The "A Little Piece Of Paradise Amongst The Trees" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Riding home from a day of exploration and adventure in the southern mountains of Pennsylvania. Had lunch at the "Jigger Shop" in Mt. Gretna and then a leisurely stroll around the grounds of what are the Mt. Gretna Campmeeting and the Chautauqua.  It was during the period of 1885-1889 that Mt. Gretna was hewn from the woodland region in the South Mountains of Pennsylvania known as Furnace Hills.  The pristine forest gained the attention of Mr. Robert Coleman, owner of the Cornwall ore furnace and railroad lines after the Revolutionary War.  He began to develop the land as a picnic grove, but it got out of hand and ended up as the summer community of Mt. Gretna.  

Pennsylvania National Guard camping at Mt. Gretna

In 1885 the Penn- sylvania National Guard decided to use 120 acres of the community area for its summer encamp- ment site and remained there until moving to Indiantown Gap in 1935.  By 1885 a lake was created by damming nearby Conewago Creek.  A railroad station was completed and the park, which was developed in the previous years, was expanded.   The railroad that was built ran from the park near the lake to the top of the nearby mountain which is now called Governor Dick.  At the top was another park named the Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick.  It was named that in honor of the well known petroleum baron and philanthropist.  It consisted of 1,105 acres and the train was to take you from the top of the mountain to the park below.  Today all that remains is a walking path where the train used to run.  The Mt. Gretna Campmeeting Association, a small gathering of homes,  consisted of 30 acres of land purchased by Mr. Coleman.  In August of 1892 they held their first conference which led to many more religious meetings and an inner circle, sometimes called a temple, which had a pulpit, seating on rows of rough boards surrounded with tents to hold the participants.  This rough spiritual beginning led to a community of cottages with the primary goal being a religious retreat.  In 1899 the camp meeting auditorium was built and the cottages resembled just about what they look like today.  Today there are several hundred cottages centered around the large outdoor tabernacle.  In 1874 a summer institute for the teaching of Sunday school teachers began at Lake Chautauqua in New York State.  Eventually the idea spread to all parts of the country and in the summer of 1891 a similar gathering was held in Mt. Gretna Park.  

The Mt. Gretna Inn which was demolished in 1970.

On January 13, 1892 a charter was granted to the Penns- ylvania Chautauqua and Robert Coleman sold 80 acres to the Chau- tauqua.  Wasn't long before public buildings sprang up.  The 1892 summer season saw a total of 8,798 people attend.  They rented tents, single rooms and cottages on the grounds and attended religious lectures and first-class entertainment.  The following year the crowds grew and more eventsgs were offered.  Then, the following year a Buffalo newspaper reported that the Pennsylvania Chautauqua had the highest ranking among the nearly 100 sister Chautauquas in the country. In 1898 a circular auditorium and Inn were erected.  The Inn was eventually demolished, but the Community Building was erected in 1909.  

The Conewago Hotel in the 1910s.

After World War I more and more colleges were offering many of the same courses as the Chautauqua program did, so the Chautauqua came to an end.  But, the summer community that was Mt. Gretna flourished with cultural events and recreational activities.  

View of the lake at Mt. Gretna.

The Mt. Gretna Heights area became an intergral part of Mt. Gretna history.  It sits on 20 acres, also purchased from Mr. Coleman, and included a hotel, dance hall-movie theatre, store, amusement park and swimming pool.  West of the lake is a small community which calls itself Conewago Hills and occupies the land once occupied by the Conewago Hotel which was built in 1909 and demolished in 1942 because lack of business.  

The original U.S. Post Office at Mt. Gretna.

The latest addition to Mt. Gretna is an area called Timber Hills which is north of the Chau- tauqua.  It is the area that was once occupied by the National Guard and is now being developed into a residential area.  

The carousel at one time was a Mt. Gretna feature.

I never knew of Mt. Gretan when it had all the attractions that it once had, but I enjoy the peaceful and calm nature that now is, at least to me, Mt. Gretna.  I still return yearly for the shows at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse and the annual juried artshow as well as a date every now and then with my sweetheart at the "Jigger Shop."  Ever have one of their jiggers?  It was an extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Photographs are part of the "Jigger Shop" website.  Many more can be found there if you care to view them.  The following photos will show you what Mt. Gretna looks like today.

The Chautauqua literary and scientific circle building that was built in 1902.  It now serves as a gift shop.

The U.S. Post Office as it appears today.  It was built in 1892.

The lake at Mt. Gretna. 

View of the lake from the other side. Photo by Carol Woods

The Mt. Gretna Playhouse where Carol and I come every summer during the Cicada Festival to listen to our favorite musical groups.

A few of the many cottages in the Chautauqua area of Mt. Gretna.

This is the Tabernacle that was constructed in 1899 for the United Brethren in Christand is part of the Campmeeting at Mt. Gretna.  It is an open circular building, 110 feet in diameter and restling on 23 chestnut posts.  It can accommodate 800 to 1000 people.  Used for a variety of worship services as well as musical programs, lectures, baptisms, weddings and funerals.  Pretty impressive piece of architecture.

These are the houses in the Mt. Gretna Campmeeting, which was established in 1892.  They are much closer together than the houses in the Chautauqua area.  It is a more compact community.

Carol and LDub enjoy a break while visiting Mt. Gretna's Campmeeting and Chautauqua.