We saw a sign for extra parking for Hub City Vineyard. I
thought oh a vineyard, we should stop. Then I discovered that the Hub City
Vineyard is a church … you read that right, a church. The Vineyard movement is
a global family of 2400+ churches in 75 countries. Committed to worship with
passion, serve with devotion, and equip people of every age, ethnicity,
language, and background to do the works that Jesus did. The Vineyard is a
church planting movement that is growing daily. With hundreds of thousands in
Kingdom centered communities worldwide, we will do whatever it takes to see
Jesus made famous in our generation.
Along Route 11 in Hagerstown, we followed along
the railroad for many miles. There were many overpasses for side roads to go
under the tracks. These overpasses offered various designs and intricate brick
work. This is an example of one of them. This one even had murals on each side
of the underpass!
Early in Pennsylvania, Route is also known as Molly Pitcher
Highway. Did you know Molly Pitcher’s real name was Mary Ludwig, the daughter
of German settler? In 1775, the Revolutionary War began, and her husband enlisted.
Mary followed her husband to war, a custom in the British Army and, to some
extent, among the American troops. Following her husband’s regiment, she nursed
the sick and assisted in cooking and washing. On June 28, 1778, in Freehold,
New Jersey, during the Battle of Monmouth, Mary Ludwig Hays earned the nickname
“Molly Pitcher,” becoming one of the most popular female images of the
Revolutionary War. On that day, Molly Pitcher performed an act of unusual
heroism, an act that would go down in history as legendary. As it is told, Mary
trudged back and forth from a nearby spring bringing water to the soldiers on
that hot and smoky battlefield. Welcoming the sight of the sparkling water, the
weary soldiers nicknamed her “Molly Pitcher.” According to some accounts, on
one of her trips from the spring, Molly Pitcher, as she was always called
thereafter, saw her husband collapsing next to his cannon, unable to fight.
Molly dropped her pitcher and took over his position, and she was seen firing
the cannon throughout the dreadful battle until victory was achieved. Her act
of heroism on that day earned her a sergeant’s commission, given by General
Greene, some even say by George Washington himself.
As we began coming out of downtown Chambersburg
on Route 11 and saw Wilson College ahead, we also started to see peeks of individuals
in pink cross an intersection a head of us. The police would let a car go
between the Warriors in pink. As we turned the corner, we could see the steady
stream of pink warriors walking on the right side of the road. It was obviously
a run/walk for Breast Cancer. The runners were up front, because we missed most
of them. Talking to the walkers are we passed, we discovered it was the Spring Cumberland
Valley Breast Care Alliance and it was the 20th anniversary of their
annual run/walk. It was evident that this event was a family tradition for
many; a time to honor or remember their own “Pink Warriors” and start their
children out walking and running at a young age. The course wound around and
finished where it started, so we were able to see the masses walking and the finishers
gathering!
Pennsylvania is rich in history too. In July of 1755,
Edward Morris, the governor of Shippensburg ordered that a fort be built after
he learned of General Braddock’s defeat at the hands of the French and Indians.
His intent was to provide protection for the troops and colonists during the
French and Indian War. So, over the next year, several buildings, a 70'-deep
well, and a log palisade were built. Fort Morris was garrisoned until the early
1760’s, but preserved for several more years due to the efforts of Edward
Shippen. Also, there is a record that an officer and eighteen provincial troops
were stationed in Shippensburg during the winter of 1763-1764. On March 24,
1761, Shippen wrote, “I desire everybody in Shippensburg to take care of ye
Fort for I will suffer a log of it to be thrown down on any pretense whatever.”
In Pennsylvania there are Amish and Mennonite homes and communities scattered through out the state. The portion we drove through today is no exception. I am just fascinated by their way of life, how they can remain so steadfast in their beliefs, traditions and way of life, while the lives around them are so different. We passed several horse and buggies on the road, from the open wagon with a father and son hauling goods, to a closed carriage with a family inside. The first one we spotted, Baby did not know what it was, she was very curious too! Maybe letting her ride in the front of the RV was not such a good idea?
In Newville PA along Route 11, in the middle of
nowhere, we can upon the Cumberland Drive In, it has been “showing the stars since
1952.” The Cumberland Drive-in is one of only 338 drive-in theaters in America!
It's affordable and a great place to bring the family for an evening of
entertainment. That's why their movies are always family-friendly (Ratings of
G, PG or PG-13). Watching a movie from the comfort of the driver’s seat with
hundreds of your closest friends is a disappearing treat, but you can still
find an iconic drive-in if you know where to look. This drive in made the list
of the 11 drive-ins worth visiting in America. Here is the information from the
article. “11. Cumberland Drive-In Theatre, Newville, Pennsylvania - This
immaculately preserved drive-in has been in the same family since its opening
in 1952. The Newville area’s dark skies help picture quality, so support a
classic theater by treating yourself to a great American night out.”
We had to leave Route 11 and cross the Susquehanna
onto 22/322 N because northbound Route 11 and 15 is closed due to rock slides.
The closure is going to last 3 months! Change is good; we have never been up
the east side of the river all the way.
Built on a bluff overlooking the Susquehanna River,
Fort Hunter Mansion and Park has served as a war fort, a hub for frontier
commerce, and an exclusive private estate. Now preserved and open to the
public, it invites you to explore Pennsylvania's rich history. It commands a
magnificent view of the Susquehanna River and Blue Mountains beyond. It was originally
settled in 1725 by Benjamin Chambers, who later founded Chambersburg. Samuel
Hunter, Chamber’s brother-in-law, inherited the well-favored property which
included grist and saw mills. The bustling settlement thus became known as
Hunter’s Mill. Faced with the mounting threat of the French and Indian War, the
British built a series of small forts from Harris Ferry (Harrisburg) to Fort
Augusta in Sunbury. Among these was Fort Hunter, ideally situated at a bend in
the river, thereby serving as an alarm station and supply depot. The Fort was a
10′ by 14′ log blockhouse surrounded by a stockade and manned by volunteer
soldiers, mostly farmers’ sons. In 1763, following the defeat of the Indian
Nations, the Fort was left to decay. It was in 1787 that Captain Archibald
McAllister, a dashing young officer who had served directly under General
George Washington in the Revolutionary Army, bought the land. This holding included the abandoned fort,
Hunter’s mill, and farm.
Traveled on 147N, up the east side of the
Susquehanna. It offered a great view of the beauty of the Susquehanna and a few
small towns and naturally winding roads. The tree and rock lined route, gave
way to some beautiful pictures, including this welcoming canopy of trees just
budding out.
On Route 11 you will pass Fort Halifax Park, the first
Saturday in May is their annual festival to honor the memory of the people and
the Fort. As we passed there was a steady stream of cars entering to enjoy the
one day event. Fort Halifax, one of a line of fortifications erected by the
Provincial government along the Susquehanna River in 1756, it was built by
Colonel William Clapham. He had 200 logs squared and cut 30 feet in length and
preceded to have the fort built in two weeks "under guard of an officer
and thirty men." It was a 160 feet square log stockade with four bastions
and was an earthwork about 10 feet high surrounded by a ditch of equal depth.
The fort was a sub post of Fort Augusta (at Sunbury), which was the largest of
the Provincial forts. Fort Halifax was dismantled in 1757 and its garrison
moved to Fort Hunter. A stone monument marking the site of this colonial fort
along PA Route 147 just north of Halifax was erected. The area of the former
fort is now part of the Halifax Township Park and Conservation area, which
consists of 174 acres that is to be developed into a historical, passive
recreation park.
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC was a little while ago, but driving in PA we see Cherry Blossom trees in bloom everywhere! One of the small towns we visited on Route 147 was Millersburg.
The 27th annual Cherry Blossom Festival was in full swing! It is held down town
and that made us get a scenic tour of Millersburg, as we were detoured off 147,
as downtown Millersburg and the square was the location of the event. Sponsored
by Millersburg Area Working Together (MAWT), the Cherry Blossom festival is touted
as Millersburg's premier street festival.
We ended the day at Fantasy Island Campground in
Sunbury PA to enjoy time with our friends, Jack & Jackie Laubach. Since
they are both from the area, we will enjoy some great sightseeing. Here is one
glimpse of it. Goodnight all.
No comments:
Post a Comment