June 2018 wrapped up with a
short stop in Mercer, Pennsylvania. We were due in Johnstown, PA by July 4th,
and it just so happens we have friends who live in the Mercer and Grove City
area, which was right on the way. We only stayed three days, but had a very
nice visit and got a nice introduction to a very beautiful part of the state of
Pennsylvania. Our friends took us on a 30-mile scenic drive to the McConnells
Mill State Park, located in Perry and Slippery Rock Townships in Lawrence
County. Just getting there was half the fun, as we drove through bucolic country
roads, over rivers and creeks, and through landscape dotted with farmhouses, meadows,
and groves of trees.
McConnells Mills features a deep
scenic gorge with a restored watermill and a covered bridge, accessible by a
roadway that winds between looming boulders on the hillside. This park was
chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as
one of the “25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks”, and it’s not hard to see why.
The site was originally opened as a gristmill in 1852, and by 1875 the
waterwheel and grindstones were replaced with water turbines and rolling mills,
making McConnells Mill one of the first rolling mills in the country. The mill
processed oats, corn, buckwheat, and wheat until it was closed in 1928.
Today, hiking, rock climbing,
and white water boating are popular in the park. We spent a nice morning
walking on some of the many trails, and learning a lot about the history of the
area from our friends.
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