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There's plenty of interest in Pennsylvania

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Part II: Because we took the byways during our four-day tour of Pennsylvania, we saw many historic little towns, which was the whole idea. Between home and Mount View Inn, which I told you about in Part I, those green trees of the Alleghenys seemed so close. I don't know when I have been on such a woodsy road that never seemed to end -- and the hills! We could have rolled right into Washington, Pa., where there was a beautiful courthouse and lovely homes.

Now, to Fort Necessity and some history you may have forgotten. The battlefield contains a small fort to which we did not walk, built by George Washington. In 1754 "The Battle of Great Meadows," in which Washington and a small company of Virginians fought a strong force of French and Indians, occurred here. This was the beginning of the French and Indian War and Washington's first campaign. You can walk a nice trail to the tavern, which is furnished 19th century fashion.

A mile west, on U.S. 40, is the grave of General Braddock. His army was ambushed near Fort Duquesne and he was fatally wounded. His Aide-de-Camp, George Washington, had two horses shot from under him. Braddock was buried in the road of Old Orchard Camp and wagons were driven over his grave to prevent Indians from finding his body. He was later moved to the present gravesite.

We explored Brownsville (pop. 3,200) and saw Nemacolin Castle which had fieldstone walls at least 10 feet high. It was closed on Monday. On a main street corner we noticed a hospital, of outstanding architecture, that had been allowed to deteriorate. It was sided by a nursing school. They kept their brick roads where possible. The town obviously needed money and was trying for grants.

We saw all this before arriving at the inn. The next morning we went to nearby Latrobe to see the interior of Saint Vincent Basilica Parish. It was outstanding; also, saw an ancient Methodist Church. Then on to Ligonier, a pretty well-maintained village, where a fort once served as a major English stronghold. Idlewild Park, great for the family, is also here.

Then, Johnstown. Many of you have read about its horrible flood of 1889 when the dam broke and 2,200 died in about 10 minutes. The museum is a must and is located in the old library. The flood story became a documentary (shown hourly) that won the Academy Award for best short subject (it has been shown on TV). You will learn what really caused the dam to break, which resulted in one of the country's worst peacetime disasters. Victor Heiser, who survived the flood, had this to say ... "My boyhood home was crushed like an eggshell and I saw it disappear."

Beside the museum is an "Oklahoma House," a replica of the pre-fab houses built for frontier settlers and later, using the same idea, constructed for the tens of thousands left homeless by the flood.

Johnstown's economy relied on the steel industry and Wayne, with his terrific memory of all the narrator said, makes it possible for me to add some interesting facts. Johnstown was one of the few steel towns that was not Carnegie Steel -- it was Bethlehem Steel. In 1879, Bethlehem Steel built the town library which, 10 years later, was destroyed by the flood.

In 1891, Carnegie then built a new library (now location for the museum) for Johnstown, but on a much grander scale, including a third floor mens' gymnasium and walking track. "There are a few buildings in downtown Millersburg, including Maxwell's store (now 55 West & Co.) that have Carnegie Steel incorporated into the design of the front of the building."

To be continued ...