An ancient Native American Legend of woods which are haunted by Evil Spirits here in Western Pennsylvania

The legend goes back century's and warns the white man not to trespass on those grounds considered  sacred to the native American Indian.
They speak of  spirits which live in the deep woods that will take vengeance when disturbed.

http://www.native-languages.org/shawnee-legends.htm

While the White Man scoffed at such things one has to wonder when you read of all the disappearances  and other supposed evil doings which have happened in the woods including the practice of witch craft  and even voodoo if there really is not something that goes thump in the dark.
 as Native Americans talk of  Skin Walkers and Shape Shifter and massive hairy bear beasts

http://www.rense.com/general77/skin.htm

I can tell you the woods at night are not a friendly place having camped in them  as a boyscout and working in them and driving back many a long narrow desolate country road in the middle of the night when creatures are about.
I have never seen a Big Foot or UFO but   heard plenty of strange noises at night in my travels.
Thou one time I did have an encounter with something I can only describe as a dark hooded shadow
possibly a Specter one time which was hiding down in a deep ravine. needless to say my friend and I who encountered it did not stick around to find out what it was. I still get nightmares over it .

 Many people talk about encounters with shadow people it may have been one of these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_person

I have also come across klan activities in the deep woods yes the KKK particularly in Fayette and Indiana county at night . yes if you have ever seen the movie Deliverance with Burt Reynolds yes I have traveled in these areas where they claim you can hear the Banjo's playing.

Now luckily Pa has not seen the rash of disappearances in the woods as has happened in National parks  out west . But there is a very disturbing trend of people disappearing in Western P.a
 

http://www.reddirtreport.com/rustys-reads/book-review-missing-411-eastern-united-states-david-paulides

http://www.amazon.com/Missing-411-Western-United-States-Canada/dp/1466216298#reader_1466216298

So one must always be vigilant when traveling alone especially at night in the deep woods.

There has also been plenty of rumors of Wild Men who live in the deep woods  covered in furs and mountain men who live off  the terrain . 

There is also the constant dangers of running across drug dealers who are growing  their  Pot Stash  or  Moon Shiners.. Yes we have moonshiners in the woods in Pa.

One thing for sure if the sign says do not trespass best you do not .

While there may be nothing to Indian legends there are plenty of dangers from your fellowman in the deep woods so always be on guard should you decide to enter.
 

Flint from Flint Ridge Ohio a town with a unique connection to the Native American Tribes of Western Pa.

While the internet connects our world today many years ago a simple piece of flint used for making fires,knives,scrapers and arrow points etc.  was what was the highly valued and well traveled mineral which bound native American Tribes together. major trading trails came right thru Western Pa.
where tribes would trade for this valuable resource.
Located  near the center of Ohio

http://www.ohiohistory.org/museums-and-historic-sites/museum--historic-sites-by-name/flint-ridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_Ridge_State_Memorial

http://consumer.discoverohio.com/searchdetails.aspx?detail=70746
Flint from the ridge is a highly prized by mineral collectors  who cut and  polish it into jewelry.
I got to visit and extract flint from the site many years ago as there are a couple of pay sites where you can dig for it .

Piece from my collection

Colors of red,blue,white and yellow can be found thru the flint which makes it very colorful and the interest in it as jewelry but Native Americans where more interested in it for its ability to hold a vary sharp edge essential for spear points when using a bow and arrow for taking game or killing a rival tribesman .
The flint from flint ridge is often found in excavations of native American camp sites here in Western Pa.
Thou flint can be found here in Pa it is now where near as good a quality as that found in Flint Ridge Ohio.

One of the most unique double deck bridges in the world The Foxburg Bridge in Armstrong County

Double Decker bridges in Pa are nothing new in Pittsburgh you have the Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne  have been around since the fifitys .
But one very unique double decker bridge was along the Allegheny River in Foxburg  Armstrong County.

http://bridgehunter.com/pa/armstrong/foxburg/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxburg_Bridge_%281921%29

http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=truss/foxburg/

http://www.bridgemapper.com/bridge_detail.php?ID=2860

 

I encountered it in the summer of 1974 while on a Boot & Paddle canoe trip from Boyscout camp in Tionesta to Pittsburgh.  a total of 150 miles of paddling I have done it twice as a teen.

It was  foggy morning when we came across this bridge when I noticed a cars headlights going one way when all of a sudden a train was coming over the top the opposite direction 

So what was going on  not much it seems as a way to save money engineers had combined  2 functions into one bridge . Autos ran inside the cage part of the bridge and trains ran on top. a most unusual arrangement as usually trains and or trolleys in the case of the Smithfield Street Bridge  ran side by side.

Unfortunately the bridge which was built in 1921 was torn down several years ago