Perry Lumber
Encyclopedia
The Perry Lumber Company was an early 20th century company which owned timberland
in Perry County, Pennsylvania
.
The company was organized by Harrisburg businessmen about 1900. By December 1901, they had acquired eleven tracts of forested land near the border with Franklin County
. They planned to produce various types of sawn lumber products, as well as extract wood
for a tannery
in Newport
. The owners of the lumber company originally hoped to have the Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad
converted to standard gauge
to facilitate shipment, but they were unable to come to terms with the N&SV's owner, David Gring. As a result, when Perry Lumber began constructing a railroad into their timberlands, they built it to the N&SV's gauge of .
The Perry Lumber Railroad used part of a roadbed originally cleared and graded by the Path Valley Railroad
. Beginning at New Germantown, where it connected with the N&SV, it followed the Path Valley grade to Bryner's farm. There it turned between Trostle and Skinner Ridges and climbed up behind and around Trostle Ridge, along what is now Bowman Trail. It then made another sharp turn and dropped down between Rising Mountain and Buck Ridge on a 5.5% grade, now the Perry Lumber Road. At the base of the descent, a branch ran southwest about 1 miles (1.6 km) down Fowler Hollow Run along the present Perry Lumber Road. The main line turned and ran up Fowler Hollow Run to Shultz Run, where a company sawmill was located. It continued up the run and climbed between Amberson Ridge and Shultz Ridge alongside the present Couch Road. Running southwest along the south side of Amberson Ridge, it ended at Couch Camp, near Shaeffer Run. The entire railroad was about 12 miles (19.3 km) in length. The company owned one Class B 25-ton Climax locomotive
, Alfarata, which was housed in a crude enginehouse at New Germantown. The N&SV shops built thirty lumber cars for the lumber company.
Portable sawmills were moved along the right-of-way
as necessary to saw the timber. The principal trees logged by the company were white pine
, white oak
, chestnut
, and hemlock. While lumber was the principal product of the company, chestnut, hemlock, and oak bark were also shipped as extract wood to Newport. The timber was logged out in 1905, and the company closed up, selling the lumber cars to the N&SV and the engine to the East Waterford Lumber Company
. In April 1907, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought its land, establishing the McClure Division of Tuscarora State Forest
. Part of the grade also lies within Fowlers Hollow State Park
.
Timberland
Timberland or variants thereof may refer to:*Timberland, Lincolnshire, a village in Lincolnshire, England*The Timberland Company, manufacturer of outdoor wear*Timberland , a German board game*Timberland Regional Library, a public library system...
in Perry County, Pennsylvania
Perry County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,602 people, 16,695 households, and 12,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile . There were 18,941 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
.
The company was organized by Harrisburg businessmen about 1900. By December 1901, they had acquired eleven tracts of forested land near the border with Franklin County
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
. They planned to produce various types of sawn lumber products, as well as extract wood
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
for a tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
in Newport
Newport, Pennsylvania
Newport is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,506 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Newport is located at ....
. The owners of the lumber company originally hoped to have the Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad
Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad
The Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad was a nineteenth century, narrow gauge railroad in Pennsylvania. It ran from Newport, Pennsylvania to New Germantown, Pennsylvania. It carried lumber, and transferred it to the standard gauge Pennsylvania Railroad at Newport...
converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
to facilitate shipment, but they were unable to come to terms with the N&SV's owner, David Gring. As a result, when Perry Lumber began constructing a railroad into their timberlands, they built it to the N&SV's gauge of .
The Perry Lumber Railroad used part of a roadbed originally cleared and graded by the Path Valley Railroad
Path Valley Railroad
The Path Valley Railroad was a proposed narrow gauge railroad in Perry and Franklin Counties, Pennsylvania, USA.Intended as an extension of the Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad, it was to begin at that railroad's terminus in New Germantown and run southward along Sherman Creek and Big Spring Run...
. Beginning at New Germantown, where it connected with the N&SV, it followed the Path Valley grade to Bryner's farm. There it turned between Trostle and Skinner Ridges and climbed up behind and around Trostle Ridge, along what is now Bowman Trail. It then made another sharp turn and dropped down between Rising Mountain and Buck Ridge on a 5.5% grade, now the Perry Lumber Road. At the base of the descent, a branch ran southwest about 1 miles (1.6 km) down Fowler Hollow Run along the present Perry Lumber Road. The main line turned and ran up Fowler Hollow Run to Shultz Run, where a company sawmill was located. It continued up the run and climbed between Amberson Ridge and Shultz Ridge alongside the present Couch Road. Running southwest along the south side of Amberson Ridge, it ended at Couch Camp, near Shaeffer Run. The entire railroad was about 12 miles (19.3 km) in length. The company owned one Class B 25-ton Climax locomotive
Climax locomotive
A Climax locomotive is a type of geared steam locomotive in which the two steam cylinders were attached to a transmission located under the center of the boiler. This transmits power to driveshafts running to the front and rear trucks....
, Alfarata, which was housed in a crude enginehouse at New Germantown. The N&SV shops built thirty lumber cars for the lumber company.
Portable sawmills were moved along the right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
as necessary to saw the timber. The principal trees logged by the company were white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
, white oak
White oak
Quercus alba, the white oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak of the Fagaceae family, native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been...
, chestnut
American Chestnut
The American Chestnut is a large, deciduous tree of the beech family native to eastern North America. Before the species was devastated by the chestnut blight, a fungal disease, it was one of the most important forest trees throughout its range...
, and hemlock. While lumber was the principal product of the company, chestnut, hemlock, and oak bark were also shipped as extract wood to Newport. The timber was logged out in 1905, and the company closed up, selling the lumber cars to the N&SV and the engine to the East Waterford Lumber Company
East Waterford Lumber Company
The East Waterford Lumber Company was an early 20th century company which leased and harvested timberland in Juniata and Perry County, Pennsylvania....
. In April 1907, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought its land, establishing the McClure Division of Tuscarora State Forest
Tuscarora State Forest
Tuscarora State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #3. The main office is located in Blain in Perry County, Pennsylvania in the United States....
. Part of the grade also lies within Fowlers Hollow State Park
Fowlers Hollow State Park
Fowlers Hollow State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Toboyne Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is from Blain just off Pennsylvania Route 274...
.