Graysdale, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Graysdale is an unincorporated community in Patton Township
, Centre County, Pennsylvania
, located at 40.8130°N 77.9548°W.
The Red Bank Branch of the Bellefonte Central Railroad
, from Mattern Junction to Red Bank, was built through the town around 1887. The branch was built to carry iron ore, the mining of which supported Graysdale and other local towns. It was cut back to end in Graysdale in 1894 due to the shutdown of Bellefonte Furnace, the principal consumer of the local ore. However, the furnace re-opened under new management in the 1890s, and was back to near-full capacity by 1900. Ore mining resumed, the line from Graysdale to Mattern Bank was re-laid in 1900, and a new branch was built from Graysdale to Scotia
. However, the furnace was unable to compete with more modern iron and steel mills, and shut down again, permanently, in 1910. The McNitt-Huyett Lumber Company laid a third rail on the line from Mattern Junction to Scotia around this time, to operate its 36 inch (91.44 cm) logging trains, but both the lumber company and the Bellefonte Central removed their tracks through Graysdale in 1915.
With the cessation of logging and iron mining, the area largely became vacant. The area is now a residential development, a bedroom community for Penn State
.
Patton Township, Pennsylvania
Patton Township is a township in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 15,311 at the 2010 census, which is a 34.1% increase from the 2000 census...
, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
, located at 40.8130°N 77.9548°W.
The Red Bank Branch of the Bellefonte Central Railroad
Bellefonte Central Railroad
The Bellefonte Central Railroad was a shortline connecting Bellefonte and State College, Pennsylvania. Constructed in the late 19th century to haul local iron ore to furnaces in the Bellefonte region, it later hauled freight traffic to Penn State and lime for steelmaking from local quarries...
, from Mattern Junction to Red Bank, was built through the town around 1887. The branch was built to carry iron ore, the mining of which supported Graysdale and other local towns. It was cut back to end in Graysdale in 1894 due to the shutdown of Bellefonte Furnace, the principal consumer of the local ore. However, the furnace re-opened under new management in the 1890s, and was back to near-full capacity by 1900. Ore mining resumed, the line from Graysdale to Mattern Bank was re-laid in 1900, and a new branch was built from Graysdale to Scotia
Scotia, Pennsylvania
Scotia was a village in Patton Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, at . Although the community was called Scotia, the name of the local post office was Benore ....
. However, the furnace was unable to compete with more modern iron and steel mills, and shut down again, permanently, in 1910. The McNitt-Huyett Lumber Company laid a third rail on the line from Mattern Junction to Scotia around this time, to operate its 36 inch (91.44 cm) logging trains, but both the lumber company and the Bellefonte Central removed their tracks through Graysdale in 1915.
With the cessation of logging and iron mining, the area largely became vacant. The area is now a residential development, a bedroom community for Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
.