From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mont Alto State Park
is a
Pennsylvania state park
on 24 acres (9.7 ha) in
Quincy Township
,
Franklin County
,
Pennsylvania
in the United States. The park is on
Pennsylvania Route 233
one mile from
Mont Alto
.
History
[
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]
Mont Alto Iron Company
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]
Mont Alto State Park is the oldest state park in Pennsylvania. Its history began with the former Mont Alto Iron Furnace, a
blast furnace
built in 1807. It was 31 feet (9.4 m) high and 8 feet (2.4 m) wide at the boshes. The furnace produced between 2 and 3 short tons (1.8 and 2.7 t) of
iron
a day. The area was a center of iron production for many years. The
Mont Alto Railroad
was built by the
Mont Alto Iron Company
to connect the furnaces of the area to the
Cumberland Valley Railroad
near
Chambersburg
. This railroad served a dual purpose, carrying iron shipments from the furnace and bringing visitors to Mont Alto Park. The park was opened by the Mont Alto Iron Company. Ownership of Mont Alto Park was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 1, 1902.
[2]
[3]
The First State Park
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]
Mont Alto Park became the first "state forest park" in Pennsylvania.
[4]
The park had a
swimming pool
, refreshment stand,
hiking
trails and a
carousel
. It was also the site of
South Mountain Camp Sanitorium
. This
sanitorium
was founded by Dr.
Joseph Rothrock
, a
medical doctor
and
forester
who opened several sanitoriums in the forests of Pennsylvania and became known as the father of forestry in Pennsylvania. The sanitorium treated those afflicted with
tuberculosis
and other respiratory illnesses. Over the years the park has gradually become less and less of a destination for visitors. It is now a quiet park with minimal facilities. The building that housed the carousel, which now serves as a picnic
pavilion
, is a reminder of the past.
[2]
[3]
Recreation
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]
The
West Branch Antietam Creek
flows through Mont Alto State Park and provides visitors to the park to fish for
trout
. Logging and forest management roads provide access to hiking opportunities in the nearby
Michaux State Forest
. There are two picnic areas with approximately 50 tables and two pavilions, one being the former carousel house. The park also provides parking and restroom facilities for hunters and other outdoorsman that venture into Michaux State Forest.
[2]
Nearby state parks
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The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Mont Alto State Park:
[5]
[6]
[7]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Mont Alto State Park"
.
Geographic Names Information System
.
United States Geological Survey
. August 2, 1979
. Retrieved
June 15,
2008
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Mont Alto State Park"
.
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
. Archived from
the original
on November 5, 2011
. Retrieved
November 3,
2006
.
- ^
a
b
"Early Years of PA State Parks"
.
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
. Archived from
the original
on February 5, 2004
. Retrieved
November 3,
2006
.
- ^
"Oldest State Park"
.
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
. Archived from
the original
on February 20, 2004
. Retrieved
November 3,
2006
.
- ^
"Find a Park by Region (interactive map)"
.
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
. Archived from
the original
on September 24, 2011
. Retrieved
November 18,
2011
.
- ^
Michels, Chris (1997).
"Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation"
.
Northern Arizona University
. Retrieved
April 23,
2008
.
- ^
"2007 General Highway Map Franklin County Pennsylvania"
(PDF)
(Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
. Retrieved
July 27,
2007
.
[
permanent dead link
]
Note: shows Mont Alto State Park
External links
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]