train tracks

Papa’s World – Outside Mount Jewett – KINZUA BRIDGE!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Just outside the little Swe3dish Community of Mount Jewett, Pa. –

Sits on a railway bridge built in the 1800s –

That at the time was considered the highest bridge of its kind-

310 feet high trestle bridge over what is known as THE KINZUA VALLEY –

li NWPA!

A Native American name for the area!

This bridge was built to get coal to Erie and Pittsburg!

The valley was so steep that a railroad down and up the other side –

just did not make sense!

It is now a state park with a fantastic museum showing construction and what it looked like-

Before the Tornado came through and took half of it down!

The down construction still lies on the valley floor and up the steep hillside-

just as it was the day it came down.

Today there is a viewing platform at the standing end –

That you can stand on structured glass and peer straight down 310 feet!

Of course, I have been out once or twice and even across the whole thing before it came down.

At one time there was a steam locomotive still carrying passengers across!

Here is the glass floor you can stand on –

Of course, I no longer venture out there as my fear of heights kicks in! LOL

I sit on the benches before the walkway and watch my friends – family, and others make the trip out!

But – I will say – now that it is a State Park –

If you are ever in the area – it is worth the visit –

and the Museum is a class act –

Even showing a video of that fateful day it all came down from the tornado!

The valley floor and yes there is a trail you can hike down and up the other side –

if you are in shape to do it! LOL

Here you see the twisted steel beams from the 1800s lying twisted on the valley floor!

Papa and Sherry are on OIB!

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papas World -when I was young – growing up Eldred

/ Tom / 1 Comment

My childhood was spent in the early years

on the side yard – backyard

and some close neighborhood yards.

There were Four apple trees

spaced out in those yards.

Two were crab apples

And two the most tasty Yellow Apples!

GOOD MORNING!

The crab apples were good for throwing –

many a train box car I pitched them at.

But those Yellow apples –

Just to sit down and eat – and gather for my Mom

to make one of her apple pies!

There were honey bees all over the ones on the ground.

And both trees stood side by side in a neighbors yard.

Behind old Mr. Dennings house ( might have been Dennis)

And the other in the Winsor’s back yard.

We played kick the can in those backyards –

four plus yards in total.

This was on North main street in Eldred Pa.

The railroad track bordered the one side-

The other side had the houses then the sidewalk and the main street!

We played early morning to dusk –

we had a lot of kids from North Main Street.

Both sides of the street.

Anyone time there would be 7 to 15 kids.

Both boys and girls.

We had a two story farm barn in our back yard.

My brother and his friends made a basketball court upstairs.

Just one basket – or might have been two?

But it had wood planks for the floor.

My dad has fish heads nailed to the front

from all the Pike and Walleye he caught in Canada.

We ran about all the time

I really do not remember anyone watching us like we do today with kids.

We hit the house to eat and then we were outside.

Winter and Summer.

I can remembering gathering corn silk

and putting it into a pipe

There was a window on that second floor of that old barn

And I would try to light it – it was not dry! LOL

Once I got my bike
then I was at the park all day!

I never realy got into smoking until I was maybe 22!

And then – I did not inhale!

It was a staus thing I think –

The guys I worked second shift with smoked and chewed!

I only would smoke at work and a little bit at home.

And a pack would last me a couple days!

I quit when we got married – I think I was 32!

I would walk those tracks downtown and to the swinging bridge.

It was on the other side of the tracks just beyond

The Whitehawk Beef Company’

It spanned a small creek – Barden Brook – that flowed into the river.

It was held up by steel cables

and we would get on it and start jumping up and down

It would bounce and then you sort of caused it to sway

back and forth.

Hence we called it the Swinging Bridge.

This is but a short part of my childhood

one I think back to.

One that has a lot of great memories and people.

Sherry and Tom

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

Where friends meet the family!

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog