History lives in Saltsburg
SALTSBURG, Indiana County — With any luck, an hourlong drive means a change of scenery. A trip to the riverfront town of Saltsburg also reveals historic changes.
From salt mines and canals to travel by rail, the borough of about 950 people still bears the mark of a previous time.
Nestled in the southwest corner of Indiana County, Saltsburg sits at the point where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek combine to form the Kiskiminetas River.Although it is possible for some outdoor enthusiasts to arrive in Saltsburg via river or bike trail, most Butler County residents will arrive from the north on Route 356.Before leaving the county, however, travelers can stop for pumpkins and other fall treats at two of the area's farm markets. Look for the Cypher's Farm Market turnoff on Rennick Road about five miles from town, which is expected to close for the season in several weeks. Until then, pumpkins, gourds and the remaining season's produce will be offered.
About five miles further, Myers Farm Market offers an array of pumpkins, gourds and other produce. Jams and other goodies are also available at Myers.Continuing past Freeport for about 12 miles, the road turns into Route 66 before intersecting with Route 380.Turning eastbound at the junction, the drive takes on a more scenic tone. Leaving the populated landscape behind, the view includes open spaces, greenery and — as of last week — wildflowers in all shades of pink still dotted parts of the sleepy roadside.Farther down on the right, scenery also includes the Beaver Run Reservoir, a water source for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County.After traveling for about seven miles, drivers will continue for two more miles on Route 286 to Saltsburg, passing the beautifully groomed sports fields of the Kiski School, a college preparatory boarding school opened for boys in the 1880s.Formerly a resort hotel and mineral springs, the 350-acre campus was purchased for a school by Andrew Wilson, cousin of former President Woodrow Wilson.Continuing past the school, travelers will arrive in Saltsburg via a bridge over the Kiskiminetas River, whose currents wind around rustic stone pilings that once supported a railroad bridge."Once you cross that bridge, it feels like you are way away from civilization — and you are," said Eric Sutliff, an owner of Saltsburg River and Trail.Housed in a historic mill, Sutliff's business offers bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals for a variety of trips on the three waterways."Crazy as it may sound, in the summer you can just about become a Huck Finn here," he said, describing swimming holes and a river rope swing among the spots most cherished by locals."The nice thing about the rivers, they are not only beautiful but they are navigable for anyone at almost any level of skill,"he said.
As well as river routes for sightseeing, the Saltsburg segment of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal System has been converted to the West Penn Trail.Formerly an 1830s transportation route between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, the canal bed now includes 16 miles of gravel trail between Saltsburg and Blairsville. The trail was completed recently after more than a decade of work by the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy.The trail is also a component of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal Greenway, classed as one of the state's five mega greenways developed by the Allegheny Ridge Corporation.Although greenways often include repurposed land in urban locales, the Main Line Canal greenway aims specifically to preserve open space while linking heritage sites from the canal.As part of the greenway, Saltsburg is classed as a hub community in the Kiski-Conemaugh cluster, which also includes Freeport, Blairsville and Johnstown."Part of what greenways will do is reserve open space: tie together heritage sites and recreation opportunities," said Laura Hawkins, who works for Allegheny Ridge and for the CVC through Americorps."Saltsburg as a hub in that broader picture is a prime example of how to do that," she added.Specific examples include the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal Park, composed of interpretive sites in Saltsburg that feature a canal path replication and informational panels throughout the borough."If you follow that through town, it does take you to the canal park at the end of the town, that actually shows you how a canal lock works."
According to Jack Maguire, the railroad played a major role in how the West Penn Trail came to be.Maguire is a retired Pennsylvania Department of Transportation engineer who designed the trail, including several bridges, and performed many of the construction duties with help from a volunteer crew.A fourth-generation Saltsburg resident, Maguire also is treasurer and past president of the Saltsburg Area Historical Society.Although the canal operated in Saltsburg from 1828 to 1864, it was purchased by the railroad in the 1850s. It was phased out of use once the railway through Saltsburg was built. In the 1880s, the rails were relocated to the canal bed."The railroad was the death blow to the canal," Maguire noted, adding the railroad's use of the canal bed ultimately preserved the historic route.In the 1950s, construction of the Conemaugh Dam caused yet another change: Altered water levels left parts of the rail line too low. As a result, the rail line was relocated to a higher elevation."Once the rail line was relocated in the 1950s, we had an abandoned rail line through Saltsburg," Maguire explained."In the 1970s, the borough acquired ownership," he said. The borough then acquired funding from the America's Industrial Heritage Program to build the interpretive canal park as well as the River's Edge Park, also in the borough.
Although the parks were but one phase of a broader plan for preservation and development, subsequent funds through the program fell through.But according to Maguire and other Saltsburg residents, the historic canal bed is not the only artifact worth noting. An 1830s museum in town contains a variety of other relics worth viewing.Wedged tightly between other buildings on Point Street, the Rebecca B. Madden Stone House Museum's presence on the street is deceiving.Only upon entering does one realize two additions to the back are filled with mementoes from Saltsburg's varied past. A rare photograph of a salt well and a small replica of a spring pole — used to extract the salt brine from beneath the Earth's surface — offer insight into how the 1830s town was named.Stoneware, tools, clothing and furniture show how early residents lived.A Kiski Slugger baseball bat and items from a bottleworks reveal two of many local industries.The roll-top desk of R.A. Walker, still editing the local newspaper in 1954 at age 89, is accompanied by an article about the editor dated Jan. 10, 1954, in the Pittsburgh Press "ROTO" magazine.A portrait of film actor Jimmy Stewart hangs at the top of the museum stairs."It was painted by his sister while he was still in college," Maguire said, explaining Stewart was an Indiana native whose relatives once lived on the Kiski School's grounds.
In addition to the museum, bike trail and park displays, the town showcases its history each year with a Canal Days celebration, a weeklong festival each June that features re-enactments, a parade, a classic car show, entertainment by several rock groups, a quilt show, and the Laurel Highlands pipes and drum band.Thunder Mountain Lenape Nation, a nonprofit group whose goal is to foster understanding and preserve Lenape heritage and culture, also hosts a Native American festival each May."We have a lot of people trying to explore their culture," said Pat Selinger, Turtle Clan mother who is involved in the nonprofit group."We can work together to find out more about our own heritage and how we are the same in so many ways," she said. About 6,000 people attend the annual event, she added.While there, many visitors exploring native culture can also enjoy the landscape and learn about Saltsburg's industrial past"These towns along the rivers have such a unique history and so many stories to tell," Wilkins said."We want to show what is good about these places, and tell their stories."
