Valley Girl Views: Unsurpassed Beauty On Trip To Williamsport, 1924

From the front page of the Miltonian Newspaper, July 17 1924

A suggested route for automobile tourists coming from Philadelphia

Listing a variety of sights throughout the Susquehanna Valley

Few Philadelphia and vicinity motorists realize how many scenic trips may be found in the vicinity of Williamsport. The touring bureau of the Keystone Automobile Club suggests that you visit Williamsport for a delightful week's trip. The Lancaster pike or Lincoln highway to Lancaster, turning right on to the Harrisburg pike to Harrisburg and thence northward on the famous concrete "Susquehanna Trail" offers an excellent road to reach Williamsport.

Williamsport is situated in "Happy Valley," among the highest and most beautiful rolling hills and mountains in all the state of Pennsylvania.

From the Lycoming, the tourist with his car can start out any morning, north, south, east or west. It really makes no difference, since all roads and scenery here are most beautiful and not equaled by any other part of the state.

A trip north, up the Lycoming creek is unusually good. Winding back and forth over this great road way you reach bridge No. 2. [Note - this is roughly in the vicinity of Heshbon Park along Lycoming Creek Rd] Look over to the left on the little knoll and you will see a magnificent clump of trees. Such specimens, such colorings and shadings! And on the high hill you will see the "Lone Sentinel" standing way up there with his few limbs reaching out as if in prayer recalling to one the beautiful poem of Joyce Kilmer. Then, just down, along the creek, lies a big oak tree "General Pershing." The old pioneers said it was a place where the Indians of long ago sat and smoked their pipes.

Just beyond at a sharp turn in the road, stands an old stone house, rich in historical interest. It was erected in 1805. [Note - this is almost certainly the "Squire Hays" House, today Commonwealth Bank]

Hepburnville ,one of the old towns of the state, is next. It was a village years ago and is still a village. Here is an island which was built many years ago by those little "never-get-tired" animals, the beavers. In the village an old and odd building still stands. It was used as a hotel in the days of the overland stages.

Then comes Cogan Station, where you strike a concrete road, which takes you along the most beautiful drive in all the world up and down and in and out, along the creek, under high hanging rocks beautifully covered with ferns and wild flowers, laurel and wild roses, big pines, hemlocks, buttonwoods, beech and birch trees. The contracts are beyond description.

Next the little station of "Powys" one of the little flag stations you read about in the funny papers. Ahead, for miles, you can see the road, up and down. The children call it the roller coaster, and it's a good name.

"Wolf" Run, at the big woods, and the little concrete bridge, is one of the beauty spots and a great place to eat luncheon under the big trees.

Trout Run, just fourteen miles from Williamsport, is the "home of mountain peaks," Eleven of the highest mountains in Central Pennsylvania can be seen here. Park your car across the creek, at "Piedmont" and climb up the mountain path to Ringler's ridge, and you can look up the valley for miles and miles. The creek, railroad and roadways look like a lot of crooked ribbons in the valley far below. You never know how big and glorious this world is until you stand on top of Ringler's Ridge. It's a view that you will never forget.

Now you turn northward, up the new state road. Nowhere in all Pennsylvania can you see as many deer as at this place. In the summer they became quite tame and come right down to the road. Bear are also quite plentiful here but not so tame. You can also see pheasants quail, squirrels and chipmunks and many varieties of birds whose mission in life it seems, is to sing for those who pass by and love nature.

Looking ahead you see the "Be-hive mountains" another place you will wonder where you are going to get out. But you'll enjoy it! Also the view from the concrete bridge and the little falls as you cross over. No words can describe the winding road along here, up to the hill, among the hemlocks, "ghost trees," flowers and vines and such ferns!

The view from Steam Valley hill is magnificent. After taking it in, move on to the little glen on the left, at the concrete bridge. Stop your car again. Walk over 100 feet to the bridge and look down at the little glen with its fall and the pool with the big trout. You will have to tear yourself away from this spot.

Drive slowly all along and take it all in, to the town of Liberty. Then you can circle around another way back to Williamsport.

Another day take a drive over to Rickett's glen, said by many globe travelers to be the finest glen in all the world. It is fifty-two miles from Williamsport, over fine state roads, along the foot of the beautiful North mountain- a mounty forty miles long.

Rickett's glen is about 41/2 miles thru, has fifty-five falls ranging from 400 to 129 feet in height and at one place there is a series of fall, five of them; cross, high in the air, on foot bridges.

Far below you will see trees hundreds and hundreds of years old a virgin forest and one of the greatest collections of ferns and wild flowers in the state. Three good-sized; lakes are at the head of the glen. Only a few miles away, near Jamison City, on this same mountain, you can visit the largest beaver dam acres, and see what these wonderful and most interesting1 little animals have done for your great and glorious state.

Other places of interest to visit in the locality of Williamsport are Highland Lake. Crystal Lake, "the bogs," Ticklish rock, the old Genesee road, Hunter's lake (where beavers are now working), Eagles Mere, Celectia (the only acres and buildings in the world deeded to the Lord, recorded in the courthouse in Laport Pa) "World's End" at Forksville; Loyalsock creek drive, Fort Freeland, Captain John Brady's Grave, Weekers falls, the big saves near Warrensville, Devil's cave, along Lycoming creek; Devil's Garden on the mountain road. Devil's chimney, Penns Cave where you go under the ground and rocks in boats a quarter of a mile.

The excellence of the roads adds greatly to the enjoyment of the natural beauties of the Lycoming valley.

Returning to Philadelphia the short route thru Sunbury, Pottsville and Reading is suggested in order to vary the scenery. Follow the Pottstown West Chester road to Exton, Turning right on Lincoln highway to Philadelphia to avoid the numerous detours between Pottstown and Norristown.

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