Evening star., 1940-06-09


ings should heartily indorse all State
and Federal conservation efforts in
our area, for we benefit greatly by
this work The primary function of
public ownership of land is con-
servation, but recreation is fast
becoming closely secondary aspect.
Every national forest and State for
est has certain sections designated
as Public Use Areas" which is the
official terminology for saying that
you and l may picnic, swim, hike and
otherwise enjoy ourselves there 1t
Is not taking motorists long to find
these spots and to take advantage
of the practically free recreation
offered.
One who lives in the city and
works in an office could do no better
for Sundays relaxation than to go
to Pennsylvania nearby State for
ests and visit the Public Use Areas"
Todays circle tour, as outlined in
the accompanying map, goes by
three Pennsylvania State forest
camps, any one of which would be
suitable objective to the tour. The
best of the three is Caledonia State
Forest Park on U. S. 30 between
Gettysburg and Chambersburg, Pa,
only two-and- half motoring
hours from Washington.
Caledonia's main feature is IS
by-190 foot Swimming pool, fed by
waters from Conococheague Greek.
A mile or so above the swimming
pool is the reservoir from which
Chambersburg draws its water sup
ply, using the creek water without
treating it at all The swimmer in
Caledonia's pool can truthfully say
that he swims in the same water
that Chambersburg drinks. 1t is
cool enough to be drinking water.
Even in midsummer the Conoco-
Cheague water is so cool that 1t
must be diverted into a warming
basin-a shallow pool in direct sun
light-before it can be used in the
pool The water has yellowish
tinge which comes from colloidal
organic matter and has nothing to
DO with its purity.
Forest Picnic Rooms.
Surrounding the pool is a picnic
area, with hundreds of picnic
rooms carved out of the forest. each
separated from the others by walls
of natural vegetation. Each site has
a fireplace. combination table and
bench, an extra bench and is con-
Venient to running water and other
facilities. There is no fee for the
use OF these picnic rooms, although
l5-cent parking fee is levied on
week ends. The pool may be used
for a quarter, and if you want a
locker you must pay dime These
Are the only fees you can possibly
pay in Caledonia Park. There are
even free parking places if you
want them, but they are naturally
farther away from the pool and
the picnic area.
No cabins are available at Gale
donia. except few roadside tourist
cabins. Overnight accommodations
consist of three rustic inns, all on
the reasonable side and each featur-
ing its own attractions and activi-
ties. In addition. all three inns are
convenient to the facilities of the
park-its hiking and riding trails
through cool, brooding pines, its
fishing streams, its golf course. Yes.
there is an 18-hole course lying
across the hills. Fees are one dollar
day; $3.50 for a Today ticket and
$27 for the season.
The season, incidentally. for the
park and the entire area. is now on
and has been since Memorial Day
Caledonia was named by Thad-
deus Stevens. its founder, for his
home town in Vermont. Stevens
was an early abolitionist and a
noted statesman of the Civil War
years He was the first in Pennsyl-
vania to advocate public school
system that admitted everybody
even poor mountain children. He
built Caledonia Iron Furnace in
1897; today there is a monument to
him on the spot of his furnace. Also
his blacksmith shop is still standing,
Just off U. S. 30.
Beauty in Scenery.
Now let's take look at the routes
to Caledonia State Forest Park. The
very shortest way is via Frederick
Thurmont and Emmitsburg. Md.
and Fairfield. and Cashtown, Pa
(See map This route is 80 miles
However, to avoid retracing too
much of this route on the way back,
suggest going up through Hagers-
town and Waynesboro, only 8 miles
longer and offering a great deal of
interest. At Boonesboro, Md, an
optional road follows South Noun
tain through Cavetown to Waynes-
boro. You travel the same distance
as through Hagerstown on this
route and see extremely beautiful
scenery at this time of the year.
North of Waynesboro, at Mont
Alto, you enter the Mont Alto State
Forest by turning sharp right at the
three-way intersection. Soon you
begin climbing and reach Mont Alto
State Forest Park, the first of the
three parks mentioned earlier. This
one has no swimming pool-only
picnic sites. At the top of South
Mountain you turn left on what is
called the Rocky Mountain road
and follow meandering mountain
stream down into Caledonia.
Caledonia State Forest Park is in
larger public area known as
Michaux State Forest. This forest
stretches north from Caledonia and
Is traversed by a new scenic road
that follows the Conococheague to
It's very source. Along this road
you will see in order, the warming
basin for the swimming pool, the
N. Y. A. Conservation Museum (open
free to the public, the reservoir of
Chambersburgs water supply sys-
ten, and, several miles north. Pine
Grove Furnace State Forest Park
Pine Grove Furnace is virtually
another Caledonia, with the added