Caledonia State Park

Geobox Protected Area
name = Caledonia State Park
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category_local = Pennsylvania State Park
category_iucn = III


image_caption = Reconstruction of Caledonia furnace
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = Caledonia Furnace
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = Counties
region = Adams
region1 = Franklin
district_type = Townships
district = Franklin
district1 = Greene
city =
location =
lat_d = 39
lat_m = 54
lat_s = 42
lat_NS = N
long_d = 77
long_m = 28
long_s = 59
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web
url=Gnis3|1196528
title=Caledonia State Park
date = August 30 1990
work=Geographic Names Information System
publisher=United States Geological Survey
accessdate=2008-01-27]
elevation_imperial = 1096
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 1125
area_round = 1
area1_imperial =
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lowest =
lowest_location =
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biome =
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geology =
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plant =
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established_type =
established = 1903
management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
management_location =
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visitation =
visitation_year =
free_type = Nearest city
free = Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of Caledonia State Park in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map_first =
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/caledonia.aspx Caledonia State Park]

Caledonia State Park is a convert|1125|acre|km2|2|adj=on Pennsylvania State Park in Greene Township, Franklin County and Franklin Township, Adams County in Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is named for an iron furnace, Caledonia Furnace, that was owned by Thaddeus Stevens beginning in 1837. Today the park is known for its Totem Pole Playhouse, a summer stock theatre. Caledonia State Park is between Chambersburg and Gettysburg at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Pennsylvania Route 233 in a valley between Blue Mountain and South Mountain.

History

Caledonia State Park was once the site of an iron furnace owned by Thaddeus Stevens, a native of Caledonia County, Vermont. Stevens began operation on the furnace in 1837. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a noted abolitionist, and is known as the father of the public school system in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The iron furnace was destroyed during the American Civil War in July 1863 by the Confederate cavalry under the command of General Jubal Early. Some historians believe that the furnace was destroyed not just to slow the industrial power of the Union but also because of Stevens' views opposing slavery. The pastures surrounding the furnace were used as field hospitals during the Battle of Gettysburg later in July 1863. The furnace was rebuilt following the war, but was closed by 1902 when the land was sold to the state. Caledonia State Park was opened in 1903.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/caledonia.aspx
title = Caledonia State Park
accessdate = 2006-12-20
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]

The land was leased to the Chambersburg and Gettysburg Trolley Company for a number of years. It became a popular tourist destination for visitors to the Gettysburg Battlefield. The trolley company built various amusement rides at the park that have long since been removed. A nine hole golf course was opened in 1922 (it has since been expanded to 18 holes). The Pennsylvania Alpine Club paid for the reconstruction of the stack of the old furnace and built a monument. A blacksmith shop and the stack are the only visible reminders to the days of the iron furnace. Many of the roads and facilities used today at Caledonia State Park were built during the Great Depression by the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

taying overnight

Caledonia State Park has a total of 184 tent and trailer campsites on two campgrounds. The grounds open in mid April for the first weekend of trout season and close in December at the conclusion of deer season . The camping area has hot showers, flush toilets and a sanitary dump station. A large area for organized group tenting accommodates up to 100 people. The large group camping area has flush toilets, picnic tables and fire rings.

Two cabins are available to rent year round. Both cabins can sleep up to 10 people. They have central heat, modern kitchens and bathrooms, three bedrooms and living rooms.

Recreation and entertainment

Caledonia State Park is open to hunting and fishing. There are convert|10|mi|0 of hiking trails, a swimming pool, golf course and even a summer stock theater to provide recreation and entertainment to visitors to the park.

Hunting

There are about convert|740|acre|km2|2 of woods open to hunting at Caledonia State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are rabbits, squirrels, white-tailed deer, and turkeys. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Hunters may access the adjoining Michaux State Forest by using the parking lots at Caledonia State Park and hiking in on the trails.

Fishing

Fishing is a popular recreational activity at Caledonia State Park and the surrounding Michaux State Forest. Three streams, East Branch Conococheague Creek, Rocky Mountain Creek and Carbaugh Run, flow through the park and forest. The streams are home to some warm water fish was well as brown trout, native brook trout, and rainbow trout. The brown and rainbow trout are stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Hiking

The Appalachian Trail passes through Caledonia State Park as it traverses the Appalachian Mountains between Georgia and Maine. Ramble Trail (convert|2.2|mi|2) is a trail that passes the old millrace left over from the days of the Caledonia Iron Furnace. There are ten other trails in the park that pass through a variety of habitats and historical sites.

Totem Pole Playhouse

Totem Pole Playhouse, a summer stock theatre at Caledonia State Park, is nationally known for attracting high quality actors and for having a wide variety of theatrical performances. The playhouse began operation in 1950 under the direction of Karl Genus. It began to come to national prominence under the direction of William H. Putch, the husband of actress Jean Stapleton. Putch directed the playhouse for 30 years and was responsible for the production of 270 plays. Famous actors and actresses such as John Ritter, Sandy Dennis, and Curtis Armstrong have worked with the resident company of performers over the years. [cite web
url = http://www.totempoleplayhouse.org/pages/history.asp
title = Totem Pole Playhouse
accessdate = 2006-12-20
publisher = Caledonia Theater Company] [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/scavengeradvanced/scavad12caledonia.aspx
title = Additional History about Caledonia State Park
accessdate = 2006-12-20
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|0 of Caledonia State Park: [cite map |scale = 1:65,000| publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/adams_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Adams County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows Caledonia State Park"] cite web
last = Michels
first = Chris
year = 1997
url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
title = Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation
publisher = Northern Arizona University
accessdate = 2008-04-20] [cite map |scale = 1:65,000| publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/franklin_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Franklin County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows Caledonia State Park"] [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/region_dutch.aspx
title = Map Location Reference
accessdate = 2006-12-20
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]
*Big Spring State Park (Perry County)
*Buchanan's Birthplace State Park (Franklin County)
*Colonel Denning State Park (Cumberland County)
*Cowans Gap State Park (Fulton County)
*Cunningham Falls State Park (Maryland)
*Fowlers Hollow State Park (Perry County)
*Gambrill State Park (Maryland)
*Greenbrier State Park (Maryland)
*Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center (Cumberland County)
*Mont Alto State Park (Franklin County)
*Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Cumberland County)
*South Mountain State Park (Maryland)

References

External links

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