Quintessential Pennsylvania

GREENCASTLE - Founded 1750. Named for Greencastle in the North of Ireland (County Donegal, Northern Island) where many of the first settlers to Greencastle came from. Greencastle is located at the intersection of the old Baltimore and Carlisle Pikes, and is home to the oldest continuously operating drug store in the United States, Carl's Drug Store, which opened in 1825. Sources and Links: Our History - Greencastle Borough How To Get There:

For the past 40 years, a hot dog stand that looks a lot like a red caboose along Route 51 in Forward Township (Southeastern Allegheny County) has been a lunch time treat for many in the Monongahela Valley.  The Red Caboose - family operated since 1980 - serves hot dogs, kielbasa, and french fries.  Plus popular toppings like cheese, chili, sauerkraut and gravy. Cheese Dogs and Fries (Steve Reynolds) The menu is simple - and so are the prices.  Most items are under $3 - making it an extremely affordable meal.   The Red Caboose is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.   Seating is all outdoor or in your car.  And if you come during the peak lunch time hours - the line will stretch out the door!  It's definitely worth it though. The Red Caboose is Cash Only so be sure to stop at the ATM before you go.  Oh, and don't forget your appetite! (Top photo courtesy the Red Caboose) How To Get There:

Just south of the Barronvale Covered Bridge sits King's Covered Bridge.  This bridge also crosses Laurel Hill Creek and sits just off of PA Route 653.  King's Covered Bridge dates to 1906 and received a massive restoration in 2009.    The 127 foot long Burr Arch Truss was a privately owned bridge by the King family.  The bridge, which had not seen vehicular traffic since the 1930s, served as a livestock barn for the King family until 2002.  It was in 2 002 when the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy took over the bridge and in 2008 handed it over to Middlecreek Township .  With the assistance of various grants and federal highway administration funding, restoration of the bridge began in 2008 and was completed the next year.  The cost to stabilize and restore the bridge was $1.035 million dollars. The restored bridge is absolutely beautiful. Bridge Specs: Number: 38-56-06 Built: 1906 Design: Burr Arch Truss Length: 127 feet Crosses: Laurel Hill Cr...

Fayette County's Perryopolis has a unique history.  The town's history can be traced to George Washington and his purchase 1644 acres of land in 1769.  Washington found the area perfect for a grist mill which was constructed and began operation in 1776.  Over a decade later in 1789, Washington leased portions of his land and the mill to Colonel Israel Shreve.  When both Washington and Shreve died in 1799, the land would be subdivided and sold. The layout of Perryopolis ( Madalyn Linderman/Perryopolis.com ) Originally known as New Boston , the layout of Perryopolis would take shape in 1814.  Renamed Perryopolis after War of 1812 hero, Oliver Hazard Perry , the town's layout is in the shape of a wagon wheel .   The hub of the layout is known as Washington Square which to this day remains the center of town. Perryopolis would grow as the main town and marketplace for a number of the local farmers and grist mills in the early-mid 1800s.  As the 19th centu...