Quintessential Pennsylvania

ELLSWORTH - Founded in 1900.  Washington County town named for and founded by James W. Ellsworth.  In 2025, the town celebrated its 125th anniversary . How To Get There:

  ELYSBURG - Founded 1830. Named for Ely family, formerly Petersburg. Elysburg is best known as the home of the Knoebels Amusement Park and the Roaring Branch Tract of the Weiser State Forest. How to Get There: Sources and Links: Susquehanna River Valley - Elysburg, Pennsylvania

EAST PETERSBURG - Founded 1800. Founded by Daniel Wolf, pioneer settler. East Petersburg Borough was formed in 1946 to fill a need to establish a municipal water system due to a typhoid fever epidemic, but the community’s roots date nearly to the time of the American Revolution. In fact, a farmhouse near the eastern end of the borough was built before the war, and a nearby mill was already producing grain. In 1789, Peter Gotshall inherited 50 acres of land in the area from his father, Peter Gotshall the elder. Two years later the younger Peter Gotshall sold off his land in about five pieces. One of the buyers of Peter Gotshall’s parcels was John Wolf, who in 1806 sold land to his nephew, Daniel Wolf, who founded East Petersburg. Also in the early 1790s, Benjamin Hershey II, a Mennonite farmer, donated land at the northwest corner of present day Lemon and State Streets and a community meetinghouse was built there. At that point the area of present-day East Petersburg was known as He...

  EXCHANGE - Founded 1840. Named for horse exchange on old mail route in coaching days. How to Get There:

  EAGLES MERE - Founded 1804. Originally Lewis Lake, renamed from "Lake of the Eagles". Long an destination for Philadelphians looking to escape the summer heat, Eagles Mere is a summer resort town, swelling to about 3,000 seasonal residents from about 120 year round residents. How to Get There: Sources and Links: Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania - Home Eagles Mere Historic Villages - History

Along PA 981 in the Westmoreland County Village of Alverton was the site of the former East Huntingdon Township High School.  Built in 1924, the high school replaced the former high school that dated to the turn of the century. The High School would serve East Huntingdon Township until 1964 when the school district merged with the Scottdale School District to form the Southmoreland School District.  The high school was renamed Southmoreland High School and was the district's high school until the late 1970s when a new high school was built across Route 981. The building continued to serve the community as Southmoreland Junior High School until 2010 when a new Southmoreland Middle School opened in Scottdale.  The building was later demolished and the site is now the parking lot for the school's football stadium. The intricate terra-cota details of the former high school's façade were one of the many features of this building. All photos taken by post autho...

Throughout Pennsylvania, there are numerous abandoned coal mines.  In fact, if you live in Southwestern Pennsylvania, it is quite likely that one once ran underneath your home . With the abundance of former coal mines in the area, you're bound to come across an old shaft entrance or other leftover example.  With varying degrees of difficulty, you can find these relics of an earlier industrial era.  One such remnant can be found at the intersection of Douglas Run Road and Round Hill Road in Elizabeth Township.  The entrance to the former Warden Mine sits hidden behind fill, trees, and vegetation which makes the old brick entrance best seen in winter. Entrance to the former Warden Mine on a frigid December 2008 afternoon (Adam Prince) The Warden Mine opened in 1925 and operated until July 1954.  The bituminous coal mine was owned by the Pittsburgh Consolidated Coal Company.  In addition, the mine also centralized numerous local mines.  The nearby...

ELIZABETHVILLE - Founded 1817.  Originally named "Benderstettle".  The town was renamed to Elizabethville in honor of the Bender's daughter, Elizabeth.  The Dauphin County town of over 1,500 residents prides itself on being " The Star of the Valley ." Photo taken by Doug Kerr.