The Paper Mill House - Newtown Square, PA.

On St. David's Road in Newtown Square sits the only remaining structure and presence of the local mills that once existed along Darby Creek in the 1800's. It is called the Paper Mill House. The Newtown Square Historical Society uses this historic stone building as the location for the society's museum of local history. I have to admit that the only reason I had any interest in taking a tour of this house stems from my grandmom. She would point it out whenever we drove past it and she would mention how she lived there when she was a very young girl.

The Paper Mill House is open for tours on Saturdays & Sundays (in 2012 - I'm not sure about future or past times) in July & August from 1-4pm. Being the timely people that we are, we waited until the very last weekend in August to head over for a tour. We pulled into the parking lot from St. David's Rd and crossed a wooden pedestrian bridge that spans Darby Creek. We proceeded to the front of the building and entered the house. There were two people inside and they offered us a tour.

The house is three stories tall and housed four families when the mills were in full production. Each family had 3 floors in their own wing of the house. All of the floors were wooden and most of the staircases were not tall person friendly. At a stately 5'4" even I found the staircases to be unfriendly for the taller population; however, I know these were the normal dimensions used for housing back in the 1800's. Some of the rooms in the house were set up as bedrooms and many were set up as displays for the local history museum. The local history museum covered topics from historical relics found on site, old maps, old newspaper clippings, paintings of other area historical buildings by local artists, geological displays, period clothing displays, and even some local folk lore (Sandy Flash sticks out in my mind just due to his name).

The ground level features a mid-19th century general store replica. The general store had many objects of interested spread throughout it. One gruesome piece particularly stands out in my memory and it was the foot operated dental drill. As your teeth were being drilled, the dentist would actually pump the drill with his foot. Another thing that stood out to me was the sign of different homeopathic remedies for just about any illness/disease/pain you could imagine would trouble someone in the time before modern medicine. Those two objects made me grateful for the medical technology we have today!

Our guide also told us many interesting stories and facts about the property and the people who lived there. One of the stories was about the smallpox epidemic that struck in the late 1880's (I think that was the decade). Two thirds of the workers died and about a year later one of the buildings burned to the ground. There was no confirmation but arson was suspected to be the case. Speaking of fire, did you know the leading cause of death in women after childbirth was burning to death as a result of kitchen fires? I didn't either! However, after seeing the small size of the "kitchen" and the long flowy dresses women had to wear, it's no wonder that clothing caught fire.

One area we did not get to explore on our trip was the property itself. The trail was not weed whacked and one of us was wearing shorts rather than pants so we decided not to venture too far into the woods. When the trail is clear, you can actually walk along the creek and see the remains of the mills and a few other structures that stood on this property. It turns out there used to be several buildings on the property, and while the Paper Mill House is the last building standing, it was actually the smallest! Even the Paper Mill House almost didn't make it though. When the township acquired the property in the 1980's the roof was falling in and required a great deal of restoration. If you ask me the restoration paid off and it is a great piece of history in a township that is rich in history itself.


For more information:
* Newtown Square Historical Society.

 The front of the Paper Mill House & Museum.

The back of the Paper Mill House & Museum from across the Darby Creek.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Park - Elverson, PA.

Wake up & smell the charcoal! That's exactly what would have happened back in the late 1700's if you lived in the small coal-production village of Hopewell, PA. What lies there now is known as Hopewell Furnace National Historic Park. It is adjacent to French Creek State Park and makes for both an educational and adventurous day trip.

Hopewell Furnace NHP is rich in history. The furnace first went into production in 1771. Its main product was iron and the ironmaster's name was Mark Bird. The furnace provided much of the iron weaponry used in the American Revolution. Without Hopewell & other furnaces scattered throughout the colonies, the Revolutionary War would have been a hopeless cause! These furnaces literally fueled the birth of our country.

Hopewell, like other furnaces, also made their own charcoal. It was a very time consuming process not only to burn the charcoal, but to cut all the wood needed to create the fuel. The charcoal making process required 6000-7000 cords of wood, or 200 acres of woodland, to keep the furnace in full operation for one year. The owner tried to convert Hopewell over to using anthracite coal; however, this proved to be too costly and was abandoned. The cost of iron production combined with the post-Revolutionary war debt accrued by the government eventually forced Hopewell and many other furnaces to be shut down permanently.

Fast forward to the present day and you are in a very different setting. There is no more iron smelting, and except for a few visitors and period re-enacters, the place is virtually deserted. However, this situation provides a great setting to visit each of the buildings and take in the history. My top 4 building recommendations are the Water Wheel building, the Office & General Store, the Iron Master's Mansion, & the Spring House. One of the tenant houses has replicas of dishes, butter churns, books, card decks, and dominos that you can pick up and examine more closely. Upon arriving in the General Store we spoke with a park volunteer dressed in period clothing that told us more about the park's history than the audio recordings or information placards could have possibly given to us! She also informed us that just three times a year they have the charcoal pit going, and what luck, we just happened to be there for it.

The park is open from 9am-5pm Wednesday-Sunday from Memorial Day through late October. In the off season the buildings are open on weekends, weather permitting. There is no admission to the park. There are many events both historical and not hosted by the park throughout the year, and there is an apple orchard open to the public in the fall months. Most of the buildings in the park can be seen in under 1 hour; however, if you take the time to really examine everything, you should allot yourself at least 2 hours.

Other nearby attractions include: French Creek State Park, St. Peter's Village, and the Horseshoe Trail.

For more information:
* Hopewell Furnace National Historic Park.
* Friends of Hopwell Furnace NHS.
* French Creek State Park.

The view of Hopewell Furnace village from the French Creek State Park east entrance.

 

The water wheel, in operation.

The Ironmaster's Mansion.

Hershey's Chocolate World - Hershey, PA.

Back in December I met up with some friends from school in Hershey, PA. December is cold, so obviously we stuck with indoor activities. One of the places we decided to visit was Chocolate World!

On the drive in, especially from points east, it becomes very obvious when you are approaching Hershey. You can see the factory smoke stacks from several miles out. When it doubt, just drive in that general direction! Or just follow the Hershey Highway signs on route 422 to "The Sweetest Place on Earth." When we arrived and got our parking ticket, we discovered that you only paid for parking if you stayed longer than 3 hours, which was nice.

The first positive point of Chocolate World was that the attraction is entirely free. Everyone likes free activities! That being said, Chocolate World is definitely laid out in such a way to try to force you to spend money. The line starts near the front of the building, but the ride ends near the back. This allows them to plant thousands of pieces of Hershey merchandise between you & the door. Since we went at Christmas time, many people definitely were purchasing the Hershey hats, tshirts, and overpriced, oversized candy bars.

The second positive point of Chocolate World was the ride itself. The lines for the ride can become very long, but they also move quickly. We managed to squeeze 4 of us onto the backseat of our car for the ride. The ride takes you through a display of how Hershey's makes their chocolate. There are singing cows that emphasize "It's the milk chocolate!" The ride even turns your car in the correct direction you need to look. The only effort required on your part is to manage to get into the car itself safely (the floor nearby spins & creates an optical illusion that can easily make you sick). The ride itself lasts about 8 or 9 minutes and is a great way to see a theoretical version of the Hershey factory.

In the past, if you were to visit Hershey in the summer, it would smell so badly of chocolate you would become nauseous. However, they don't make nearly as much chocolate on site anymore so the smell is tolerable, if not absent during most of the year.

Hershey is a great family attraction with year round events. They decorate for Christmas but their main attraction is Hershey Park in the summer months. Your best bet would be to lump the Chocolate World Tour in with a visit to the amusement park. (It would also probably give your skin a break from direct sunlight if you burn easily!). So next time you are in Dauphin County, and need something to do, just swing by chocolate world and relax to the sound of singing cows.


For more information on the places mentioned in this blog:
* Hershey's Chocolate World
* Hershey, PA - The Sweetest Place on Earth

Sorry, no pictures! (Youtube has this place pretty well covered).

Roadside America, Inc. - Shartlesville, PA.

An innocent looking building labeled Roadside America can be seen to the south from interstate 78 (just west of exit 23 to be exact). From the outside it doesn't look like much. The building seems small by tourism standards and there's no extravagant decorations aside from the Amish couple statue. In fact, the statue seems more creepy than extravagant. But the plainness of this building is a reminder of the proverb, "Never judge a book by it's cover," because on the inside is exactly what defines America.

In 1939, Laurence Gieringer began to construct what would eventually become Roadside America. Gieringer loved miniature models and was able to make a living doing something he loved. Piece by piece the miniature village was assembled into the 8000 sq ft attraction it is now. This isn't your ordinary dollhouse village; it is full of fine detail, down to the face of every miniature person. There are real rivers with real water, working train sets, lights, and even some interactive displays.

You may be thinking that this sounds like every kids dream. And it is, even for the kid inside every adult. There's a section to the village to please city and country folk alike. Skyscrapers, farms, coal mines, caves, forests, trains, it's all there. If you don't like Roadside America, you are un-American and quite the grumpy-pants.

Check out the official website below for admission rates (not very expensive & worth every penny), hours of operation, and directions to the greatest tourist attraction in Pennsylvania. And make sure to plan at least 1 hour for your trip, we stayed 1 and a half because we looked at everything twice.


For more information on the places mentioned in this blog:
* Roadside America, Inc.



The Amish couple waving to interstate passersby.


Sneak preview! I don't want to spoil all the fun, but you have to understand the size of it all! This isn't even half of what awaits you...


My favorite display.

Local Weather Observations.

Anyone in Pennsylvania who has looked out the window lately isn't really phased by the weather. But to the outsider, our weather patterns are down right confusing. Take a look for yourself, with a representative comic strip from yours truly:

Pennsylvania Cuisine – Part 2: Desserts.

After eating some tasty delicious Pennsylvania style meat, it would only be fitting to follow up with a Pennsylvania style dessert!

Since today is a hot summer day (heat index: 109 degrees Fahrenheit & only about to get hotter tomorrow!) we should start off with a cold treat – Italian water ice. Across the state there are several water ice vendors, but perhaps the most well known is Rita’s Italian Ice. The company is headquartered in Bensalem Township and has spread across the state and region. Rita’s Italian Ice was started in 1984 by a Philadelphia firefighter. It’s no wonder the cool flavored dessert treats took off with a wide selection of water ice flavors, custard, gelati, and Mistos to choose from. The first day of spring is when Rita’s traditionally opens each year, and to celebrate, all patrons receive a free small water ice in a flavor of their choosing. My favorite Rita’s treat: Banana (or Mango) & Vanilla gelati.

Another popular cold treat is one that can surely be found in any nearly Pennsylvania grocery store - Turkey Hill Ice Cream (different from Turkey Hill Minit Markets). Made in Lancaster County, you can count on this ice cream to be both local and delicious. There are many flavors of ice cream to choose from and you can be assured that every single one is worth the money. From classic Vanilla and Chocolate to Peaches ‘n’ Cream, there’s a favorite flavor in the making for everyone. If you live in Pennsylvania and find yourself at the Farm Show in January, you will find Turkey Hill giving out free ice cream samples to everyone in attendance. Who doesn’t love free samples?

There are also two famous ice cream inventions rumored to have Pennsylvania roots: the Klondike bar and the banana split. The Klondike bar originated in Youngstown, Ohio (and even further back to Switzerland) but they were also produced in Pittsburgh. Until the 1970’s you could only get Klondike bars in Ohio or Pennsylvania. The original Klondike bar was a vanilla ice cream square with chocolate coating, but now there are many varieties and flavors available in many areas of the country. The banana split is rumored to have been invented in 1904 in Latrobe by David Strickler. A traditional banana split has one scoop each of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, a banana (split in half), pineapple topping, chocolate syrup, strawberry topping, nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. The banana split is the perfect dessert concoction and it can be found as a speciality dessert in many diners across the country.

Now let’s say it’s not summer time anymore and you find yourself craving a warm dessert. Shoofly pie and apple pie are sure to hit the spot! Shoofly pie is considered to be a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dessert but it can be found across the country. It is a pie in which the filling is mainly molasses. It is sticky and sweet and sure to please even the most stubborn sweet tooth. Apple pie is not native to Pennsylvania or even to America, however south-central Pennsylvania is home to many large scale apple orchards. These orchards grow many different varieties of apples, and apple pie is always best when it is made fresh by mom or grandmom in the autumn months of any year.

Not a fan of pie? That’s okay, because we like cake here too. The most famous pie/cake/cookie that you can buy in Pennsylvania is the whoopie pie. There has been an ongoing (yet good-natured) argument over where the whoopie pie originated – Maine or the Pennsylvania. Since this is a Pennsylvania blog, my bias judgment is going to side with my own state. Pennsylvania Dutch tradition says the Amish created this sweet dessert, but it doesn’t really matter where it comes from. It can be made from chocolate, red velvet, or pumpkin cake batter. It is then cooked into cookie shaped pieces. These pieces are then made into a sandwich with sweet, creamy frost in the middle. Even though we’ll never know it’s origins, it is a definite must try treat, especially in the Lancaster County area.

The most famous brand name snack cakes to found in Pennsylvania have to be Tastykakes. Tastykake is a company based out of the city of Philadelphia and was founded in 1914 by Philip Baur and Herbert Morris. What made Tastykake popular was the fact that the individual sized cakes were easy to eat on the go. Just a few of the products they make are cream filled cupcakes, krimpets, kandy kakes, & mini pies. Everybody has a favorite Tastykake – mine is cream filled cupcakes. Tastykakes can be found in almost every major grocery store in the region, as well as in school vending machines. When I was a young kid we used to have to take Tastykakes with us up to New York for my grandparents so they could enjoy the snack cakes too. Tastykake has a powerful hold on those who have tasted them, and you can’t help but smile when the delivery truck drives past on the highway.

The final dessert to be mentioned in this post will be fasnachts. Fasnachts are a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition for Fastnacht Day (Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday). Fasnachts were invented as a way to use up all spare lard and sugar before Lent because the Amish typically fast from these and other ingredients during the 40 day period before Easter. Many people compare fasnachts to plain doughnuts, but buyer beware. These do not taste like your typical sweet doughnuts found in grocery stores or doughnut chains. They are an acquired taste, and they fill you (and your arteries) up much more quickly. If you happen to catch yourself in a part of Pennsylvania with a large German ancestry on Fat Tuesday, you just might get to try the Amish version of a doughnut.

For more information on the places mentioned in this blog:

* Rita’s Italian Ice.
* Turkey Hill Ice Cream.
* Klondike.
* Tastykake.

Pennsylvania Cuisine - Part 1: Meat & Sandwiches.

Since I recently have not had the opportunity or appropriate weather to visit the places I would like to for this blog, I will take this time to inform all of my readers about the unique cuisine in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanians love to eat, so from snack food to cheesesteaks to scrapple, there's plenty of food for everyone to talk about and enjoy. However due to the high volume of foods produced in Pennsylvania, I feel it would be best to split this article into several postings for the convenience of both the reader and the writer. ;-) 

 

On that note, today we will start with some savory, meaty favorites from across the state and the sandwiches they can be found on.
 

Perhaps the most well known Pennsylvania food staple is the Philadelphia Cheesesteak. The first rule is, in Pennsylvania you drop the word Philadelphia and just call it a cheesesteak. The cheesesteak is probably more well known than it should be thanks to the rivalry between Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks (locally known as Pat’s & Geno’s). The rivalry exists based solely on the fact that each location claims to have been the first cheesesteak joint in the City of Brotherly Love. Making the rivalry more intense is the fact that the restaurants are so close together. I personally think the best cheesesteak anyone can get is not from either of these restaurants, but from local pizzerias in the suburbs. There is not a pizza or sandwich shop in the suburbs or city that does not include cheesesteaks on their menu, so you don’t have to look far to find one. Many local restaurants even go so far as to include the cheesesteak in their breakfast in the form of a cheesesteak omelet. So if you are anywhere in southeastern Pennsylvania, there is a good chance you can get your cheesesteak fix without traveling to 9^th & Passyunk in Philadelphia.

 

The cheesesteak can be made a variety of ways but typically includes the following:
- a long hoagie roll (traditionally Amoroso's)
- thinly sliced steak pieces (usually rib-eye, though other cuts of beef are used)
- cheese (traditionally provolone or Cheez Whiz)

Other variations include:
- Using Swiss or American cheese
- Adding onions, mushrooms, peppers, ketchup, mayonnaise, or hot sauce
- Adding pizza sauce & mozzarella cheese for a “pizza steak"
- Using chicken in place of beef for a “chickensteak"
 

Many pizza and sandwich shops also have several other variations on the cheesesteak, which are usually their own unique creation.
   
Another sandwich from Philadelphia whose name is more infamous than famous is the hoagie. I use the word infamous here because many people often argue about the name of the sandwich rather than just enjoying it. In other parts of the country it is often called a submarine sandwich (sub), a grinder, or a zep, but in Philadelphia and the surrounding area it is called a hoagie. A hoagie is basically any lunch meat, cheese, and condiment shoved into a long sandwich roll. There are thousands of places in southeastern Pennsylvania and throughout the state to get hoagies made, but the most well known is probably Wawa. Wawa is a gas station/convenience store chain with hundreds of locations throughout the mid-Atlantic region. However it must be emphasized the Wawa food is not ordinary “gas station food” because Wawa actually started out as a convenience store and deli. The gas pumps were not added until much later. While the sandwich itself is not necessarily unique to Pennsylvania, the name hoagie is, and hoagies usually generate thoughts of Wawa in the minds of the locals. For anyone who hasn’t heard, Wawa’s Hoagiefest has started! Hoagiefest runs from May 23-July 31 so get out there and buy a hoagie from Wawa!
 
Now we will travel approximately 300 miles west to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh also has a sandwich which makes them famous. That sandwich can be found at Primanti Brothers. When visiting Pittsburgh, stopping at Primanti Brothers is not a suggestion but a command. A Primanti Brothers sandwich uses only the highest quality deli meat and cheese, tomato, French fries, and coleslaw. Yes you read that correctly. French fries and coleslaw in a sandwich. No you cannot order it with the French fries and coleslaw on the side either. Before you start picking off the French fries and coleslaw, at least try it first. The Primanti sandwich started back in the earlier half of the 20^th century when some customers just happened to get a bit of French fries on their sandwich. This turned out to be convenient for workers on the go, such as truckers, because everything was now crammed into one convenient sandwich.
 
Since we’re still on the topic of meaty sandwiches, let’s talk about one lunch meat that all Pennsylvanian’s know: Lebanon bologna. This is NOT your typical Oscar Mayer bologna that children sing happily about on television. Bologna is not necessarily a deli meat but actually a sausage. Regular bologna is typically composed mainly of pork but Lebanon bologna is an all beef dried sausage. Lebanon bologna comes from Lebanon County (surprise!) and originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch. Lebanon bologna tends to be sweeter, darker, and smokier than traditional bologna and is more of an acquired taste. Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats is the most well-known supplier of Lebanon bologna in the area, and they use a “secret” recipe from over 100 years ago. So next time you’re thinking of making a sandwich, consider adding a few slices of Lebanon bologna for a tangy, smoky flavor.
 
The next meat in Pennsylvania which virtually no one outside the area has heard of is scrapple. So, what the heck is scrapple? Well you probably wouldn’t eat it if I told you, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Scrapple is pork scraps (scrapple), corn meal, flour, and a variety of spices. If you’re above eating pork scraps, scrapple is not the breakfast food for you. Scrapple is usually molded into what looks like a meatloaf. It is then thinly sliced and fried in a pan. Scrapple is grayish brown and not aesthetically pleasing by any nature. However, in a world where waste is very common, especially in the world of butchering, scrapple makes sure that all parts of the pig are used. Nothing goes to waste. Scrapple, like Lebanon bologna, is also an acquired taste. Scrapple is traditionally eaten at breakfast with jelly, honey, or ketchup and most breakfast restaurants throughout the state offer it as a side dish along with bacon and sausage. If your taste buds are looking for adventure, scrapple is the dish you want to try, but don’t expect to find it outside of the Mid-Atlantic region. Want to take Scrapple home with you? Look for Habbersett Scrapple in the local grocery store, you’ll probably find it there!
 
Speaking of ketchup, did you know Heinz ketchup is made in Pittsburgh? Ketchup is one of the most well known condiments in the country, and Pennsylvanians will put it on top of nearly anything!
 
Another favorite in Pennsylvania, especially near Pittsburgh but throughout the whole state, is kielbasa and pierogies. Kielbasa is a Polish sausage and is usually smoked. Czerw’s Kielbasy of Philadelphia was featured on an episode of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern where they showed viewers how kielbasa sausage is made. Often kielbasa is served with pierogies. A pierogi is a dumpling that is usually filled with potato but that sometimes contains meat or cheese too. Pierogies are enjoyed through much of the northeastern United States, but Pennsylvania pierogies are important for two reasons. The first is that the famous brand Mrs. T’s Pierogies was founded in Schuylkill County. The second reason is Pierogies Plus, Inc., near Pittsburgh, makes pierogies by hand. It doesn’t get more authentic than a handmade pierogi. However, if you are in a pinch, Mrs. T’s is also tasty. Best of all, kielbasa and pierogies can be found at almost every church or county fair food counter in the state. With summer fairs just around the corner, you can start planning your kielbasa/pierogi treasure hunt.
 
And finally this blog will be wrapped up with two carnivorous traditions in Pennsylvania.
The first is the firehouse chicken BBQ. Since most fire stations in the state are run by local volunteers they often need to raise money to cover costs. This is usually done in the form of pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, and in the summer, chicken BBQs. On any given weekend in the summer you can drive past a fire station and smell savory chicken being cooked and sold to the local community. More importantly, it is a way for the people to give back to those who help keep our community safe from harm.
 
The second tradition is one that sounds pretty boring to most people and is more of a superstition than anything. However, if you live in Pennsylvania, you must eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day. It is considered good luck to do so and many churches even have pork and sauerkraut gatherings on New Year’s Day. So if you are in need of a bit of luck, you may just have to wait until January 1, sorry!

 

For more information on the places mentioned in this post:
* Pat’s King of Steaks
* Geno’s Steaks
* Wawa
* Wawa’s Hoagiefest
* Primanti Brothers
* Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats
* Habbersett Scrapple
* Czerw’s Kielbasy
* Mrs. T’s Pierogies
* Pierogies Plus, Inc.
* H. J. Heinz Company