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contacting the webmaster.
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July 18, 2010
My new Looking Back column debuted in the
Chambersburg Public Opinion today. It is a local
history column about Chambersburg, PA, and
Franklin County. Check it out at:
www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_15547359
If you are interested in learning more about writing
for magazines, I have two classes on magazine
writing starting up at Harrisburg Area Community
College in September. Both will be taught at the
Gettysburg campus. Each class run three
consecutive weeks for two hours each class. You
can take the class in the evening or afternoon. For
more information, visit the HACC web site or
e-mail me.
July 6, 2010
I have an article about Hall of Fame baseball
pitcher, Eddie Plank, better known as Gettysburg
Eddie, in the current issue of Celebrate Gettysburg.
My new Looking Back column debuted in the
Chambersburg Public Opinion today. It is a local
history column about Chambersburg, PA, and
Franklin County. Check it out at:
www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_15547359
If you are interested in learning more about writing
for magazines, I have two classes on magazine
writing starting up at Harrisburg Area Community
College in September. Both will be taught at the
Gettysburg campus. Each class run three
consecutive weeks for two hours each class. You
can take the class in the evening or afternoon. For
more information, visit the HACC web site or
e-mail me.
July 6, 2010
I have an article about Hall of Fame baseball
pitcher, Eddie Plank, better known as Gettysburg
Eddie, in the current issue of Celebrate Gettysburg.
| Visit James Rada's blog on historical topics called Time Will Tell. |
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
At least that's how the Chambersburg Merchant's Association looked at
things on July 10, 1906. Nearly every business in town shut down on that
Tuesday so employees and town residents could spend the day at Pen-
Mar Park for Chambersburg Day.
"Pen-Mar is the place for every loyal citizen of town to go to-day. By going to
Pen-Mar you will not only have an opportunity of being with the majority of
the town people on an outing that will also be benefitting the hospital," the
Public Opinion announced.
The weather was clear and pleasant, which encouraged people to make
the outing.
Special Western Maryland Railroad trains ran throughout the day ferrying
people the 24 miles to park. Three trains carried at least 700 passengers
to the park.
Col. John Mifflin Hood, president of the Western Maryland Railway, created
Pen-Mar Park in August 1877. The park offered a view of over 2,000 square
miles and two mountain ranges at an altitude of 1,400 feet.
"From here on a clear day, one could see the town clock in Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania, at a distance of 24 miles - with binoculars, of course," Frank
and Suanne Woodring wrote in the book, "Images of America: Pen-Mar."
Pen-Mar Park featured a dancing pavilion and a dining room that could
seat 450 people. An observation tower was added in 1878. The very
popular three-foot-high miniature railroad with an engine, tender and three
cars was added in 1904. As many of 2,000 people a day rode the Little
Wabash around the park.
The park quickly became a popular destination for tourists who traveled on
the railroad from towns and cities all over the East Coast to the Maryland
and Pennsylvania mountains. The peak single-day attendance at the park
was 20,000 people.
Chambersburg businessmen, professionals and merchants enjoyed the
amusements and speeches by President of the Chambersburg Council J.
D. Ludwig and City Solicitor T.J. Minehart in the park's auditorium. Both
men talked about the needs of the town and the state of the business
community in Chambersburg.
The Waynesboro merchants were invited to participate, but there was
limited involvement.
"It was hoped to have our merchants join their Chambersburg brethren but
on account of today being pay day in the shops it could not be arranged,"
the Waynesboro Herald reported.
Still, some of the merchants were able to get away in the afternoon to
participate in the relaxing day with their fellow businessmen.
Likewise, some of the Chambersburg businessmen enjoyed a ride on the
relatively new trolley to visit Waynesboro from Pen-Mar. The trolley had
been added three years earlier and was part of the Chambersburg,
Greencastle and Waynesboro Street Railway. A round trip cost from Pen-
Mar to Waynesboro cost 20 cents. The trolley also ran from Chambersburg
to Pen-Mar, but the trip took an hour and 40 minutes. The trolley company
offered rebates on the fares during Chambersburg Day and donated the
rebated amount to the Chambersburg Hospital.
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_15547359
At least that's how the Chambersburg Merchant's Association looked at
things on July 10, 1906. Nearly every business in town shut down on that
Tuesday so employees and town residents could spend the day at Pen-
Mar Park for Chambersburg Day.
"Pen-Mar is the place for every loyal citizen of town to go to-day. By going to
Pen-Mar you will not only have an opportunity of being with the majority of
the town people on an outing that will also be benefitting the hospital," the
Public Opinion announced.
The weather was clear and pleasant, which encouraged people to make
the outing.
Special Western Maryland Railroad trains ran throughout the day ferrying
people the 24 miles to park. Three trains carried at least 700 passengers
to the park.
Col. John Mifflin Hood, president of the Western Maryland Railway, created
Pen-Mar Park in August 1877. The park offered a view of over 2,000 square
miles and two mountain ranges at an altitude of 1,400 feet.
"From here on a clear day, one could see the town clock in Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania, at a distance of 24 miles - with binoculars, of course," Frank
and Suanne Woodring wrote in the book, "Images of America: Pen-Mar."
Pen-Mar Park featured a dancing pavilion and a dining room that could
seat 450 people. An observation tower was added in 1878. The very
popular three-foot-high miniature railroad with an engine, tender and three
cars was added in 1904. As many of 2,000 people a day rode the Little
Wabash around the park.
The park quickly became a popular destination for tourists who traveled on
the railroad from towns and cities all over the East Coast to the Maryland
and Pennsylvania mountains. The peak single-day attendance at the park
was 20,000 people.
Chambersburg businessmen, professionals and merchants enjoyed the
amusements and speeches by President of the Chambersburg Council J.
D. Ludwig and City Solicitor T.J. Minehart in the park's auditorium. Both
men talked about the needs of the town and the state of the business
community in Chambersburg.
The Waynesboro merchants were invited to participate, but there was
limited involvement.
"It was hoped to have our merchants join their Chambersburg brethren but
on account of today being pay day in the shops it could not be arranged,"
the Waynesboro Herald reported.
Still, some of the merchants were able to get away in the afternoon to
participate in the relaxing day with their fellow businessmen.
Likewise, some of the Chambersburg businessmen enjoyed a ride on the
relatively new trolley to visit Waynesboro from Pen-Mar. The trolley had
been added three years earlier and was part of the Chambersburg,
Greencastle and Waynesboro Street Railway. A round trip cost from Pen-
Mar to Waynesboro cost 20 cents. The trolley also ran from Chambersburg
to Pen-Mar, but the trip took an hour and 40 minutes. The trolley company
offered rebates on the fares during Chambersburg Day and donated the
rebated amount to the Chambersburg Hospital.
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_15547359
| Chambersburg businesses enjoy Pen-Mar by James Rada, Jr. |
| Featured Article (originally published in the Chambersburg Public Opinion) |
This page was last updated July 2010.
All rights reserved.
Contact the webmaster.
All rights reserved.
Contact the webmaster.
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| Latest Release |
Looking Back: True Stories of Mountain
Maryland is a collection of some of my
favorite articles that have appeared over the
years in the Cumberland Times-News and
Allegany Magazine. Check it out on the
catalog page.
Maryland is a collection of some of my
favorite articles that have appeared over the
years in the Cumberland Times-News and
Allegany Magazine. Check it out on the
catalog page.
