EDITOR’S DESK

Back to (trade) school

Pennsylvania has a rich history of building things. I was reminded of that on a recent visit to Bethlehem in Northampton County. There, along the Lehigh River, stand the rusting remnants of the once-mighty Bethlehem Steel mill — an almost-forgotten monument to America’s industrial past.

At its height, the mill was one of the world’s largest steel producers, earning Bethlehem the nickname “the city that helped build America.” It provided the steel for iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam and the Empire State Building. It also played a critical role in national defense, supplying the armor, guns and battleships that helped win two world wars.

The plant once employed 30,000 workers and operated 24/7. But by 1995, a combination of foreign competition and labor unrest brought its nearly 150-year run to an end.

Today, the site is home to a casino and entertainment complex, but the mill’s hulking blast furnaces still stand as a stark reminder of the country’s industrial might. Visitors can explore the plant’s past along a mile-long walking tour.

I pondered that past while reading this month’s feature on trade schools, wondering what became of our tradition of building things. But a trip to Jefferson County reassured me we are still quite capable of craftsmanship.

In Punxsutawney, I toured R&S Machine Co. (featured in this month’s Penn Lines) and met with machinists who still work with steel. Using mills, lathes, grinders, and drill presses, they create precision parts and components for commercial and industrial use across the Commonwealth — and around the globe.

Many of the R&S employees got their start in trade schools. Their work not only powers industry, it sustains local families. And the shining steel components on the shop floor remind me that Pennsylvania is still building things.

PETER A. FITZGERALD
EDITOR

Steel mill

Steel gears

COOL WEATHER AHEAD

Almanac predicts lower than average temps for autumn

Fall is just around the corner, and the “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” is predicting a cool and dry season throughout Pennsylvania.

The almanac’s prediction for much of the northeastern part of the country indicated Pennsylvanians should expect cooler and drier conditions than they typically experience this time of year. According to the almanac, September’s average temperature will be 59 degrees, 2 degrees below what has been reported in recent years.

October, meanwhile, is on track for an average of 46 degrees, which is 3 degrees below what has been reported in recent years.

The forecast for the Northeast differs from elsewhere in the country, with the almanac predicting many other areas will experience warmer-than-average temperatures.

Autum leaves

COOLING DOWN: "The Old Farmer's Almanac" claims most of the Northeast, including Pennsylvania, will experience cooler temperatures this autumn than in recent years.

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Pa. amusement parks among best-ranked attraction in America

Three Pennsylvania amusement parks are among the highest ranked attractions in the United States, according to the Travelers’ Choice Awards list of the “Best of the Best Things to Do” compiled by Tripadvisor.

The highest ranked Pennsylvania park was Elysburg’s Knoebels Amusement Resort, which ranked No. 3 behind Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World, which took the No. 2 spot, and Tennessee’s Dollywood, which finished No. 1.

Other Pennsylvania parks that made the list included Erie’s Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort, which came in at No. 15, and Hersheypark, which finished in the 18th spot.

MODERNIZING HISTORY

State Museum building to receive largest upgrade since opening

The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg is set to receive an upgrade as the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission recently announced a $55 million infrastructure revitalization project for the facility.

This will be the largest and most comprehensive upgrade to the complex since the museum and tower opened in 1964. While the project is expected to begin in spring 2026, the museum will remain open through July to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

After that, the museum is expected to be closed from August until early 2029.

Roughly half of the exhibits in the museum’s 105,000 square feet of gallery space will be redesigned and rebuilt. In addition, the 16th and 17th floors of the archives tower will be combined into an observation floor, with large windows providing views to the east and west.

BACK IN BUSINESS

Raystown Lake reopens campgrounds after filling personnel shortages

Raystown Lake’s campgrounds are open for business again.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced last month that three of the lake’s campgrounds in Huntingdon County would reopen after being forced to close due to federal funding cuts earlier this year that led to staffing shortages.

Two of the three campgrounds — Susquehannock and Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore — reopened Aug. 15, while the third, Seven Points, is set to open its gates Sept. 5.

“Raystown Lake is a paramount provider of outdoor recreation opportunities in Pennsylvania,” Baltimore District Commander Col. Francis Pera said in a news release. “Our staff is prepared to assist visitors in creating lasting memories.”

USACE received final approval in early August to fill the personnel shortages. New hires have since taken the mandatory safety training to ensure the campgrounds could reopen before summer’s end.
Campground reservations can be made at recreation.gov.

Raystown Lake, located in Valley Rural Electric Cooperative’s service territory, is home to the William F. Matson Hydroelectric Plant, operated by Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc., the wholesale energy provider for the 14 rural electric cooperatives in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

CONTEST TIME!

Help us celebrate Penn Lines’ 60th anniversary

Penn Lines has a big birthday coming up, and we want you to be a part of our 60th anniversary celebration. Before the confetti flies in 2026, though, we’re kicking off a handful of photo contests this year; enter one — or all three.

CONTEST NO. 1 – LONGEST-LIVED PENN LINES! If you have an oldie but a goodie around the house, take a photo of it with you. Please make sure the publication date is visible.

CONTEST NO. 2 – MOST WELL-TRAVELED PENN LINES! We'll be honest: We like it when we get to go to some place nice. Take your favorite issue of Penn Lines to some place special in your community and take a photo of yourself with it.

CONTEST NO. 3 – A DATE WITH PENN LINES! We’ll be honest: We like it when we get to go to some place nice. Take your favorite issue of Penn Lines to some place special in your community and take a photo of yourself with the magazine.

FOR ALL CONTESTS, WE WILL NEED: your name, address, daytime telephone number, the month and year of the magazine, and the name of the cooperative that serves your home, business, or seasonal residence.

PRIZES: $50 gift card; the photo will also be featured in Penn Lines in 2026

DEADLINE: Friday, Oct. 31

SEND ENTRIES TO: PennLines@prea.com (put “60 Years of Penn Lines” in the subject line) or Penn Lines Editor/60 YEARS OF PENN LINES, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.

TIMELINES

A decade ago, Penn Lines highlighted one-room schools and the work that some cooperative members conducted to preserve their history. From a woman in Clearfield County who bought the schoolhouse in which she attended grades 1 through 6 to the Somerset County one-room schoolhouse that was donated to a church in the 1930s, the article served as a reminder of how important it is to keep the history of education alive.

September 2015 cover