BROOKVILLE, Pa. – In its efforts to provide yet another way to explore local history, the Jefferson County History Center has recently been named as the recipient of three grants totaling over $31,000 for the completion of the Scripture Rocks Heritage Park.
The largest of these is from The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources which awarded a matching grant of $21,115 for the final construction phase of the park’s parking lot, main entry sign and the trail and rock identification markers. The other grants include a $5000 matching grant from the Pennsylvania Lumber Heritage Region and a $5000 matching grant from the Jefferson County Hotel Tax Committee, both of which are dedicated to installing a trailhead kiosk and 20 interpretative educational trailside panels that detail the story of Douglas Stahlman and his engraved rocks along with other aspects of the park which include the geology, lumber heritage, wildlife and a small Native American site found within the park boundaries.
The Scripture Rock Heritage Park was recently named one of the top 10 most interesting places to visit in Pennsylvania during 2016. After a recent visit, Carrie Fischer Leprore, Deputy Secretary from the Pennsylvania Office of Marketing and Tourism noted: “We believe that the Scripture Rocks Heritage Park will be a tremendous asset to Jefferson County in terms of recreation and education, and are extremely optimistic about the park’s potential to create a new tourist attraction in the commonwealth.”
During 2015 the JCHS received some donations which allowed volunteer workers to create trails and lay down over 160 tons of gravel on them, open an access road to the south end of the park and begin the parking lot along route 28 near the Brookville Industrial Park. The organization is now in the final stages of park construction which is scheduled to be complete in time for the Park’s planned grand opening ceremony on Saturday, June 11th.
Since each of the newly acquired grants require matching funds, the Jefferson County Historical Society is currently seeking public support in the form of tax deductible contributions. All donations are welcome and any contributor who gives or pledges an amount of $1,000 or more before April 30th will be formally recognized on the permanent signage at the trailhead kiosk.
Anyone wishing to help the JCHS fund this project should send contributions to the Jefferson County History Center at PO Box 51, Brookville, PA. For more information on the Scripture Rocks Heritage Park contact the JCHS at (814) 849-0077 or visit scripturerocks.com.
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