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 (This
tour begins in the Borough of Grove City.)
Do you remember sitting in the back seat of the family car, riding
aimlessly along shady roads, and maybe seeing some deer or other
wildlife on a Sunday afternoon? Isn’t it time to make some memories
for your children, or maybe just for yourself?
Mercer County is a blend of town and country—you can be in any urban
area and within ten minutes be in a rural setting. If you are
taking a break from an urban area, Mercer County has country lanes,
farms, villages, lakes, rivers, streams, woods, state parks and
gamelands.
The Town and Country Tour is a “Driver’s” driving tour, set up
differently from the other two tours, which are set up to see
individual sites and offer recreational suggestions. This tour will
consider the towns as sites and offer suggestions, while the
highways and byways are for scenic and educational opportunities,
enjoyed during the drive. The tour is a leisurely drive in the
country. To fully enjoy this tour, avoid schedules and take side
trips. Many small roads have big surprises on their paths.
There are a number of small towns and boroughs to explore and
enjoy. Here are some suggestions of what to visit and sites to
see. There are many more roads and sites to see, as our editors
pointed out. The routes listed below are a few of our favorites.
This tour is a template, which you can customize for your unique
Mercer County experience. Do not feel compelled to follow this
route—meandering through the countryside might be more enjoyable. |
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Stop #1 Grove City |
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The Grove City
Historical Society is located at 111 College Avenue between Center
and Broad Streets. It is home to a gift shop, a small research
library, and display areas (allow 1 to 2 hours to tour this
facility. While at the historical society, ask about the Arthur
Armour Hand Wrought Aluminum Workshop Project). At the end of
College Avenue is the lower campus of
 Grove
City College—the upper campus is located across Wolf Creek. Please
enjoy a stroll on this campus and across the Rainbow Bridge.
Founded by Isaac Kettler as the Pine Grove Normal Academy in 1876,
it became Grove City College in late 1884. Native Mercer County
citizens, the Pew family, under J. Howard (Sun Oil Corporation),
supported Grove City College. Today it is a private liberal arts
college that does not accept government funding. Wendell August
Forge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is
located on Madison Avenue. It is one of the last remaining forges
in the United States offering hand wrought metal giftware. In
addition to the gift shop and museum, tours are available. Memorial
Park is located on Route 58 and offers recreational opportunities.
 WHILE
YOU ARE HERE:
Why not visit the specialty shops along Broad,
Center, and Main Streets? Or check out Prime Outlets at Grove City,
over 140 brand name stores just west of town at the junction of
Route 208 and Interstate 79. Nearby is the Slovak Folk Crafts
store, offering the largest selection of Slovak folk crafts in the
United States.
WHILE
YOU ARE HERE:
Please
note the variety and quality of architectural styles in all of our
communities and along our rural roads.
Proceed
on Route 173 toward Sandy Lake. On the left and about three miles
outside Grove City is Bison Haven Ranch. Several miles further on,
Kilgore Road crosses Route 173. Turn right and drive about three
miles on Kilgore Road to the Bugle Point Elk Ranch (on the left).
Continuing on Route 173, at the intersection of Route 965 turn right
and continue to the village of Hendersonville. Turn left onto
Hendersonville Road and follow into Sandy Lake. (Alternate: follow
Route 965 until it intersects with Route 62 and turn left. Follow
Route 62 into Sandy Lake. You will find State Game Land 130 along
both Routes 62 and 965.) |
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Stop #2 Sandy Lake |
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WHILE YOU ARE HERE:
Farrell’s Browse Shop and other small shops are available.
Proceed
north on Route 173. |
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Stop #3
Milledgeville & Custaloga Town |
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Just outside the
small town of Milledgeville is Custaloga Town, a Boy Scout Camp.
Just before you reach the village of Milledgeville, turn right on
West Creek Road—a note of caution, this road is rough and, in part,
dirt. Take Creek Road straight and follow the signs and arrows to
the camp (on the left four miles from Route 173). The Mercer County
Historical Society Indian Cemetery, maintained by the Boy Scouts and
sanctified by both Christian and Seneca peoples, is located here.
The Indian Graveyard is the alleged burial place of Seneca chief
Guyasutha. Other reports have Guyasutha’s buried in two other
locations in Western Pennsylvania. In old Pennsylvania history
books, Pontiac’s Rebellion is “Guyasutha and Pontiac’s Rebellion.”
George Washington allegedly passed through Custaloga Town on his
first trip through this region in 1753 to urge the French to leave
English lands prior to the French and Indian War (Seven Year War).
 WHILE
YOU ARE HERE:
Look over the Boy Scout Camp, but remember this is
private property and the Scouts may be camping. Gingersnap
Junction, a quaint gift shop, is located nearby in New Lebanon.
Return
to Sandy Lake on Route 173. (Alternate: just before entering
downtown Sandy Lake you can turn right and follow signs to Lake
Wilhelm and Goddard State Park.) Follow Route 62 through Sandy
Lake—it will “Y” to the right and, at the intersection of Routes 62
and 845, turn right. |
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Stop #4 Stoneboro |
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A DISCUSSION OF
STONEBORO CAN BE FOUND IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SECTION OF THIS
SITE.
Follow Route 845
through Stoneboro, enjoying the small shops and stopping by the
Stoneboro Historical Society, located in a caboose beside the former
Kish Hotel (allow ½ hour). Consider boating or swimming at Lakeside
Park (fee required) on Sandy Lake, a glacial “kettle” lake.
Continue on Route 845 until it ends at Route 358.
WHILE
YOU ARE HERE:
One
mile to the right on Route 358 is McKeever Environmental Center.
This educational and retreat center is administered by Slippery Rock
University. Year-round programs and four miles of hiking trails
attract the public. One trail connects McKeever to Lake Wilhelm
near the dam.
You can follow two
routes from the intersection of Routes 845 and 358:
The first route will
take you through an area of Amish country in Mercer County to Route
19—a note of caution, these roads are rough and, in part, dirt. At
the intersection of Routes 845 and 358 turn left. Cross over
Interstate 79 and turn left onto Slater Road just before Carpenters
Corners Country Gift Shop. (Just beyond Slater Road, Carpenters
Corners Road veers to the right. Follow the signs to the Wilhelm
Winery for a tour or a peek at the Antique Winemaking Museum.)
Follow Slater Road and turn right at the first stop sign onto
District Road. At the next crossroads turn left onto Vernon Road
(this road is unmarked). Turn right onto Stoneboro Road (also
unmarked). At the “T,” turn left onto Airport Road. Turn right
onto Palmer Road (second crossroads on right, but marked). Turn
left onto Tait Road (unmarked). This road will end at Route 19.
Turn right and proceed to District Road (about four miles), turning
left onto District. Along this route, you will see a variety of
Amish and “English” farms.
 The
second route follows Lake Wilhelm and ends at Sheakleyville on Route
19. At the intersection of Routes 845 and 358, turn right on Route
358, proceed to Lake Hill Road (the first road) and turn left. Lake
Hill Road turns into Haun Road, which will go straight—do not veer
to the right. Haun Road is unpaved and dirt, complete with grass
growing in the center of the road—a note of caution, this road is
rough. Haun Road turns into Creek Road and follows Lake Wilhelm
(named after late County Commissioner Lawrence Wilhelm) along the
south shore of the lake. The Sandy Creek Conservancy helped pave
the way for both the McKeever Environmental Center and the M. K.
Goddard State Park, especially the dam and Lake Wilhelm. George
Washington noted in reports the stream that feeds Lake Wilhelm,
Sandy Creek, in 1753. Creek Road is in the process of designation
as a Pennsylvania Scenic Byway. At the intersection of Creek and
Lake Wilhelm Roads, visit the Pennsylvania Department of
Conservation & Natural Resources marina and boat launch where you
can rent boats and bicycles—there is a wonderful bike trail looping
the lake and the fishing is excellent. (If you turn right on Lake
Wilhelm Road, you can explore the north shore of the lake.)
Continuing straight on Creek Road, you will pass through
Pennsylvania Game Lands 270. Eventually Creek Road turns into
Bachop Road and terminates at Route 19 in Sheakleyville. Originally
known as Georgetown in 1822—named after George Sheakley—the name
changed to Sheakleyville in 1851. A historical marker in the center
of the village notes that George’s nephew, James, was born here and
appointed the first governor of Alaska in 1893. Turn left on Route
19, proceed to District Road, and turn right. Take advantage of the
recreational opportunities along this route.
Proceed
on District Road until it comes to a “T.” At the junction of
District Road and Route 58, turn left. |
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Stop #5 Mercer
County Historical Society Caldwell One-Room School |
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About midway between
Greenville and Mercer is the Caldwell One-Room School. This site
represents the 300+ one-room schools that at one time educated the
majority of children in Mercer County. The Teachers Garden,
surrounding the school, celebrates the educators of Mercer County.
Continue
on Route 58 to Munnell Run Farm. |
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Stop #6 Munnell Run
Farm, Mercer County Conservation District,
and the Mercer County Historical Society Rural Life Museum |
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 On
the grounds of the old Mercer County Home is the headquarters of the
Mercer County Conservation District. This is the Munnell Run Farm,
an educational site well worth the time spent exploring. Munnell
Run Farm is a working farm that educates the public on modern
agricultural and ecological problems and practices. The Rural Life
Museum, operated by the Mercer County Historical Society, explores
country life in rural Mercer County and America. For all of Mercer
County’s history, agriculture and farm life have dominated the
county’s social and economic life. |
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Stop #7 Mercer |
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The Mercer County
Historical Society is located on South Pitt Street. It includes the
Helen Black Miller Memorial Chapel, the Thomas McClain Print Shop,
and the James K. Sewall Genealogical Library. The museum features
permanent and changing displays such as artifacts from the John
Goodsell North Pole expedition, a military gallery, and a display of
Mercer County’s industrial history (allow 2 to 3 hours to tour this
facility). Visitors can find two walking tours of the borough at
the Mercer County Historical Society. Several buildings on these
tours, including the Mercer County Courthouse, are listed or seeking
listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy the
variety of shops and restaurants found in and around Mercer.
A DISCUSSION OF
MERCER BOROUGH CAN BE FOUND IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SECTION OF
THIS SITE.
WHILE
YOU ARE HERE:
There
are several interesting sites near Mercer. Discussion of Leesburg
Falls, White Chapel, and another Amish area can be found in the
Underground Railroad section of this brochure.
Proceed
on Route 62 toward Hermitage and Sharon. About one and a half miles
outside Mercer veer to the left on Bestwick Road. About one-tenth
mile later, veer to the right onto the Old Sharon Road—also known as
Hell’s Hollow Road. (Local rumor has an Indian named Hathegig
murdered in this area. Another local tradition has a French fort
built, a treasure buried, and a massacre.) As you follow Old Sharon
Road, turn right onto Stone Base Road (Swingle Hill Road) and right
onto Route 62. Almost immediately, turn left onto Valley Road.
A DISCUSSION OF
BIG BEND AND NEW HAMBURG CAN BE FOUND IN THE SHENANGO RIVER CORRIDOR
SECTION OF THIS SITE.
If you wish to see these areas, proceed straight
ahead for two miles at the junction of Route 258 and Valley Road.
To
proceed to the Golden Run Wildlife Viewing Area at Neshannock Road,
turn left at the junction of Route 258 and Valley Road. Turn right
after about three miles at the entrance to Golden Run—a note of
caution, this road is rough and, in part, dirt. This area along the
Shenango River Lake features viewing areas of the lake and a beaver
pond, a boat launch, and a walking or biking road.
Proceed
along Route 258 to the Clark Recreation Area, featuring picnicking
and boat launch facilities.
Route
258 ends at Route 18. This would be a good place to add a few sites
from the Shenango River Corridor tour. Turn right to go to
Greenville and Jamestown. Turn left to go to Sharpsville, Sharon,
Farrell, Hermitage, and West Middlesex. If you would like another
scenic drive from Greenville to Sharpsville, take Route 846 to
Buckeye Drive near Sharpsville and make a left at the blinking
light. |
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