Fall AdventurEs for Leaf Peepers Franklin County, PA

Windy, autumn weather is here. Auburn and gold eddies spin and swirl across roads and fields before coming to rest  on the ground. Pack a picnic and enjoy the sunshine. Explore the beauty that is Franklin County in Fall. Capture your fall memories  Share your favorite with us. Facebook.com/fcvben and Instagram.com/franklincountytourism .

Fort Loudoun, Forbes Road, Frontier Rebellion, Farmsteads & Frosty Brews–Beer & Root Beer

Fall Adventure #2

Fort Loudoun –  A Frontier Fortification

This adventure begins along the southern portion of the Lincoln Highway/Route 30 in Franklin County at Fort Loudoun. The Fort is located on Brooklyn Road, which is about 2.5 miles from Route 75 and a dozen miles from the center of Chambersburg.

Archaeological excavations identified the location of Fort Loudoun along with an abundance of artifacts. Among the unearthered artifacts are a shoe vamp and sole, part of a hoe, buttons, musket balls, clay pipes, china, wine goblets and bottles, and even a bucket resting at the bottom of an excavated well. Today, the site is a period-accurate refabrication. Fort Loudoun was rebuilt by volunteers and is maintained by volunteers. The  207-acre site is open dawn to dusk.

In 1756, the British provincial government identified a need for a well-positioned fort on the frontier of Franklin County. The government appropriated land, owned by Matthew Patton, and constructed the fort as a supply depot and a fortificatin to protect frontier families from Native Americans aligned with the French in the French & Indian War.

A prime contribution of Fort Loudoun was as a supply base for the construction of the Forbest Road. Today, Route 30 parralels the route of Forbes Road, which was constructed to connect the western frontier of Pennsylvania with Fort Duquesne.

Frontier Rebellion – Ten Years Before Lexington & Concord

Another side of Fort Loudoun is colonial rebellion–ten years before the outset of the Revolutionary War. Local frontiersmen objected to the unlawful trade of weapons and alcohol with the Native tribes. The provincial government did not take actions to prevent this illegal trade, so James Smith and his Black Boys, named because they used ash to camouflage their faces, took matters into their own hands. Smith and his men confronted the traders, burned the illegal items, and took the traders’ horses. The traders sought help from the British at Fort Loudoun. Tensions increased between the frontiersmen and the British at Fort Loudoun.  On November 16, 1765, tensions peaked, and James Smith and the Black Boys attacked Fort Loudoun. At 7 PM, Fort Loudoun was surrounded by men shooting guns and yelling all night. More men joined the contingent and by 10 PM, one hundred Black Boys closed in on the fort, firing on all corners continuously. After two days of attack, a surrender of the frontiersmen’s weapons was arranged, and in return, James Smith and the Black Boys ceased the attack of Fort Loudoun. The British abandoned Fort Loudoun, and Matthew Patton reclaimed his land in 1765.

Learn more about Fort Loudoun. Click to read Fort Loudoun: Pennsylvania’s Fort.

Conococheague Institute Shows Colonial Life

Return to Route 30 and use Route 75 to go to reach Conococheague Institute, 12995 Bain Rd, Mercersburg.

Conococheague is the second site on this adventure. The drive is through lovely famrland, passing across streams and next to excellent examples of Cumberland Valley bank barns.

Driving on Bain Road offers an unencumbered view of the Tuscarora Mountain. As more and more leaves turn, the mountain is dabbled in diffferent shades of red, orange, and yellow with the contrast of the green pine trees.

Step back to the colonial frontier and discover the frontier lifestyle. Be sure to visit with the goats. The young ones were babies in the spring.

Each weekend at Conococheague Institute focuses on a particular aspect of 18th century life.

More Places to See

• Cowan’s Gap State Park – Beautiful in Fall; take a walk around the lake.
  • 6235 Aughwick Road, Fort Loudoun
• James Buchanan Birthplace State Park – Small but mighty with the pyramid-shaped monument to James Buchanan.
  • 15185 Buchanan Trail W, Mercersburgife in the 18th century. 

Renfrew Museum & Park: Fall Beauty

Travel 20-miles on Route 16 to 1010 East Main Street, Waynesboro.

Step back to the early 1800s and discover what life was like on a German Farmstead. Tour the lovely, limestone home of Danniel Royer, which later became the Nicodemus homestead. Fall is the harvest season and a particularly vibrant time at Renfrew.

The visitors center houses a collection of Pennsylvania Rifles, often called the Kentucky Rifle,  which includes  rifles crafted by Henry Carlile of Shippensburg, master gunsmith John Johnston of Waynesboro, and rifle maker Henry Noll of Washington Township. These are known for the simple yet elegant designs and are some of the first American-made rifles.

John Bell Pottery is another important museum collection. Renfrew holds more than 300 pottery items crafted by John Bell and his brothers Samuel and Solomon Bell.  These pieces are well-known representatives of Bell Pottery 19th century folk arts.

 The Park is 107-acres and includes walking trails that connect to Memorial Park in Waynesboro. The house is open for tours, the site is pet friendly, and open dawn to dusk.

Top Off Your Adventures at Rough Edges Brewery

Return to 91 West Main Street in Waynesboro.

Rough Edges Brewery is on the Main Street of downtown Waynesboro. The owners are passionate about community and transformed the old Waynesboro News Agency into a microbrewery. Rough Edges has great food, a relaxing environment, and a fun menu of  beers, A current offering is a traditional Marzen, brewed in the classic Oktoberfest style.

Rough Edges offers a great food menu with lots of selections and Appalachian Brewery’s root beer is a good choice for younger travelers or the designated driver. 

After a day of exploring, Rough Edges is just right!