taking a ride to a remote cemetery searching for headless apparitions. Then we pay a visit to a ghost town left decimated by the United States government. The only remains are concrete ammunition bunkers left from World War 2. Next we'll pay homage to America's pastime as we visit the birthplace of Little League baseball, as well as it's modern home. Lastly we ride back into the past. We'll take a stroll along what was once on of the wealthiest streets in America, and discover what's happened to the mansions of Millionaire's Row.

Now get outta the way, 'cause we're going Outta the Way!

Hadany Twisted Arch

2011-08-06T02:34:00.000-07:00

As you approach the Lycoming mall, you're greeted by a large twisted steel arch. As you maneuver your automobile through the large sculpture, it seems to bend and contort around you. Certainly not your normal mall entrance.

The steel arch stands over 100 feet and is the imagination of famed sculptor Israel Hadany. The artist was commissioned to do several large outdoor sculptures for various businesses and municipalities. The twisted arch is the largest sculpture he's ever built, and is one of the largest in the country.

The sculpture hasn't been pleasantly received by all the locals. Some consider it to be an unsightly eyesore. Personally we believe when you add something unordinary to the ordinary it's always gonna raise a few eyebrows, and also make your visit much more memorable!

Curse of Antes Fort

2011-08-04T02:38:00.000-07:00

There are a number of homes in the Antes Fort area that the locals swear are haunted. Maybe it's not the homes that are haunted, but that the area's cursed.

Originally the land was used by the local Andaste Indian tribe until their chief, King Wi-daagh advantageously sold the region to emissaries of William Penn. A column from the former state capital building has been placed along a nearby river bank to commemorate the event. In a protest to the erroneous deal, the chief has vowed to haunt the land. Autumn time visitors often witness a ghostly mist appearing off the waters of the nearby Wi-daagh springs.

Another rather disturbing tale involves the towns founder. The tale states that shortly after the Revolutionary War, Colonel Henry Antes engaged in an early form of biological warfare. The Colonel purchased blankets from the Harrisburg area, which he then donated to the local Native American tribes in the area. His generous deeds were actually an act of malevolence. The donated blankets were actually full of the infectious small pox bacteria. This led to the untimely death of many of the local natives. The Chief of the nearby tribe vowed revenge, the lost vengeful spirits who were innocently murdered may not have rested since.

Mark Twain & "The Remarkable Dream"

2011-08-03T19:23:00.001-07:00

While in the city of Williamsport giving lectures. Famed writer Mark Twain found himself on a set of church steps staring in disgust. He found the deplorable conditions of the nearby cemeteries inadequate for housing the dead. As the author gazes off in disbelief he's approached by a skeleton who's gathering up his remains. Soon other residents of the cemetery join in. Together they scour the streets searching for a new final resting place.

Twain shares his conservation with the skeleton in his short story "The Remarkable Dream." The short story first appeared in the "Buffalo Express" in 1870. The author's story eventually raised awareness in the city. The tombs which had become too desecrated were eventually moved to a more fitting resting place.

Picture Rocks, Pennsylvania

2011-08-02T00:55:00.000-07:00

The tiny borough of Picture Rocks, Pennsylvania has less than 1,000 residents, but there's a history here that's centuries old. The first European settlers settled here in 1773, though the area was sacred to Native Americans long before we came here.

Originally the Munsee Indians made the community their home. The Muncy creek supplied freshwater and fish, while the nearby rock cliffs provided a great lookout for intruders. The Native Americans found much gratification in telling their story and history through pictographs. For decades the tribe had been carving numerous sacred symbols and animals on the imposing rock walls.

These pictographs had an impression on the original settlers who named the area Picture Rocks. Sadly over many years the pictographs have disappeared. Most lost to the course of Mother nature, but others by the malfeasance of man.

Bridge to Nowhere in Lairdsville, Pennsylvania

2011-08-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

"There it is! I can see it!"
"Where?" I say, "There behind the trees!" She's right, I can see it. We slowly pull off to the side of the rural route. We both gently slide down the embankment to an overgrown trail. I grab a stick to push thorn bushes out of our way. We slowly proceed down the dirt path. As we approach our destination, I notice the intricately designed layout. Moss and grass grow between each crevice of the bricks. We are on a bridge to nowhere.

This hidden gem fascinates me for many reasons. I can find no source as to when it was built, by whom or for what purpose. The bridge seems to be older, but constructionally sound, and appears to be modernly built.

I am always fascinated with abandoned places. Walking that bridge I felt as though I was retracing someone else's footsteps. Hmmm!! If only I knew! Maybe it's more intriguing letting my imagination run wild. What do you think?

Siren of Loyalsock Creek

2011-07-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Coasting through the calm waters of the Loyalsock creek in Pennsylvania may be more hazardous than it seems. The small tributary of the Susquehanna river is mainly located in Lycoming and Sullivan counties. The creek was a principle means of life for the Native American tribes who once inhabited the area. Though the spirit of one may still be seeking revenge on unsuspecting rafters.

Legend states in the mid 1800's a beautiful young Indian maiden was brutally assaulted and murdered by a gang of settlers navigating the creek. Since then Sweet Cicely has been seeking vengeance. Using her sweet, engaging voice she's been luring unsuspecting victims through treacherous parts of the creek, hoping to lure them to an untimely death.

Adventures in Alvira, Pennsylvania

2011-07-23T12:02:00.001-07:00

Both arms shoot up as I attempt to level myself out! I steadily balance myself as I inch across the log strewn about the wet marshy area I'm attempting to cross. My foot slips, my shoe is covered in mud. I wipe off the excess and continue over my crude bridge. Upon crossing the water soaked log, I encounter the thorns of a thistle bush. As I gently release the prickly briers from my arm and shirt, another sense of excitement rushes over me! From here I can see a crack between the doors and realize I should be able to enter. As I encounter the concrete bunker I'm happy to see it's not littered with graffiti. I poke my head inside, blackness is all I can see. I work to pry open the heavy unlocked steel door. I take a loud stomp into the concrete igloo, hoping the ground vibrations will scare off any unwanted critters. I give out a shout! The enclosed cavern echoes quite loudly for a brief time. Inside the bunker is surprisingly clean, only a few leaves are found lying on the ground. Sadly these hidden concrete bunkers and a couple historic cemeteries are all that remain in this lost town.

Shortly after the strike on Pearl Harbor, the United States government came in and seized all the townspeople's land. They were informed that a repurchase of their properties would be made available at a later date. Directly after acquiring the land through purchases and eminent domain, all the homes were burned and then bulldozed. Almost instantaneously construction began on a T-N-T factory. This explosives factory was very short lived. In less than a year after opening the United States government stopped production and closed the plant for good. Apparently the supply for explosives wasn't nearly as high as originally thought.

The only remnants of a former town are crumbled foundations, lost roads, and forgotten gravestones. This small village was ravaged by the effects of war, yet never witnessed a single battle. The poor citizens of Alvira had their town destroyed by the works of their own government who was supposed to protect them.

Katy's Church

2011-07-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

Nestled on a desolate hillside in the small community of Millville, lies a small church with enough legends to make your blood curdle. For decades locals have been daring each other just to pass by this holy house.

Katy’s church is named for Katy Vandine, a woman whose legend would live on for many years after her passing. Yet it’s her death that seems to be causing the most mystery. All the small town urban legends are attributed to this woman. The most popular belief was that Katy was an unmarried pregnant woman who was run out of the local community and ostracized. Being unable to deal with the shunning, Katy took her own life when she slid a noose around her neck. Others say she was to marry a soldier who was off at war and never returned. Having lost the love or her life, Katy mourned by hanging herself from a tree in her wedding dress. An even darker tale tells of witchcraft and sorcery.

Some had claimed that Katy was actually a witch, mainly the married man who was apparently having an affair with Katy while she was carrying his unborn child. As the gossip spread about witchery, the local church members grew anxious. On a late night they gathered together and decided to take care of Katy. They stormed to her home and drug her out of bed and proceeded to the church. There they strapped a rope around the neck of Katy Vandine and ended her adulterous life. All of these are just tales passed around by the locals. Some current church members recall Katy Vandine as a kind women who lived well into her 80’s and donated the land where the church sits today. But besides all of these legends that have been passed from generation to generation, some odd occurrences have taken place at this church. Those who have dared to visit the grounds at night have spotted a spirit in a white dress and have heard cries from inside the church. Others tell even more disturbing stories of seeing blood drip from the church windows.

How did all of these legends begin? Some believe they were started by a local drunk who spent a little too much time at the tavern. Staggering home one late evening, he told his wife spirits had attacked him near the church, blaming them for his tardiness. So is thereany truth to any of these tales, or were they all just the imagination of a local drunk looking for an excuse? On our visit to Katy’s Church we found nothing out of the ordinary. What we did find were some extraordinary neighbors, who enjoy the fellowship the church provides them. The congregation has dealt with many issues in the past including vandalism. They are a very close knit community that appreciate their church’s history and isn’t fond of those who depreciate its value.

Hunter S. Thompson & The Jersey Shore

2011-07-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Long before Snooki, JWoww, and the Situation were corrupting the Jersey Shore. There was another aspiring, volatile youngster reveling in the same debauchery. But he ended up at the wrong Jersey Shore. Long before "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", Hunter S. Thompson was cold and miserable in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.

A young naive writer, fresh out of the Air Force he mistakenly thought this place would be filled with beaches and bikinis. To his dismay he got quite the opposite. The small borough sits 15 miles outside of Williamsport, along the banks of the Susquehanna river. The town is quite rural and didn't leave many lasting memories for the "gonzo" writer. A young Thompson wrote a personal letter to a friend envying him for being stationed in Iceland. Hunter writes.
"Dear Larry,
So you think Iceland is bad: ha! Let me tell you about north-central Pennsylvania.
There were three red lights in metropolitan Fort Walton: there are two in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. There were four laundry and dry cleaning establishments in Fort Walton: there are NONE in Jersey Shore. There were innumerable bars in Fort Walton: there are two in Jersey Shore. There were at least four good eating establishments in Fort Walton: there are but three small grills in Jersey Shore. There were women (whores, lesbians, and divorcees, if you must) in Fort Walton: the only women under forty in Jersey Shore go to high school. There were beaches and water and sand dunes and sea gulls and boats and bays in Fort Walton: there are mountains of coal dust, dirty old people, ancient wrecks of houses, and "True Confessions" magazines in Jersey Shore.
And now you're going to ask just what in the hell I'm doing in Jersey Shore, Pa. I know... and I'm ready with a quick answer I'm having a nightmare."

Obviously this was not the type of environment he envisioned. After a short stint as a sports writer at the Jersey Shore Herald, the eccentric writer left the rural town for New York City. Of course Hunter left as only he can. He had taken out a colleagues daughter, the father was kind enough to allow the young couple access to his '49 Chevy. Sure enough Hunter got the man's prized possession stuck in the riverbed. The next day, the angry co-worker drove the car into work and Thompson said, “I knew heavy trouble was coming …I just got up, took my coat off the rack and went out the front door. Didn’t even collect my pay. Went straight to the apartment, loaded the car and drove to New York.”

"Blob"Fest 2011

2011-07-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Having never been to "Blob"fest, I was unsure of what to expect. I had these ideas and expectations in my head of what I was hoping to see. I'll be the first to admit my tastes can be slightly eccentric. Amazingly so are the tastes of the great folks at the Colonial Theatre. Their annual festivities exceeded my expectations! This is one of the few shows I've attended where the hosts specifically knew their core audience.

Various artists of horror and macabre art lined the streets. Motorheads gathered around the classic and antique muscle cars that were displayed. Vintage enthusiasts were able to purchase small pieces of American and cinema history. While movie buffs gazed in amazement at set pieces from the actual film, including the real "Blob"!

The entertainment was top notch as well. The Buzzards kept their pompadours tight, and the poodle skirts dancing in the streets! Their "rockabilly" style made sure all the hep cats kept on grooving in between stage shows. The funky monsters from Ghoul a Go-Go judged the annual costume contest. This brought out all the horror kings and scream queens donning their best homemade outfits. Afterwords the side show troupe of Olde City Sideshow kept the audience in awe as well as disgust. Onlookers watched the crew insert power drills into their nostrils, munch on worms, and swallow swords as well as fire.

Even with all these unique forms of entertainment, the highlight of the day was the fire extinguisher parade, and of course the film screening. Considering myself to be a film geek I got us seats directly under the projectionist booth.

If the blob was to re-enact the famous scene from this landmark theatre we would have been the first to perish. AHHH!!

Somehow I made it out alive!!

"Blob"fest was a truly unique experience and one of the best times I've had. If you're a fan of this classic film this is a must visit destination. If you consider yourself a cinephile or just a family looking for a unique way to enjoy an entertaining day, "Blob"fest will surely not disappoint. So run don't walk to next years "Blob"fest!

"The Blob" Movie

2011-07-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone enjoyed our "Blob" tour. If you'd like to take your own; pick up the "Blob Tour" zine on Etsy!

...and now for our feature presentation!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Intermission

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Finale

Videos shared from The Blob 1958 YouTube channel.
Buy "The Blob"

"Blob" Tour-High School

2011-07-08T03:11:00.000-07:00

Taking the advice of Jane's father, Steve and his gang of delinquents headed to the local high school. After shattering the windows, the gang rounds up all the fire extinguishers they can muster. In a show of heroism the misfits and the authorities banded together. Collectively the brave citizens fight back against the gelatinous mass from outer space.

After paralyzing the mutant blob, the town had the Air Force transfer the monster to a cold demise in the Arctic. Thanks to Steve and his quick wittedness this small town and the rest of humanity were saved from "The Blob."

The school still has the same entrance as was used during filming. The only real difference is a name change. During the time of filming the school was Memorial Jr. High School, today it's the Samuel Barkley Elementary School. Located at 320 2nd avenue in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

Lucky for us not all these places have succumbed to suburban sprawl and we still have pieces of movie history to admire...even if it's a cheesy drive-in classic!

"Blob" Tour-Downingtown Diner

2011-07-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

After narrowly escaping death at the Colonial Theatre, the movie goers cower for cover in the nearby diner. Our protagonists follow suit after witnessing Jane's little brother innocently attempt to shoot the blob with his toy gun.
While hiding out in the eatery the massive ooze outside begins to devour the entire diner. Steve and the crowd gathered inside take refuge in the basement. Outside the local police attempted a plan to electrocute the blob. Unfortunately the officers plan backfired and the diner caught fire. Quick witted Steve briskly grabbed the nearest CO2 fire extinguisher and began to suppress the flames. During the chaos a strange phenomenon was witnessed. The massive blob seemed to be affected by the blistering cold of the extinguishers. The local juveniles had found a weak spot. Now where would they find more extinguishers?

The original Downingtown Diner is long gone. After filming the diner was relocated to Hollywood. Not to be discouraged another retro style diner took it's place and is actually located over the original basement. The current Chef's diner was used in the low budget horror film "Killer Instinct".

In the film the movie patrons run directly across the street to the diner. It's actually 18 miles away in Downingtown. 81 W. Lancaster, Avenue Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

"Blob" Tour-Colonial Theatre

2011-07-07T02:23:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile in the healthfully air conditioned Colonial Theatre a crowd of patrons are gathered to view the new Bela Lugosi film as well as "Daughter of Horror." The midnight showing had attracted a large audience. The unsuspecting crowd was unaware all mayhem was about to break loose. A jelly-like mutant was maneuvering it's way through a heating vent, ready to strike on a naive projectionist. After devouring the theatre projectionist, the "Blob" began to consume members of the audience. In a panic the uproarious crowd rushed to the streets for safety.

This infamous scene was actually filmed twice, initially people were tripping over each other.
Colonial Theatre is located at 227 Bridge St. Phoenixville, Pa.

"Blob" Tour-Jerry's Market

2011-07-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

Searching around Jerry's Market, Steve and Jane make a startling discovery. At first they spot the old man's dog near the market, but something is out of sorts on the inside. The doors to the market are locked tight, while the lights shine bright, even after midnight. Steve's father owns the grocery store so the duo decide to take an inside look. Shortly thereafter they notice a gelatinous mutant mass coming for them. Steve and Jane quickly retreat into the sub-zero meat locker, where they seem to be safe...at least for now!
Jerry's Market was located at Lewis Road Plaza, it is now the Sly Fox Restaurant and Brewery.

"Blob" Tour-Doc Hallen's House

2011-07-06T02:39:00.000-07:00

(Then)

(Today) Note: this is a private residence

"Beware of the Blob! It creeps and leaps and glides and slides across the floor." Keep this tagline in your mind as you tour the Downingtown and Phoenixville area. It could appear anywhere. Lucky for us some brave teenagers in 1958 destroyed it before it took over the world. This all occurred in these 2 small towns during a Summer of simpler times.

Steve Andrews and Jane Martin were at a local lookout point when they spotted a meteor flying across the sky. The young adults noticed the meteor crash into a local field, they decided to investigate, what they encountered was a site neither Steve or Jane would soon forget. The couple confronted an elderly gentleman whose body was covered in strange blisters, fortunately Doc Hallen's house wasn't too far away.

The two lovebirds escorted their older friend to the good doctor's home, where things quickly turned dire. While the youngsters went to acquire more information about the man and his mysterious blisters, something strange occurred. The mutant blisters began to take over the man. Quickly Doctor Hallen and his nurse became the first victims of "The Blob."

Home is located corner of S. Main street & Third Ave. Phoenixville, Pa.

"Blob"fest

2011-07-05T02:11:00.000-07:00

Every year around the same time something strange occurs at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Hundreds of spectators run rampant out of the theatre and onto the streets. Their look of terror assumes they just saw a monster. Perhaps they did! But chances are they're just re-enacting the famous scene from the campy sci-fi classic. The film originally cost $120,00 to produce. It starred Aneta Corsaut who played Jane, and a hot newcomer; Steven McQueen. This was the last time he used Steven as he later became ubercool Steve McQueen, and unfortunately met a tragic fate. An interesting fact with the film is McQueen was offered $2,500 or 10% gross of the film. He chose the $2,500 figuring the film would tank, the movie caught a buzz and made over $4,000,000.00.

Filmed mainly at Valley Forge Films, Director Irvin Yeaworth used local landmarks in the film to add authenticity, including local homes, a landmark theatre, diners, and even a local high school.

Every year thousands flock here to pay homage. The annual Blobfest occurs every July in the town of Phoenixville. The festival features numerous vendors, B-movie screenings, costume contests, a fire extinguisher parade, and of course the infamous theatre run out.

Follow us the rest of the week as we continue our "Blob" tour!

"Hometown Glory" Lititz, Pennsylvania

2011-07-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

Most often the gratification of traveling Outta the Way is the discovery of a new town. Through our adventures we have traveled through small charming villages, sprawling metropolitan cities, as well as rural impoverished towns. All too often we forget about the small treasures buried in our own backyard!

My family and myself recently moved to the small town of Lititz, Pennsylvania. A town I've come to embrace as my own in less than a years time. Much more quaint than the industrious hub city of York where I grew up, and a little more peaceful and care free than Lancaster where I resided the previous 8 years. This serene hamlet is bursting with history and Rockwell'esque charm.

From the first girls preparatory school in the country, to the notable Moravian church who founded the town, the history is still alive and kept. Many of the homes on Main street are original to the town and are recognized for their historical significance. Lititz is much more than just history though. The small community is often bustling with tourists, visiting the small independent businesses that line the quiet streets. Often indulging their tastebuds with sweet Wilbur chocolates or salty Sturgis pretzels. Both staples of the Lititz community.

Another staple of the community I've witnessed is ...the ducks! Families of ducks and ducklings make their home in the nearby Lititz Springs Park, and they seem to really run this town. I've witnessed ducks walking right down Main street, as well as hold up traffic on Route 501 while a mother duck leads the younger ones through the busy intersection.

With all of it's history and unique small town charm it's not difficult to see why Lititz was named one of the best time warp towns in America.

International Zine Month

2011-07-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

July is International Zine Month. The month long celebration helps to attract attention to self-publishers, small press, and zinesters. Many around the globe hold events, zine readings, and even 24 hour zine projects. During the month zinesters are challenged to create a 24 page zine from conception to a finished product within a 24 hour time frame.

You can help to celebrate International Zine month also. Pay a visit to your local library, most carry books on how you can self-publish your own zine, or you can browse through zines that may have been donated to the institution. Larger metropolitan areas feature distros, which are stores that specialize in distributing zines and other self-published materials. You can always pay a visit to our Etsy store as well.

Helping to support indie publishers encourages everyone to act on their first amendment rights. More support means more independent voices in the mainstream media. This month we're encouraging your support, and we'll show some gratitude back. The first person to comment on any blog this month will receive a free color PDF zine!
Find a Distro near you!!
Learn more about zines

The Cup

2011-06-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

While traveling to the Ringing Rocks park and roller rink you're likely to pass a wondrous roadside oddity. A cup shaped building with a straw protruding out of the top.

These unique stores were originally built in the early 1940's for Levengood Dairies. The local dairy had the buildings constructed to help sell their dairy products. Originally there were four "cups" throughout the area. Boyertown, Pennsburg, and Reading were home to the other three.
Though they don't seem to hold the same vintage charm as the one in Pottstown. Though that's all quite likely to change, as this location is now currently for sale. Maybe we could make it our home office!

Ringing Rocks Park & Rink

2011-06-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

There's a mystical park near the small town of Pottstown where you're gonna wanna visit with a hammer in hand. The Ringing Rocks Park has been baffling curious visitors for centuries. When you smack one of the rocks in the boulder field you're likely to get two results, a deadening sound you'd expect, or a ringing bell sound you wouldn't expect. The various rocks each emit a different vibrant tone. Similar parks have been used to hold music festivities. Musicians will actually play the rocks while accompanied with other instruments.

On Outta the Way's visit we brought along several different size hammers. We noticed each hammer rang out a different chime on the same rock. The locals in the area have been generous enough to tag the rocks which make the best sounds. I must admit they're very good at pointing you to the prime rocks, though their art skills could use some work!

After ringing some rocks be sure to visit the retro style roller skating rink nearby. The old time rink has been entertaining the locals for decades. Ringing rocks and retro roller rinks sounds like a perfect day going Outta the Way!

For more on Ringing Rocks and other nearby Outta the Way places.

Elkins Estate

2011-06-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

Situated in the same neighborhood as the dilapidated Lynnewood Hall, rests another hidden gem. The Elkins Estate was the Summer home of transportation tycoon William Elkins. The estate consisted of 5 buildings, with 2 homes. The 45 room Elstowe Manor was used primarily by the family, while the smaller Chelton house was built specifically for William's son, George. Both homes were designed by famed architect Horace Trumbauer.

The Estowe Manor was extravagantly designed, no expense was spared. The Italian Renaissance home was constructed of exquisite woods and fine marble. Unfortunately for William he only got to enjoy his Summer retreat for a brief time. Mr. Elkins passed in the home in 1903 at the age of 71. During William Elkins life he played a very key role in Philadelphia transportation. After his death all traffic in Philadelphia came to a halt, in order to pay respects. This is the first and only time this has ever occurred in the city.

Fortunately this family's home fared better than the lost palaces of Lynnewood and Whitemarsh Hall. For many decades the home was owned by the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de' Ricci. The sisters took tremendous care of the luxurious estate. They eventually sold off the property after 75 years of maintaining it's tedious upkeep.

Today the home is owned by the non-profit group Food for Life. The group helps to feed the less fortunate in the Philadelphia area. Sadly they are beginning to feel the burdens of retaining such a luxurious property. In order to sustain the hindrances they have recently begun to use the home for wedding photography sessions. The good people at Food for Life are not only hoping to preserve history but also humanity.

Donate to Food for Life
Other local Outta the Way places

Lynnewood Hall

2011-06-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hidden away in the suburbs far from the Liberty Bell and the tourists, sits a luxurious palace left as a shell of it's former self. The articulate limestone walls of the Lynnewood Hall lie at rest behind the overgrown yard, protected by a rusty fence.

This former elegant home was once deemed the "house that art built." Industrialist Peter Widener was an avid art collector and needed a larger home to house his valuable collection as well as entertain his esteemed colleagues. In 1900 he and his family moved into their 70,000 square foot dream home. The home was full of luxurious design. Marble lined the walls, while gold plated the doorknobs.

The Wiedener family was extremely wealthy, but also dealt with their share of hardships.
One of the family's sons and grandson perished in the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. Peter Widener himself only got to enjoy his dream home for a modest 15 years. He was found deceased in the home after a lengthy illness at the age of 80. Shortly after Peter's passing the home became open for public viewings. Visits eventually ceased in 1940, shortly after most of the artwork was donated.

The legacy of the Lynnewood Hall and Widener family slowly began to fade away. The home was used briefly by the U.S. government during World War 2. The grounds were used for canine training, while the home was used to store valuable documents and works of art.

Since then the home has switched hands a few times and is slowly falling into decay. No major work has been done on the home since the 1950's. Most of the valuable materials used for building have been stripped away and sold by previous owners. Many preservation groups are trying to help preserve the legacy of this lost palace, before it's history and beauty are lost forever.
Lynnewood Hall Video

Whitemarsh Hall

2011-06-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Be careful what you wish for!

The Stotesbury family like most Americans' loved to live the dream life. They enjoyed hosting lavish parties, with movie star guests and noble statesmen from all over the world. After all when your home is larger than the White House you certainly have the room for such luxurious affairs.

The Stotesbury's moved into their dream palace in 1921. The home consisted of 147 rooms and 45 bathrooms and cost a modest 3 million dollars. The home was deemed the "American Versailles."

As quickly as their dreams came to fruition, they also vanished just as fast. At costs of over 1 million dollars a year to sustain the home and surrounding acreage, the family fortune quickly began to dwindle. By World War 2 the home had been left abandoned and was being used by the United States government to store valuable pieces of artwork.

After the government moved out, the vandals moved in. Anything of value had been stolen and the locals began to vandalize the home. Eventually the home had fallen into such disarray the community had no choice but to destroy the lost palace. Today all that remains are a few monuments from the gardens and the lost dreams of an American family.

Video look at Whitemarsh Hall
More info. on Whitemarsh Hall

Harrisburg State Hospital "City on the Hill"

2011-06-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

If only walls could talk, what kind of stories would they tell us? If I went looking for any walls to talk to in the Keystone State, I’d want to start at the Harrisburg State Hospital.

Social Reformer Dorothea Dix helped lobby to get help for the mentally handicapped in the state. In 1845 the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital and Union Asylum for the Insane was founded. In 1848 the name was changed to the less controversial Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital, after $50,000.00 was allotted to build. The hospital was completed in in1851, admitting its first patient on October 6^th, becoming the first Mental Hospital in the state.

The Kirkbride building was one of the first insane asylums in the United States using the Kirkbride Plan. Kirkbride was a Philadelphia Psychiatrist in the mid-1800’s, who advocated a system of mental asylum design. The asylums tended to be large with Victorian design.

The Kirkbride building seemed to suffer from poor construction as it only lasted approximately 50 years. Between 1893 and 1912 the hospital was rebuilt, going for the more popular cottage plan. This would consist of several small buildings connected with long partially submerged tunnels, as opposed to one large building.

In 1921 the hospital again changed names, this time more appropriately just the Harrisburg State Hospital. At the hospital’s peak, it consumed more than 1,000 acres and over 70 buildings, and held as many as 2,441 patients. During its lowest levels of employment, it was scary how disproportioned it was, with 1 nurse to 166 patients. The state hospital earned the nickname “City on the Hill” for its self-sufficient ways, including having its own farm, stores and even a power plant. In 1986, the hospital was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1999 the site was used for the setting of the movie “Girl, Interrupted.” In fact, the administration sign that still hangs is a leftover from the film. On January 27, 2006 after 150 years of helping the mentally disabled, the doors were closed, though not completely. The state still uses the buildings as administrative offices.

Movie Trailer from "Girl, Interrupted"

Frank Lloyd Wright's Beth Sholom Synagogue

2011-06-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Famed building designer Frank Lloyd Wright is known mostly for his work on private homes. He's accredited with having over 500 completed works. His most famous designed home is Fallingwater, located in Western Pennsylvania. Most aren't aware that besides homes he also designed the Guggenheim, and also a synagogue.

In September 1953 Mr. Wright was invited to design a new synagogue for the Beth Shalom congregation. Frank worked with, and had the advice of Rabbi Mortimer Cohen. Together they evoked a design that would give the synagogue the look of a mountain. In 1959 their masterpiece was completed and was deemed a modern day Mt. Sinai. It was the last work Frank Lloyd Wright had completed before his death. It's often heralded as the most expressive design of his illustrious career.

Though Wright is often considered the greatest American architect of all time, he was often too innovative. One of the biggest downfalls to Wright's designs is they often fail structurally. This is mainly attributed to the fact that he was so far ahead of his time. Engineers and builders had to use or create groundbreaking ways for building. Most of the time these ideas would work, a few times they didn't. At one point the Beth Sholom congregation had a kiddie pool in their sanctuary while they dealt with a leaky roof. The roof is what also makes this synagogue so unique. Due to it's transparency it allows natural light in during the day, while glowing at night from the man made electric. The synagogue was deemed a National landmark in 2007, and is one of only 4 in the country.

The name Beth Sholom is Hebrew for house of peace. From the look of the synagogue it seems Frank Lloyd Wright and the Rabbi Cohen were able to exude that right through their design.

Video of Beth Sholom Synagogue
Other nearby Outta the Way places

Daniel Boone Homestead

2011-06-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

In a small log cabin in rural Berks County, future pioneer and frontiersman Daniel Boone was born. For the next 16 years, Daniel would wander the nearby forests trying to fulfill his need to explore. He would learn hunting skills from the local Native Americans he had befriended. Daniel received his first rifle in 1749 at 15 years old. He would soon be delegated to protecting the livestock from predatory attacks. These hunting skills would later prove to be very valuable in Daniel’s life.

Daniel’s father Squire Boone originally built a 1 ½ story home for his family to live in. They first settled in the foothills of Berks County in 1730, and in 1734 their most prominent son was born. Squire mainly made his living as a blacksmith, weaver and a dairy farmer. The family lived modestly but was not without controversy.

The Boone family was part of the strict Quaker religion. In 1742 the eldest Boone child, Sarah, married outside of the Quaker faith while visibly pregnant. To make matters worse, in 1747 son Israel decided to marry outside the Quaker faith as well. These acts caused quite a controversy in the nearby communities. In 1750 the Boone family left Pennsylvania and relocated to North Carolina. It’s speculated that the marriages outside of the faith forced the Boone family to move.

“Many heroic actions and chivalrous adventures are related of me which exist only in the regions of fancy. With me the world has taken great liberties, and yet I have been a common man.” Daniel Boone used these words to describe himself and they seem to be pretty accurate. There are many folktales and fictionalized characters based on Daniel Boone. Though Daniel was not a very educated person, he was always searching and exploring to learn. He fought in the French and Indian War, and is most known for exploring and settling Kentucky. Daniel Boone gained most of his fame when at age 50 his autobiography began to circulate. People from all over were fascinated by his life, adventures, and his upbringing in his Pennsylvania boyhood home. Boone soon became a folk hero for all of America. One of the biggest misconceptions about Daniel Boone is the raccoon-skin hat. Daniel actually considered that hat style rather uncivilized. Daniel Boone regained a lot of popularity when a television show of his frontier escapades appeared in the 1960’s.

After the Boone family moved from Pennsylvania in 1750, relatives of the family bought the home. Shortly after, the home was expanded and drastically remodeled. Today the Daniel Boone homestead still stands, though it looks much different than the 1 ½ story log cabin home Daniel was born in. It wasn’t until 1926 when the state acquired the home and began restoration. The home is encompassed by 579 acres, which is used to help interpret the life of early settlers to our country. Also on the property are a blacksmith shop, a smokehouse, a nearby neighbor’s home and a bake house. Even though parts of Daniel’s life are shrouded in controversy, most regard him as a hero and great statesman to our country. What better way to pay tribute than to visit his boyhood home, and retrace his first footsteps.

Pottstown Pig Tree

2011-06-05T11:39:00.001-07:00

(Photo from Creepy Places)
The Skull tree along Devil's road isn't the only tree in Pennsylvania with folklore surrounding it. With roots shaped like a pigs snout, and a set of holes where eyes would set, it's easy to see how the pig tree got its name. What's not so simple to figure out is why its become so mysterious.

The legend of the pig tree states to take a personal item from someone you wish to cause harm to, you then place the item into the eye hole of the tree. It's thought that if the sun pierces through the object, the curse has worked. It should also be known that if the sun doesn't shine through, the curse is than reversed onto you. I'm not too sure there's anyone I despise that much to take that risk!

Outta the Way! Vol. 21: Whiskey, Mystics, and Men

2011-06-03T05:14:00.000-07:00

In the upcoming volume 21 zine, we'll be sharing our stories of whiskey, mystics, and men. "Da-da-da" Sorry couldn't help it! We're gonna take you to an old saloon that played a significant part in the revolutionary War. Many believe the General who used the tavern as his headquarters, may still be frequenting the pub.

After our fill of spirits we visited a few rather mystical places. A small town who still pays honor to their Welsh ancestors, with stone griffins, large cairns, and a circle of rocks, resembling a smaller Stonehenge. Then we were off to play the rocks, good thing we brought our hammers. At the park we visited, banging on the rocks with hammers is allowed, in fact encouraged. Each rock lets out it's own unique sound, some the normal thud you'd expect, others magically expel the sound of bells. Afterwords we got an inside and outside look at a Synagogue designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. This inspiring temple was meant to evoke the look of Mt. Sinai. It's a marvel to admire whether it's lit by the natural sun, or when it's illuminating like a candle in the evening.

Lastly we paid a visit to two lost palaces to see what was left of two men's dreams. Two multi-millionaires whose dream homes may have cost them everything. One of these mansions is now almost lost forever, only a few garden sculptures remain. The other nearby home lies as a former shell of itself. The "house that art built", lies in an abandoned shamble. It's quite a sight to see such articulate beauty, fall into such a desolate state.

For more information on the aforementioned places keep following our blog, and keep your eyes open for the upcoming zine.

Thank You!

2011-06-01T16:40:00.001-07:00

May was national share a story month. This was mainly instituted for parent's to share stories with their children. Well we at Outta the Way decided to use the opportunity to allow others to share their stories. We would like send a big thank you out to all those who participated.

The SWPA Rural Exploration group shared their adventures at the Fredericktown ferry, as well as a few other local gems. Ghost Hunting Theories shared her experience, being by herself in an abandoned building, but not alone. Our good friend at B.B.Bellezza Green Jewelry shared what she learned at the Pennsylvania Wolf Sanctuary, as well as the fun she had at their annual music and art show. Lastly our friends at ForgottenPA told about their adventures exploring the lost Concrete City. They shared their love of urban exploring as well as the importance of history.

Thanks to all who participated and made sharing month a success. But most importantly thanks to all our friends and followers who have helped to support us in so many ways. We wouldn't have made it this far without everyone's support, for that we say thank you!

Guest Blog: ForgottenPA

2011-05-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

All the way back in 2007, when ForgottenPA was just a little personal
blog about my group's visit to Centralia, we caught wind of a ghost
town with actual empty houses still in it. Not only were there
buildings, but they were made of concrete! We couldn't get there fast
enough.

That ghost town, of course, was Concrete City, in Nanticoke.
Construction began in 1911 and was  completed in 1913 by the coal
division of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company to
provide homes for colliery workers. The two-story double homes were
literally made of poured concrete, efficiently using the same floor
plan for both the first and second floors – the second floors all had
staircases that ran into the ceilings, without providing any access to
the roof.

Rented out for $8 a month, the houses served as homes for some of the
company's top staff, but problems cropped up. Paint blistered and
peeled. Water condensed on the inside walls, in spite of using
moisture-repellent construction materials and plaster. One former
resident even said that, in winter, her father's shirts would freeze,
and her mother had to iron them before he could even put them on.

Above all, the houses lacked indoor plumbing, and when it became
standard for residential housing, the company was not interested in
making the improvements. Concrete city was abandoned in 1924, only
eleven years after its construction. Attempts to demolish the town
were also unsuccessful – it was said that a hundred sticks of dynamite
did little to bring down one of the houses.

The trip to Concrete City was a turning point for us – obviously we
weren't poking around the houses in Centralia, but here, we had the
freedom to enter the buildings, to see what time and Mother Nature can
do to man-made structures, to really explore. After being so excited
to get to Concrete City, we felt a real dread, standing at the gaping
black entryway of the first house: What was in there? Would we make it
out alive? When we came out, would we ever be the same?

Of course there was interesting and unique things to see in all the
buildings; clearly, we survived; but we never were the same after our
visit to Concrete City. More than ever, we wanted to explore, to
learn, to see what other wonderful secrets Pennsylvania had been
keeping tucked out of the way. And even though the necessities of work
and life may keep us busy, like the houses at that old ghost town, our
love of exploration will survive anything.
Written by Steve Skipp c/o ForgottenPA

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Guest Blog: B.B.Bellezza Green Jewelry

2011-05-24T17:38:00.000-07:00

I had originally heard about the wolf sanctuary because I had friends who used to live there years ago before the buildings were transformed into a bed and breakfast. I had visions of a fence around a yard where a bunch of wolves basically hung out in a grassy yard and howled whenever the moon came out.

I’ve wanted to take a tour of the wolf sanctuary for some time now, so when the director of the sanctuary asked me to be part of Music and Art With the Wolves, I jumped at the chance.

Boy, was I wrong about the wolves, too.

First of all, it’s not a grassy lawn, the wolf sanctuary is on 22 acres of wooded land. Yes, there are fences, but not at all like what I was envisioning.

I was right about the howling. We arrived to set up for the show and got a chorus of howling or as the volunteers call it, “singing.” Surprisingly, it sounds basically like you would imagine from television or the movies. It’s so much more beautiful in person though.

In addition to rescuing and rehabbing wolves, the sanctuary is an educational tool. They strive to teach people that wolves are beautiful creatures, but they are most definitely not pets. I see why people might think of them for a pet, they are gorgeous and they seem like dogs. We have to remember these are wild animals, though, and they will follow their natural instincts. Many of the wolves are there because people originally thought they would make good pets and found out they are not.

The Sanctuary currently provides food, shelter and veterinary care for over forty Wolves with no government or corporate assistance. They survive on fund raising events like the one I attended, people adopting wolves, generous donations, funds raised from giving tours and gift shop sales.

It is always a little sad for me to see wild animals behind a fence or in a cage and not free. It does make me feel better to know that these particular animals are in captivity because they were rescued and being rehabbed. They would not survive in the wild. It is difficult to release an animal once it has been in captivity, so they will live out the rest of their lives at the sanctuary. They didn’t seem to mind, though, since they have so much space.

The art and music show itself was what I would consider an almost perfect day: great music, good food, wonderful art, interesting people, tucked away in the woods and for a great cause. I highly recommend that you check it out next year. In the meantime, the wolf sanctuary has tours on weekdays and weekends and provides full moon tours, which I intend to check out as well.

Outta the Way! video of wolf sanctuary.

Visit B.B.Bellezza's blog

Shop her online store for handcrafted green jewelry

Skull Tree: R.I.P.

2011-05-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Weird U.S.)

Pennsylvania is a state known mostly for it's abundance of natural resources. Oil, coal, natural gas, and most notably timber. They all played an important role in the commonwealth's history.
With all the timber and trees spread throughout the state, it's only natural a few would sprout urban legends of their own.

One of the most famous trees in the keystone state is the skull tree. Located in a remote area, near a reputed cult house, the tree became an entity of it's own. It came to be known as the skull tree due to the erosion of ground around the roots, giving the tree a grimly look of a human skull.

The tree eventually became a nuisance to local homeowners. Young thrill seekers would often scour the back road late at night, hoping for a glimpse of the notorious tree. They would all too often leave their mark behind as well, often littering and tagging trees or street signs. The vandals had become such a disturbance that the township has since had the infamous tree removed. Another outta the way gem destroyed by a few irresponsible hoodlums!

Video ride down devil's road, home of skull tree

What's a Zine?

2011-05-19T09:59:00.001-07:00

What's a zine? This is a question that regularly gets asked when I'm explaining Outta the Way. I usually just answer " it's a mini magazine." But that's such a generic answer, truthfully zines are much more than that. Usually the term is referred to any self published work with a small but devout group of followers. Profit is not the primary intent of zines, it's the spreading of knowledge that is not commonly for the mainstream.

Since the beginning of time people have been looking for ways to share their stories, with the invention of the printing press that dream became a reality for many. Now anybody with radical thinking and a different ideology than the general public could get their word out to hundreds, possibly thousands. Both Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin were independent publishers.

The origin of the word zine is unknown, but began to be used widespread during the early 1970's. During this time is when more zines began appearing, particularly in the underground sex and punk club scenes.

During the 1980's zines started gaining more of an artistic appeal. They even spawned their own subculture, zinesters. Zines during the 80's were very perverse and often covered obscure topics. Subjects often deemed too taboo for mainstream society.

However in the 1990's when the internet began to surge, zines then began to slowly disappear. Fortunately these same writers were able to gain a larger audience. This attention helped to turn a few self published writers into established authors.

Today zines are being embraced by a new generation, a generation that doesn't always trust the media and it's opinions. A new breed, who believes we need to be more self sufficient in our own needs. A group that doesn't want their information and mass media spoon fed to them.

Outta the way zines are available in traditional B & W form, and also as a color PDF you can print from home. Each zine consists of several out of the way places to visit. Each place will contain history, photos, and driving directions. Now get outta the way, 'cause we're going Outta the Way!

Find more zines on Etsy!
Learn more about zines and creating your own.

Gravity Hill in Numidia

2011-05-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

The name of the town invokes mysticism, magic and mystery. The fact that only roughly 250 people live in this tiny village certainly doesn’t hurt the mystery. That makes the tiny town of Numidia pretty easy to miss.

There are a couple of reasons to visit this sleepy town. In fact if you’re a racing lover, this place will appeal to you even more. One of the biggest attractions Numidia is known for is its drag strip. Thousands of spectators flock every year to the Numidia Dragstrip to watch rocket fueled cars race down the ¼ mile speedway.

Yet there’s another spot in this mountain village that not many know about, but those that do get to test their own cars out on this magical spot. Instead of diving as fast as you can down a straightaway, here you do almost the exact opposite. With little help from you other than a gear shift, you can drive your car backwards up a hill, while in neutral on the rural road known as Gravity Hill. Locals have been challenging each other for years to defy gravity. Placing your car in neutral on the right spot gives the illusion that your car is rolling uphill on its own. There are numerous of these gravity hills located throughout the world. Most claim that there are magnetic pulls or supernatural powers at work. That’s why you’re able to defy gravity. The fact that this gravity hill is quite rural, yet easily found helps it to stand out above some others. It’s also mainly only known to the locals, and is not used to attract tourists, and being in a town called Numidia, well, that’s just pure magic.

Video ride on Gravity Hill

Lost Riverboat in Shartlesville

2011-05-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Marooned not too far from the wondrous attraction known as Roadside America lies an old riverboat looking oddly out of place. The dilapidated boat lies detached in an open field, far from the days of entertaining guests off the coast of New York and New Jersey. Originally the riverboat was built in Minnesota and was named the "Suwannee Belle." The riverboat spent slightly more then a decade elating tourists from all over the world. It was eventually decommissioned in 1991. After a failed attempt as a restaurant the "Suwannee Belle" sat in a New Jersey storage unit until 2003. At this point the riverboat was purchased and was finding a new home in rural Shartlesville, Pennsylvania. The original owner had planned to use the riverboat as a tiki bar, unfortunately his dreams never came to fruition. Since then it has sat in this remote field never fully living up to the potential it seemingly had just a few short years ago. The new owners of the nearby restaurant continue to pay homage to the lost riverboat, having named their venture the Riverboat Saloon.