For this week’s moment in troop history, Mr. Hoover returns with a trip report from 1997 in Pennsylvania that included camping, biking, waterwater rafting, and visiting several historic and architectural sites:
Bill Hoover and Dick Fanjoy in 1997 led a 5-day visit to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania. The crew included Jon, Daniel and David Hoggatt, John Fanjoy, and Sam Hoover. It’s located in an historically significant region in the Laurel Mountains of southwest Pennsylvania. The highlight of the trip was whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River, starting below the waterfall in Ohiopyle State Park.
The “educational” visits included Fort Necessity, Fallingwater, and Kentuck Knob. Fort Necessity is the site of George Washington’s first military action in battle with the Native Americans and British Forces. It occurred on July 3, 1754, one of the earliest battles of the French and Indian War. The fort is located along the National Road, now US Route 40. It provided access to the “west,” across the Allegheny Mountain Chain.
We toured two homes designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Fallingwater is the best-known of all the structures he designed. The living room is cantilevered over a water fall. Kentuck Knob is located on top of a hill known locally by that name. It is representative of his prairie style, not unlike the John and Catherine Christian house “Samara” in West Lafayette.
Our home was the Ohiopyle State Park Campground. Free time was spent cooking delicious meals and preparing lunches to go. We bicycled 15 miles up the river trail from Ohiopyle and back. The participants agreed that the trip was more than satisfactory for the 9 hour drive there from West Lafayette.
Our centennial event is nearly three weeks away! We’d like to connect with you and invite you to join us on May 26. Reach out using this form and re-connect with Troop 335.