The Lake at Boiling Springs
"Children's Lake"
This seven-acre, man-made lake was created in the 1750s to power the iron works once located at the lower end. The lake is fed by about 30 natural springs clustered behind the tavern and at the upper end of the lake. The daily output is approximately 22 million gallons of 53-degree water. The springs surge from underground streams located some 1800 feet below the surface. Because of the bubbling water, early settlers named the area Boiling Springs.
Beauty of the lake has attracted generations of visitors to its shores. Cary Ahl, owner of the iron works, built the first stone wall and planted trees around the lake in 1872. The village overlooking the scenic lake was founded in 1845. From 1895 to 1930 a popular trolley park located on the east side was enjoyed by thousands of visitors.
In 1987, the lake was purchased by a partnership of interested parties who wanted to maintain public access to the lake. The lake is owned by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. The National Park Service owns the cottage and an acre of ground on the east side. The Boiling Springs Civic Association landscapes and maintains the grounds, using funds from the Children's Lake Appalachian Trail Trust.
[Photo/illustration captions, clockwise from top left, read]
• Background Image: Boats on Lake, c. 1910
this page online
• View of Boiling Springs Park, c. 1916
• Early view of lake, c. 1875
Erected by Boiling Springs Civic Association and South Middleton Township.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1800.
Location. 40° 8.995′ N, 77° 7.623′ W. Marker is near Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in South Middleton Township. Marker is on East 1st Street (Pennsylvania Route 174) east of Front Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4 E 1st St, Boiling Springs PA 17007, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (here, next to this marker); SFC Randall Shughart (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cumberland County Veterans Memorial Clock Tower (about 400 feet away); Daniel Kaufman (about 600 feet away); Carlisle Iron Works (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ege Burial Plot (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Middleton Township (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Benches at Boiling Springs (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boiling Springs.
Also see . . .
1. Children's Lake at Boiling Springs. (Submitted on July 16, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Boiling Springs, PA 17007. (Submitted on July 16, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Largest Natural Spring in Pennsylvania, Boiling Springs PA on Youtube. (Submitted on July 16, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Children's Lake at Boiling Springs at YouTube (aerial). (Submitted on July 16, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 721 times since then and 231 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 16, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
