Civilization in the Wilds

Civilization in the Wilds. Pennsylvania Wilds. , When pioneers ventured into northwestern Pennsylvania in the early 1800s, they encountered a daunting landscape blanketed by dense, dark, ancient forests unlike any they had encountered in New England or eastern Pennsylvania. In these unfamiliar wilds, they endured isolation, few and often impassible roads, backbreaking work, and primitive amenities., Yet the settlers persevered. They cleared trees to create farm fields and earned a living from the timber, shingles, and tanning bark the trees yielded. They built dams, canals, and log booms to float logs to market. Their railroads traversed the mountains to haul coal, oil, and logs from the hills and move people through the region From Clarion to Williamsport, communities grew from the land's abundance, and set deep roots. These communities retain and celebrate their historic character and their connection to the land., Impressions on the Land , The wealth of the lumber era is expressed in the Victorian architecture as seen in the historic districts of Brookville, Philipsburg, Bellefonte, Boalsburg, and here in Clearfield. In Boalsburg, the Boal Mansion Museum preserves the pioneering legacy of nine generations of the influential Boal family., In Lock Haven's Historic District, the Heisey Museum, a meticulously restored Victorian home, offers a glimpse of 19th Century life. At Canal Park, a restored lock from the Pennsylvania Canal preserves a near-vanished chapter in the region's river history., As communities grew along the Allegheny and Susquehanna Rivers, they demanded protection from floods. Sayer's Dam and Curwensville Dam, solid examples of how humans have shaped the region to meet their needs, reduce flooding on the West Branch of the Susquehanna and created year-round recreation havens., [Photo captions, top to bottom, read] , . The State College Community Theatre produces several shows annually at the Boal Barn Playhouse in Boalsburg., . Brookville's historic district features nearly 300 historic buildings, many that offer delightful shops and restaurants., . Curwensville Lake is a haven for boaters, campers, picnickers and swimmers., . Built in 1831, this home became the headquarters of the Clinton County Historical Society in 1962 and was renamed the Heisey Museum.