Updates From the Centre County Historical Society

CCHS has been an active participant in the discussions about the future transfer of the Rockview lands for more than two years. Our goals throughout the discussions and while participating as a member of the Spring Creek Canyon Technical Advisory Committee have been to call attention to the importance of the rich cultural history that has been a part of these resources along Spring Creek. Philip Benner's early Ironworks at Rock (dating from 1793) and the Mann Axe Factory (1830s) are just two.

We have provided historical background and urged that the resources on this state-owned land be adequately inventoried and that a plan be developed that would identify methods for their protection and preservation. Our recommendations were outlined in the section we submitted that was included in a Cultural Resource Report for The Spring Creek Canyon Strategy: A Master Plan and Management Plan for the Spring Creek Canyon.

Our recommendation outlined several methods or guidelines that meet state and federal requirements and procedures in the protection of cultural resources. They include a Cultural Resource Assessment of prehistoric and historic resources, and possible National Register of Historic Places listing for the Benner Cemetery, and for the Village of Rock. The Spring Creek Canyon offers a unique and significant educational opportunity - one that will be substantially strengthened through the assessment, identification, and preservation of these cultural resources.

We urged in those recommendations that the actual transfer of land not take place until a Management Plan and Conservation Easements were in place to function at a sufficient level to address the issues associated with opening the land and its significant and sensitive natural and cultural resources to public use. We also urged that once the transfer of land has occurred and planning commences, that future work on the properties by the owners commit to broad community educational opportunities about cultural and natural resources related to these lands.

The Centre County Historical Society Board action of March 30, 2009 has not changed. The Historical Society continues to be in support of the Master Plan and in support of an effective management structure being in place to protect known and still to be investigated cultural resources before the land is transferred, regardless of its future owners.

- Jackie Melander, President

ClearWater Conservancy's Spring Creek Canyon Press Release

Starting in January 2010, the Centre Furnace Mansion will not be open for regular tours on Mondays. Tours will still be conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Due to dwindling resources and state budget cuts, we have been forced to cut back on hours. Many museums are traditionally closed on Mondays, and this has been one of our least busy tour days. Price of admission is a suggested donation of $4.00. We apologize for any convenience, and hope to see you at the Mansion soon!

This spring, CCHS Executive Director Angela Breeden will offer an integrative arts class at Penn State University's Main campus called "The Museum Exhibition," that will allow students to create an exhibit, which will be on view in the Borland Gallery in April 2010.

Read more...

In May of 2008, CCHS applied to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Keystone Grant program for funds to perform several vital repairs to the ell section of the Centre Furnace Mansion. Having received notification of our award this past April for $21,406, we immediately began raising money to match it. We also received $15,000 from the Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitor's Bureau for a Capital Improvement grant that will help to meet this challenge, but we need the help of our members and friends to match the full amount. The restoration and care of the Centre Furnace Mansion is necessary to insure that it is available to future generations, and we hope that you will consider supporting this very important project.

Read more...

A year ago, CCHS Board member Bob Hazelton presented a CCHS program on the historical and cultural resources that were known about the Spring Creek Canyon, a program that he has given several times in the ensuing months. A good deal of additional information has been assembled since that first presentation and has formed the basis of a Cultural Resource Report for The Spring Creek Canyon Strategy: A Master Plan and Management Plan for the Spring Creek Canyon. The report is included and available in "The Public Review Draft of the Spring Creek Canyon Master Plan" at http://www.canyonplanning.com.

Because of the importance of these cultural resources and because of the wide community interest that has centered around the transfer of these Rockview lands into a different ownership arrangement, the CCHS Board of Governors has submitted the following statement to the planning consultants, Environmental Planning & Design, LLC:

March 31, 2009

Andrew JG Schwartz and Carolyn Yagle
Environmental Planning & Design, LLC
100 Ross Street, 5th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Dear Mr. Schwartz and Ms. Yagle,

The Centre County Historical Society (CCHS) has appreciated the opportunity of working with you and participating through the Technical Advisory Committee in the document, The Spring Creek Canyon Conservation Strategy: A Master Plan and Management Plan for the Spring Creek Canyon. While information about some of the cultural resources within the Spring Creek Canyon site were identified when the planning process began, new information has been assembled and the possibility of additional cultural resources still to be identified have been highlighted in the creation of the document on Conservation Values of the Rockview Divestment Lands.

The CCHS recommendation to the Master Plan has outlined several methods or guidelines that meet state and federal requirements and procedures in the protection of cultural resources. They include a Cultural Resource Assessment of prehistoric and historic resources, National Register of Historic Places listing for the Benner Cemetery, and possible National Register listing for the Village of Rock. The Spring Creek Canyon offers a unique and significant educational opportunity -- one that will be substantially strengthened through the assessment, identification, and preservation of these cultural resources.

CCHS Recommendations:

The Centre County Historical Society joins ClearWater Conservancy in the following recommendations related to the significant and sensitive cultural and natural resources of the Spring Creek Canyon. These recommendations are in support of the Master Plan and in support of an effective management structure being in place before the land is transferred. CCHS recommends:

* DCNR and ClearWater should begin working on the conservation easement immediately
* Legislation to authorize the transfer of the 1,800 acres of Rockview land north of I-99 consistent with the use and management recommendations of the Master Plan may be introduced upon the completion of the Master Plan.
* However, the actual transfer of land will not take place until the time that the conservation easements are recorded and the Land Management Partnership is functioning at a sufficient level to address the issues associated with opening the land and its significant and sensitive natural and cultural resources to public use.
* Rockview State Correctional Institution will retain ownership and site security until these protective conditions are met and the land is transferred to new owners. Further, Rockview’s active management of the site in the interim between the completion of the Master Plan and the land transfer should also be consistent with the recommendations of the Master Plan (e.g., no tilling and planting of areas designated for restoration, no tree removal, no earth disturbance, etc.).

In addition to these recommendations, the Centre County Historical Society would like to make explicit the recommendations of educational opportunities discussed by the Technical Advisory Committee and implied in the Master Plan:
* Once the transfer of land has occurred and planning commences, that future work on the properties by the owners commit to broad community educational opportunities about cultural and natural resources.

Again, CCHS has appreciated the opportunity to be involved in planning for the future of the Spring Creek Canyon, and we look forward to working with others in the community to enhance awareness and appreciation of this exceptional Centre County resource.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Melander, President
Board of Governors
Centre County Historical Society

The Centre County Historical Society will receive an Award of Merit from the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations for last fall's Centre County and the Civil War exhibit.

Each year, PFMHO recognizes the special achievements of museums and historical organizations in Pennsylvania. Certificates are awarded to institutions for projects that have made an exemplary contribution to museums or the field of public history, exhibiting excellence and innovation.

Executive director Angela Breeden, president Jackie Melander, board member and Centre County Heritage editor Doug Macneal and graphic designer Dave Lembeck will be honored at a celebratory luncheon on October 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the Antique Automobile Museum in Hershey, PA. The luncheon will include a slideshow of highlighting the winning projects for all to see.

For more information about Special Achievement Awards, please visit the PFMHO website.