Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Pennsylvania

U.S. Route 30, a route that has been nicknamed the ‘Lincoln Highway’ named after Abraham Lincoln, former President of the United States of America, begins in the town of Astoria in the U.S. state of Oregon and winds its way east through many U.S. states ending in Atlantic City in the U.S. state of New Jersey.? One of those states is Pennsylvania.? As it passes through Pennsylvania, it passes through the major cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and it passes through the town of Gettysburg, the town famous for a great battle of the American Civil War known as the Battle of Gettysburg.? Halfway between Gettysburg and Chambersburg new the town of Fayetteville is Caledonia State Park.? Caledonia State Park is a park that has hiking trails, fishing, and hunting, and it has a waterfall.? Yes, many parks has this, but it also has the Totem Pole Playhouse, a theater that has produced actors like John Ritter from the old television series ‘Three’s Company’, the centerpiece of the park is the Caledonia Iron Furnace.

The Caledonia Iron Furnace was built in 1837, and it was owned by Thaddeus Stevens.? The name of the furnace comes from the name of the county in Vermont where Thaddeus Stevens was born. It was destroyed by Confederate General Jubal Early and his men in 1863.? The furnace was rebuilt, and it continued to produce iron until it was closed in 1902, and it was then turned into a state park.? When you visit Caledonia State Park, you can see the furnace, and you can see the blacksmith shop where demonstrations take place.? In Caledonia State Park, every step you take in the park is a place where history took place.

Some of you are saying, “Wow.? I love state parks.? I love being around the trees and the streams and the waterfalls.? As for the old furnace, it is nice that it is preserved although it would be great to see it working.? There is one problem.? What is the problem?? There is no railroad here.? Therefore, you will not see my company here.”

Well, as you walk around Caledonia State Park, you will not see a railroad nor do you see any sign of a railroad being here.? If there is no railroad at the park, why visit?

As you visit Caledonia State Park, you will notice a few structures within the park itself.? Of course, you have the restrooms, and, of course, you have the old furnace.? Then you have the blacksmith shop.? Yes, a blacksmith does mend and heat metals here, but it was not always a blacksmith shop.? If it was not always a blacksmith shop, what else could it have been.? The blacksmith shop was once a trolley station.? A trolley station?? Yes, it was a trolley station.? The Chambersburg and Gettysburg Electric Railway.? Trolley service began in 1905.? The Chambersburg and Gettysburg Electric Railway made a stop at Caledonia State Park, and they built a small amusement park there.? The railway got its name from the fact that its purpose was to take passengers from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to visit the Gettysburg Battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.? The trolley line was built east from Chambersburg, and it took passengers as far as… Caledonia State Park.? Due to lack of funds and steep grades between Caledonia State Park, the section to Gettysburg was never built.? Service ended in 1926, and the amusement rides were dismantled.? Today, only the blacksmith shop and the Trolley Trail going west from the blacksmith shop are the only reminders of the trolley.

As mentioned, every step you take at Caledonia State Park in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania is a step where history happened.? That includes those on the Appalachian Trail which passes through the park.? If you walk along the Trolley Trail, every step you take will be a step where railroad history took place.

Caledonia State Park is located near the town of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Pennsylvania Route 233.? The park is free to visit, and it is open from sunrise to sunset.? The iron furnace and the Caledonia Waterfall can be seen from the road.? Although the trolley trail is flat, it is not paved making it difficult for wheelchairs.? You can get more information at https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CaledoniaStatePark/Pages/default.aspx.

U.S. Route 30 has many great sites along the road.? Caledonia State Park is one of them.? It may be famous for the furnace, but it was also a place where a trolley line came to an end.