Here are some views of Cumerland County. They are mostly in the northwestern part of the county.
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Laughlin Mills lies in the town of Newville. The original three-story log structure was built by William Laughlin around 1763. The Laughlin family also built the dam which provided enough water power to turn the water wheel and grind wheat and other grain. The mill was owned by the Laughlin family until 1896, when it was sold to the Newville Water Company which installed turbine used to pump water through the main pipes of the town. The current structure is a restoration.
This is the oldest mill structure remaining in this region and one of the most photographed sites in Cumberland Valley.
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Originally constructed in 1932, the Huntsdale State Fish Hatchery is situated on approximately 80 developed acres (167 total acres) of land owned by the state and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
Water supply to the facility is obtained primarily from multiple springs for coldwater (trout) culture and from a creek for warm/coolwater culture. Concrete raceways are used for trout production using intensive culture technology. Pond rearing (extensive culture) and indoor intensive culture of warm/coolwater fish also occurs on site. It raises over 670,000 pounds of trout per year for release and is near some of the famous trout waters in Cumberland County.
An impressive number of palomino trout, 
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Also quite a few brown trout, I didn’t see rainbows, but I didn’t check out all the pools. 
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Here are some views from my window at the Caswell-Masland Mansion at King’s Gap Environmental Educaiton Center.
Zooming in on the valley below. 
My Dwarf Mini smart telescope ready for duty. There is a nice overlook on the access road.
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James McCormick Cameron erected the stone mansion at the present King’s Gap Environmental Educaiton Center as a summer home around 1908. The mansion is approximately 200 feet long and is built of native Antietam quartzite quarried from a nearby ridge.
The 32-room house was designed to resemble an Italian villa with its flat roof, huge windows and flagstone terrace. The use of steel-reinforced concrete for the internal structure of the building is believed to be one of the first such applications in local construction. The materials used in the construction were intended to make the mansion as fireproof as possible. Nevertheless, Mr. Cameron only lived at Kings Gap from May through October, when fire danger is at its lowest. Other structures include an ice house, garden, water tower, carriage house, generator building and the caretaker’s house.
I stayed at the Mansion for two nights in June.
Here is a look at the first floor public areas.
Here is my room. It is an accessible room and one of the best I have ever stayed in.
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According to it swebsite, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center has “mountainous terrain, extensive forest, and panoramic views, which may be experienced while driving the winding road to the mansion area, or while hiking the trails. The sweeping view of the Cumberland Valley from the Cameron-Masland Mansion is impressive at any time of the year.” I concur with this assessment.
Kings Gap consists of 2,531 acres of forest on South Mountain, with more than 25 miles of hiking trails, a permanent orienteering course, picnicking, hunting, and other recreational and educational opportunities.
The mansion provides facilities for breakfast and overnight lodging on a seasonal basis, and may be reserved for meetings, weddings, receptions, and similar functions.
Kings Gap is one of several state parks specifically dedicated to provide environmental education and recreational programs to the citizens of Pennsylvania. A variety of programs are available for children, teachers, and the general public to increase knowledge and awareness of the values and function of our natural resources.
I previously visted the park, which I documented here.
A view from the access road. 
a view of the water tower on the grounds. 
The park office and education center,. 
Hummingbird feeders on the deck. 
The King’s Gap General Store at the base of the access road. 
Some tiger lillies at the Irish Gap access . 
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The view from Sideling Hill in the Buchanan State Forest on Bark Road. The weather was starting to turn for the worse that afternoon.
The Sideling Hill State Forest Picnic Area. 
Some panoramic shots from Sideling Hill. 
An overlook on Route 16 south of McConnellsburg. 
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I took a drive into McConnellsburg, which is the county seat of Fulton County, The population was 1,150 at the time of the 2020 census. The McConnellsburg Historic District was recognized by the United States Department of the Interior in 1993 when it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The district consists of 144 structures that contribute to its historic character. Of note are the numerous taverns, inns, automotive garages and other travel-related structures still in existence today, which includes the Fulton House, the Fulton County Courthouse, and the log cabin of Daniel McConnell, who laid out the borough on April 20, 1786 (which was further incorporated on March 26, 1814).
The Fulton House, located at 112-114 Lincoln Way East, was built in 1793 as an inn and tavern and was expanded in 1820. It was constructed by the town founder, Daniel McConnell, and was a major stop for travelers headed west. It has hosted noted people (including presidents), was involved in two incursions of the confederacy, and nearly burned to the ground in 1944. It was later restored and and purchased by the Borough of McConnellsburg. The original log cabin kitchen was built circa 1770 and was later restored. The museum shows furnishings, tools, utensils, and decorative items relating to the cultural and material heritage of Fulton County from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
The Fulton House 
The log cabin 
The Agnew House, one of the first stores in McConnellsburg. 
St. Paul’s 
The Fulton County Ciourthouse 
McConnell Park 
Some brightly painted buildings near the courthouse. 
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Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park is an 18.5-acre park nestled in a gap of Tuscarora Mountain in Franklin County. Today, the area is still a quiet place, but on April 23, 1791, at the time of James Buchanan’s birth, Cove Gap was on the western edge of civilization — a place alive with the sights and sounds of a center of commerce. Although the surrounding Allegheny Mountains provided a formidable barrier to those seeking the way to the west, Cove Gap cut through two of the three parallel mountains, making the westward journey a little easier. During those days, anyone seeking a route west passed through this gap and by the last mercantile store for many miles.
The park today provides historical interpretive signage and opportunities for picnicking and fishing. I previously visited the park, which is featured in this post.
The James Buchanan Cabin (believed to be the birthplace of the first Pennsylvanian to be elected president of the United States) was originally located at the site. It was erected sometime before 1791. The cabin was moved to Chambersburg, where it served various uses. To ensure that the cabin would be adequately stored and maintained, Mercersburg Academy purchased it in 1953 and placed it near Nolde Gymnasium on campus.
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Mercersburg Academy (formerly Marshall College and Mercersburg College) is an independent college-preparatory boarding and day high school. Founded in 1893, the school enrolls approximately 447 students in grades 9 through 12, including postgraduates. Among its illustrious alumni are James Stewart anb Benicio del Toro. It has a lovely and impressive campus.
Latest Posts
- The Sights of Cumberland County
- One of the Most Photographed Spots in Cumberland County
- The Huntsdale Fish Hatchery
- The King’s Gap Mansion View
- The Mansion at King’s Gap
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