Jersey Shore in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Restoration and Renewal
| — | Pine Creek Rail Trail | — |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2022
1. Restoration and Renewal Marker
Visionary Pennsylvanians chose to act and were among the first great American conservationists. In fact, Pennsylvania is often considered to be the “cradle of conservation” in the United States.
The great north central forests, stripped of their natural resources by the early 1900s, earned the title “the desert of Pennsylvania.” Worthless to those who exploited them, the lands were purchased by the Commonwealth for restoration. They are now the lion's share of our 2.1 million acres of public-owned lands... your land to enjoy and conserve for future generations. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources upholds the legacy that people like Rothrock, Dock, Pinchot and Goddard crafted for the stewardship of these public lands.
[photo captions]
• Mira Lloyd Dock was a woman ahead of her time. She lobbied tirelessly to restore Pennsylvania's forests to their former glory. She was appointed to the State Forestry Reservation Commission in 1901, the first woman appointed by a governor to any commission in Pennsylvania.
• Maurice K. Goddard, former Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters (now DCNR), was determined to have a park or forest facility within 25 miles of every Pennsylvanian. His legacy is our magnificent state park system.
• Driven to near extinction by market hunting and destruction of habitat, it was estimated that only about 500 whitetail deer remained in the state in 1900. The Pennsylvania Game Commission began stocking deer from Michigan in 1906 and continued through the 1920s.
Erected by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women.
Location. 41° 12.094′ N, 77° 16.818′ W.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Pennsylvania Wilds and in the Susquehanna Valley. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Continuing Commitment (here, next to this marker); Altered States (here, next to this marker); In the Beginning (here, next to this marker); Fair Play in the Wild West (here, next to this marker); Pine Creek Valley — A Story of Transformations (here, next to this marker);
Courtesy PA DCNR
2. Marker detail: Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot was the Commonwealth’s first formally trained forester. He served as governor of Pennsylvania for two terms and was the first chief of the US Forest Service.
Also see . . .
1. Mira Lloyd Dock (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: American botanist, environmentalist, and educator. It was only after her father died in 1895 that Lloyd Dock matriculated to the University of Michigan to study botany, chemistry, and geology. After graduating in 1896, Lloyd Dock became interested in the city's landscape and recreational parks, as well as the health of Harrisburg's residents. She formed the Civic Club of Harrisburg, becoming president of its Department of Forestry and Town Improvement. In 1899, Lloyd Dock was selected by both the State Federation of Pennsylvania Women and the Parks Association of Pennsylvania to be their representative in the International Congress of Women, that year held in London, England.(Submitted on June 30, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
In 1901, Pennsylvania governor William A. Stone appointed Lloyd Dock to the Pennsylvania Forestry Reservation Commission, the first woman to serve in thatposition. She spent time touring the state, looking for deforested and abandoned areas across the state, which she recommended for purchase by the government. Over 175,000 acres were purchased during her first year in office. She began lecturing at the State Forestry Academy in 1903, having lobbied for the formation of the school, and would continue to teach there until 1929. After serving three successive terms, she declined a reappointment to the Forestry Reservation Commission when her final term expired on July 25, 1913. By that time the state had purchased over a million acres of forest reserves.Courtesy PA DCNR3. Marker detail: Joseph T. RothrockJoseph T. Rothrock was Pennsylvania’s first commissioner of Forestry. He founded the PA Forestry Association in 1886 and acquired more than one million acres of forestry reserves for future Pennsylvanians to use and enjoy.
2. Maurice K. Goddard (1912-1995) (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The driving force behind the creation of 45 Pennsylvania state parks during his 24 years as a cabinet officer for six governors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Goddard received a B.S. in forestry from the University of Maine in 1935. He held a teaching position in forestry at The Mont Alto School of Forestry in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, from 1935 to 1937. He left in 1938 to receive(Submitted on June 30, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)his master's degree in forestry from the University of California at Berkeley. He served under the direct command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the United States Army during World War II, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.Courtesy J. Eastlake4. Marker detail: Civilian Conservation CorpsThe young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps planted millions of trees in the 1930’s. Visit the interpretive kiosk at Waterville for more information.Following his discharge from the army, Goddard returned to his career in forestry. He accepted a position as the director of forestry at The Mont Alto School of Forestry. From there he served the same position at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. At this time Goddard began to formulate plans for the future of the state parks in Pennsylvania. Governor George M. Leader appointed Goddard as the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, a forerunner to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Goddard and the Department of Forests and Waters set a goal of establishing a state park within 25 miles of every resident of Pennsylvania. He fell short of this goal, but under his leadership the number of state parks in Pennsylvania grew by 45, and there was an increase in size of over 130,000 acres. Goddard went on to oversee the creation of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, a combination of several other state departments. Goddard retired in 1979 and remained active in the environmental movement.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2022
5. Restoration and Renewal Marker
This marker is the second from the right of four panels on the south side of the Pine Creek Rail Trail Trailhead interpretive kiosk.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 30, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
