The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • Berks Perks

    Berks County is the home to a few covered bridges and some very picturesque spots. Greisemer Covered Bridge is one of few I have seen with a hex sign. The oak design is one of my favorite hex signs. Here are a few views of the bridge. You will note the common Burr arch truss design.

    A lovely church property stands between the two bridges featured in this blog. This is Salem United Church of Christ in Oley and its churchyard. The view toward the hills beyond is really lovely.

    A nice view with the farm in back.
    These cows were across the road from the church.
    The Pleasantville Covered Bridge

    The Pleasantville Covered Bridge is on more busy stretch of the appropriately named Covered Bridge Road and more difficult to photograph. As a white bridge, it provides a nice contrast with the red Greisemer Bridge. It is interesting that, although I see barn stars everywhere, I tend to see hex signs more often in Berks County.

    Headed home, I came across this fantastic barn with hex signs.
    Looks like soybean at this farm.

  • Gettysburg on Memorial Day

    Memorial Day brought me to Gettysburg National Military Park on my way home from the Cumberland Valley. I had been here a few times when I was young, but it’s been a while since I was there. In additional to being educational and preserving this country’s history, the park is a lovely place for a walk or bike ride. As I am not an expert on military history, I will share some of the views and monuments that I particularly liked, with particular emphasis on farms.

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    A cannon on Confederate Avenue.
    The State of Louisiana Monument – one of the most imposing.
    Part of the Snyder Farm.
    Irish Brigade Monument, 63rd, 69th and 88th New York Infantry 14th New York Independent Battery.
    A view of the Slyder farm.
    The Codori farm.
    The Abraham Trostle Farm.
    More of the Trostle farm.
    A distant view.
    The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Memorial.
    The Jacob Hummelbaugh farm.
    … with some adjacent cannon …

  • In Black and White

    Here are some black and white views of subjects in previous posts.

     

    Graveyard in the fields near my grandparent’s home.

     

    Train bridge near the Rupert covered bridge in Columbia County.

  • Columbia County Beyond the Covered Bridges

    Although Columbia County likes to tout their 23 covered bridges, it has much to offer the visitor.

     

    The countryside near the Creasyville covered bridge. Note the pumpkins on the hillside.

     

    Merry October. Christmas trees “on the hoof.”

     

    This clever sculpture immediately caught my eye.

     

    Cattle grazing near my family’s farm.

     

    The side entrance to my grandparent’s old farmhouse. This is door people used most often.

     

    The graveyard down the road from the house my grandparents built after they sold the farm. It’s small patch surrounded by fields. No church in sight. My brother, cousin and I used to walk up here often as kids.

     

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