Mount Sidney, Virginia, Harrisonburg, VA - Augusta Military Academy

It has been a while since I have posted anything.  We left Pennsylvania on Nov. 16th and arrived in Harrisonburg, VA that same afternoon.  We have put the RV in temporary storage while we are spending the Holidays with family.  We will be leaving Harrisonburg on Jan. 4th and will take a couple of days to get to our next stop in South Carolina.

We did take a couple hours the other day to visit Mount Sidney, Virginia (about 15 miles South of Harrisonburg) where we used to live in the 1990's.  We parked the truck at the park behind our old house and walked around town for a couple hours.  Much of the Mount Sidney downtown area is on the Register of Historic Places and our old house is listed in the Historic District even though it is not as old as most of the others.  The first two pictures are of our old house where we had an antique shop for many years.  The house is known as "The Mary Ann Chine House" and was built in 1875.  We lived in the main part of the house and had an antique shop in the three other attached buildings (you can only see two of them in the picture).  

Log cabin across the street known as the "James Ross House" built in 1840.  

One of the only antique shops left in Mount Sidney - there used to be several.

Abner Shumake House - c.1839 (antique shop above is attached to it) - Clapboard section is all logs underneath - this is a beautiful home inside.

Edward Moorman House c. 1835 - this was an antique shop when we lived here.

Harper's Store c.1820 

Small log cabin behind the Shumake House 

The Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains looking East from behind our old house

Just down the road from Mount Sidney and also on the Register of Historic Places - Augusta Military Academy

 The main building of the Academy

More Trains - The Mason-Dixon Line

We hiked the last section of the Heritage Rail Trail today - starting at Mile 3 in Railroad, PA and hiking to mile 0 in New Freedom, PA - a six mile round trip hike.  Mile 0 is at the Maryland/PA border and the Mason-Dixon Line.   All of the trains and the train museum are in New Freedom, PA - nothing in Railroad, PA - go figure - somebody missed a marketing opportunity on that one. 

New Freedom Train Station (and museum) - restored to I believe its 1940's appearance.

Railroad worker Lodging cars equipped with bunks, kitchen, and an office - designed by PRR - from the 30's and 40's.

The Party Caboose

 Railway Office

Restored passenger cars (late 1800's)

An old diesel engine

The Mason-Dixon Line - terminus of the York County Heritage Rail Trail (PA) and the Northern Central Railroad Trail (MD)

York County Heritage Rail Trail Map (Pennsylvania)

Northern Central Railroad Trail Map (Maryland)

Darby in Maryland and Donna in Pennsylvania - which state's leash law is applicable here?  Just a question for a sharp legal mind.   Of course we did the traditional one foot in Maryland and one foot in Pennsylvania dance (now I'm in MD, Now I'm in PA, etc., and, now I'm in the North, now I'm in the South, etc.)  and a reenactment of the Geico, Bristol, VA/TN commercial - now if standing in both simultaneously would I be in Maryvania or Pennsyland?

Glen Rock, PA - Restored Steam Train

We went back to the Heritage Rail Trail this morning to do another section of the trail and just happened to be in Glen Rock when the excursion train came through.  This is one of the nicest restored steam engines I have seen.  

Abe Lincoln Was Here, Birthplace Of Ice Cream, 12 Foot Bicycles

We have been walking different sections of the Heritage Rail Trail that runs from York to the Maryland border - about 21 miles.  We have done 4, 3 mile sections (6 mile walk out and back) so far. I haven't put them on the blog except for the Howard Tunnel section because, although they are nice walking trails, they are for the most part not that remarkable.  The one we walked this morning did have a few points of interest.

We started at Hanover Junction Station that has been restored to its 1860's appearance and is notable as Abe Lincoln changed trains here on his way to Gettysburg in 1863 for the dedication of the National Cemetery. 

Hanover Junction Station

Life size abstract horse and rider at the station. 

About a mile up the tracks in Seven Valleys, PA, we came across the birthplace of commercial ice cream production - who knew? 

A little further up we came to 3 very large bicycles made of scrap materials.

The high wheeler is about 12 feet high.

Darby and me for scale.

Ephrata Cloister - Ephrata, PA

We visited the Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata, PA which was founded by Conrad Beissel in 1732.  This was a religious community with some similarities to the Shakers (some major differences too) but not connected to them in any way.  Click Here for a detailed description from Wikipedia.  We were very impressed with the place - it is definitely worth seeing if you are ever in the area.  Many of the buildings are original with minor restorations and a majority of the contents are original to the community. 

 Welcome Center and Gift Shop

Marker on Conrad Beisel's grave in the on-site cemetery.

 The Saron (Sisters House) and The Saal (Meeting House)

The Saal

The Saron

The Carpenter's House

Inside The Saron

Inside The Saron

 Inside The Saron

Inside The Saron

Inside The Saron

An original copy of the Martyr's Mirror, a book about the sufferings of the Pennsylvania Amish that was printed at the Ephrata Cloister in 1748.   The book had the distinction of being the largest book ever printed in Colonial America.   The book was printed by the Cloister for the Amish community.

 Printing Office

Printing Office

Woodworking Shop

Small Stable

The Bakery

The Weaver's Shop

Cemetery