The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • An Old Mill in Black and White

    The Mill at Anselma in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania has been a National Historic Landmark since 2005, and an operational Mill before the United States of America began. It is an independent, non-profit historic site today. Nestled along the Pickering Creek, the Mill site preserves over 250 years of Chester County’s industrial history. The Mill retains its original Colonial-Era power train, as well as multiple layers of industrial equipment ranging from the late 1700s to the mid 1900s. The 22 acre property and surviving historical buildings demonstrate a heritage engineered to last. It is open to the public and hosts educational and entertaining events. It is free to walk around the grounds.

    I photographed the mill in black and white using an old Canon A2E on Kentmere 400 film. I developed these myself. I am chuffed that they are usable (not that terrible).

  • An Early Spring Day in Chester County

    This post continues our trip to the area of the Warwick Iron Furnace in the Spring. It is one of my favorite areas to photograph.

    A surprise appearance by a Mute Swan.
    Spring flowering trees and shrubs add to the lovely scene.
    Is this the most photogenic farm in Chester County?

  • A Less Visited Historic Site

    We will return back to eastern Pennsylvania for a couple of weeks after our swing through the western part of the commonwealth. Pennsylvania has quite a few old iron furnaces spread across the state. In fact, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site lies near the border of Chester and Berks counties. Not far away is the site of the Warwick Iron Furnace. The site is part of Warwick Furnace Farms, a historic district that includes the ruins of the early iron furnace owned by Anna Rutter Nutt, widow of Samuel Nutt. The ironmaster’s house and workers’ houses, as well as a historic farmhouse and barns now used in the operation of a working farm.

    Anna Rutter Nutt was the daughter of Thomas Rutter, who erected the first ironwork in Pennsylvania. Samuel Nutt bought the original tracts of land with partners William Branson and Mordecai Lincoln, the great great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. The furnace was managed by George Taylor when the first Franklin Stoves were cast here. The furnace operated through the 1860s and supplied the iron used in the iron-clad ship the USS Monitor during the Civil War. The 786 acre historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

    I visited back in early Spring. The landscape around here is lovely and well worth a trip.

  • Even More Valley Forge

    Valley Forge is one of my most photographed areas. I just can’t help myself. The first location is Lord Stirling’s Quarters. I have long wanted to photograph these buildings but have not been able until recently. Unfortunately, like most park locations, these buildings are not open to the public and not in good repair. Valley Forge is sadly underfunded, like most of our national park system.

    The next area is known as the Artillery Park. I bird and photograph around here a lot.

    Finally, this foot bridge is near the top of Mount Joy

  • Rambling Around Kimberton

    An day drive around the lovely Kimberton area of Chester County. As they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

    An old ruin along a creek, near the Kennedy Covered Bridge
    The “Historical” Seven Star Inn
    A couple of hooved friends on a warm winter’s day ….
    They are everywhere this time of year.
    Really nice barn
    Struble Lake in northwestern Chester County – definitely not in Kimberton.

  • A Little Experiment

    I have been working on doing a little more film photography these days, which is something I haven’t done much of in over 20 years. The experiment started with a Lomography 120 film camera which is a little more than a toy. I have never used 120 film before, so I didn’t know what to expect. The results weren’t too awful – kind of arty in a good way, including some interesting double exposures. These are views around Tredyffin Township, Chester County. Better pictures will return soon. LOL

    A bit of a double exposure here.

  • Looking on the Brightside

    In 1996, Charlestown Township in Chester County purchased 20 acres of the Brightside Farm located to preserve it from impending development. The Township added 55 additional acres to Brightside Farm Park with the purchase of the rest of the farm with the help of a significant grant from Chester County in the year 2000. The farm is preserved as an agricultural asset for the residents to enjoy, and a portion of the property is under a conservation easement with the French & Pickering Creeks Trust. The park offers over 50 garden plots to township residents and has walking trails.

    A view of the barn.
    And another …
    Near by farmhouse and barn.

    A feature in the Park is the Wisner Rapp House. Jacob Wisner House, also known as the Rapp House, is a historic home that was built in two sections. The older section dates to 1761, and is a 2 1/1-story, three bay wide, stone structure. A two bay wide extension was added in the 1840s. The addition was originally built to house a saddle and harness-maker’s shop and later housed the Sidley Post Office.

    The Wisner-Rapp House

    Finally, a look around the neighboring area …

  • Coming Attractions

    Upcoming posts will feature a recent trip to Tioga and Bradford Counties, along with bonus locations. This will be followed by some very special “not in Pennsylvania” posts in Autumn. Stay tuned! In the meantime, here are some random favorites of mine.

    Blue Marsh Lake
    Clinton County hay bales.
    Model airplane field, Valley Forge

  • A Very Grassy Land

    Below are a few photographs of a favorite corner of northwestern Chester County. I go here in hopes of finding some grassland species of birds that sometimes frequent farmers fields. So far I have just found horned larks, but there have been snow buntings, eastern meadowlarks and others spotted in the area, so you never know ….

    I have better luck with ponies and goats.
    One of the many beautiful farms.
    I love the trees around this farmstead.
    A subject you may have seen here before …
    and another view.
    Another impressive farm.

  • Rambling Along

    There are lots of sights to behold on a drive through southern Chester County.

    Cattle quietly grazing on the tall grass.
    Sadly, a sight sometimes seen in Pennsylvania.
    A barn with a great weathered look.
    This scene could be almost anywhere in the state.
    Trains to nowhere. A bet a lot of people will recognize where this is.
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