Pioneers and lumber Cherry Springs State Park

the ccc built replica of cherry springs hotel, tavern built jonathan edgcomb in 1818.

the area surrounding cherry springs state park has been wilderness of history. bridle path cut through woods in 1806–1807, , widened accommodate wagons in 1812. (modern pennsylvania route 44, passes through park, follows course of path between jersey shore , coudersport.) in 1818 the ceres land company, owned of land in potter county , sought open area settlement, hired settler, jonathan edgcomb, build tavern or hotel travelers @ site of park. hotel in remote location 16 miles (26 km) south of coudersport, , visitors few, occasional wandering travelers or native americans.

edgcomb , wife received 100 acres (40 ha) of land in exchange building hotel , running 3 years. when contract expired in 1821, sold land , left area, hotel , land edgcomb had cleared became known edgcomb s clearing . jersey shore , coudersport turnpike constructed along wagon path between 1825 and 1834, , tolls collected travel on road until 1860. park in west branch township, incorporated eulalia township in 1856. post office opened @ edgcomb s clearing in 1873; locals petitioned united states post office change name cherryville , nearby group of black cherry trees. however, since there cherryville, pennsylvania, post office in lehigh township in northampton county, name cherry spring chosen compromise. in time s added, hence name cherry springs . there @ least 2 springs in park.

in 1874 a new, larger hotel built on other side of road original tavern. provided accommodations wealthy summer visitors coudersport. part of potter county became known abundance of game , fish, , attracted hunters , anglers stayed @ cherry springs hotel. era sportsmen s paradise not last, more profitable lumber industry came west branch , surrounding townships, home of tallest, straightest timber left standing along east coast of united states.

when lumbermen reached cherry springs area in late 1880s, eastern white pine , eastern hemlock covered surrounding mountains. lumberjacks harvested trees , sent them down creeks west branch susquehanna river susquehanna boom , sawmills @ williamsport. clearcutting allowed silt choke streams, , nothing left except dried-out tree tops, became fire hazard. result, large swaths of land burned , left barren, , of central part of state became known pennsylvania desert . cherry springs hotel burned in 1897 and property abandoned.