Meyersdale in Somerset County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sweetest Place on Earth

The Birth of Maple City

Photographed By Bradley Owen, June 11, 2022

1. Sweetest Place on Earth Marker

Inscription.

Sweetest Place on Earth. The Birth of Maple City. , Around a potbellied stove one blustery winter night in 1948, plans were formulated for Meyersdale's first Maple Festival that celebrates and promotes the sweetest of all Pennsylvania's commodities-Somerset County maple syrup., The first festival took place on March 18, 1948. Over 1500 people gathered in front of the New Colonial Hotel as Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Daniel B. Strickler addressed the crowd and Miss Agnes Jean Hornbrook was crowned the first Pennsylvania Maple Queen., Each year the festival has grown. It now includes maple sugar demonstrations, arts and crafts, live music, and, of course, the famous Meyersdale Lions pancakes with 100% pure Somerset County maple syrup! All is open to the public., The Legend of the Magic Water is an extraordinary production with a cast of more than 100 local people, from newborns to 80+ year-olds. Steeped in local history and festival traditions, it has something for everyone-from an Indian attack to a hoedown, a simple hymn to classic opera., (Captions): , Queen Maple I, Agnes Jean Hanbrook, wore a cardboard crown in this first official portrait. The paper crown was replaced with a crystal and gemstone crown a year later for the coronation of Queen Maple II., Maple Mansion , Tour Maple Manor, the oldest homestead in Somerset County, where you can still see the 1785 original "log and chinking." The Manor's most famous guest was President Ulysses S. Grant., This gown worn by Miss Ida Meyers to Grant's inaugural reception, is a small part of the historic exhibits in the Maple Manor., Somerset County Maple Producers , Somerset County produces more maple syrup than any other county in Pennsylvania. Somerset's maple syrup is sold locally and shipped to New England and Canada., In early spring, Meyersdale is the home of the Pennsylvania Maple Festival. The events include horse pulls, antique car shows, reenactors and the Legend of the Magic Waters historic pageant., Trailhead Maple Trees made possible by , - Levi Deal Mansion , - Meyersdale Historical Society , - Student Conservation Association

Around a potbellied stove one blustery winter night in 1948, plans were formulated for Meyersdale's first Maple Festival that celebrates and promotes the sweetest of all Pennsylvania's commodities-Somerset County maple syrup.

The first festival took place on March 18, 1948. Over 1500 people gathered in front of the New Colonial Hotel as Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Daniel B. Strickler addressed the crowd and Miss Agnes Jean Hornbrook was crowned the first Pennsylvania Maple Queen.

Each year the festival has grown. It now includes maple sugar demonstrations, arts and crafts, live music, and, of course, the famous Meyersdale Lions pancakes with 100% pure Somerset County maple syrup! All is open to the public.

The Legend of the Magic Water is an extraordinary production with a cast of more than 100 local people, from newborns to 80+ year-olds. Steeped in local history and festival traditions, it has something for everyone-from an Indian attack to a hoedown, a simple hymn to classic opera.

(Captions):
Queen Maple I, Agnes Jean Hanbrook, wore a cardboard crown in this first official portrait. The paper crown was replaced with a crystal and gemstone crown a year later for the coronation of Queen Maple II.

Maple Mansion
Tour Maple Manor, the oldest homestead

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in Somerset County, where you can still see the 1785 original "log and chinking." The Manor's most famous guest was President Ulysses S. Grant.

This gown worn by Miss Ida Meyers to Grant's inaugural reception, is a small part of the historic exhibits in the Maple Manor.

Somerset County Maple Producers
Somerset County produces more maple syrup than any other county in Pennsylvania. Somerset's maple syrup is sold locally and shipped to New England and Canada.

In early spring, Meyersdale is the home of the Pennsylvania Maple Festival. The events include horse pulls, antique car shows, reenactors and the Legend of the Magic Waters historic pageant.

Trailhead Maple Trees made possible by
- Levi Deal Mansion
- Meyersdale Historical Society
- Student Conservation Association

Erected by Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Progress Fund's Trail Town Program, Richard King Mellon Foundation and the National Road Heritage Corridor.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1948.

Location. 39° 48.983′ N, 79° 1.193′ W. Marker is in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, in Somerset

Photographed By Bradley Owen, June 11, 2022

2. Sweetest Place on Earth Marker

View is looking east from Main Street.

County. Marker is on Main Street east of 8th Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on the Great Allegheny Passage trail, on the east side of Main Street, approximately 0.1 miles from the Meyersdale Area Historical Society. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 527 Main Street, Meyersdale PA 15552, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Western Maryland Railway (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); What's the Use of a Caboose (about 400 feet away); Meyersdale (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Meyersdale (about 400 feet away); Early Meyersdale (approx. 0.2 miles away); Meyersdale Centennial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lest We Forget (approx. 0.4 miles away); Korean War/Vietnam Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Meyersdale.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 291 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.