If you want to see what much of Pennsylvania used to look like, the Longfellow trail into the Forest Cathedral is a good place to start. This park is home to one of the largest stands of old-growth forest in the state, some well over 400 years old, more than three feet in diameter and approaching 180 feet tall.
Fallen Tree on Longfellow Trail
The roots on this “recent” fall on the Longfellow Trail are about 12-15 feet high. Below is another example from a not so recent fall. It is missing all the dirt.
Fallen Tree on Longfellow Trail
Chase Turbine Shingle Mill
Chase Turbine Shingle Mill
Lumbering was king in this area along the Clarion River and the Log Cabin Environmental Learning Classroom is a goog place to learn a bit about it’s history. Above are are two views of a rather beastly contraption that is a belt-driven Chase Turbine Manufacturing Company shingle mill. You can find a number of videos of one in action on YouTube.
Cook Forest Association Memorial Fountain
Finally, this fountain was erected in 1950 as a memorial to the original members of the Cook Forest Association. This group was founded in the 1920’s to raise funds to save several areas of virgin growth white pines and hemlocks that are now Cook Forest State Park.