In conclusion…
The search of deeds
and census records coming to an end, the focus of research moved in part to
maps – maps of migration routes for early settlers and Indian trails.
Along with these considerations are written reports of the Andaste Giants to
consider and their possible relationship to a burial mound of extremely large
bones found near Elgin, PA – just a few miles from my property as the crow
flies. Some of the research gets a bit carried away on this subject …
even considering the possibility of horned extraterrestrials.
Hmmm… As interesting as that theory is, I am thinking that the Andaste were
very tall Native Americans, perhaps with deer antlers attached to their head
dresses, but what do I know? The first Europeans were very short, after
all. Even 6’ would seem giant. But I digress…. Who knows
where I will end up? This research leads a person in multiple directions
at once, but there are some complications….
There isn’t much
information on this little pocket of NW PA. Even today it is relatively
sparsely populated. (I must mention here that I like being the
only vehicle at the stop light.) Most of
the early settlers’ migration activity was further South around the Pittsburgh
area or Northwest along the shores of Lake Erie. That is why the
discovery of The Forbidden Path (Native American) is so exciting. On one
map I came across, it looks like it goes right through what is now Wayne Twp.
and - most exciting to me – directly across my small parcel of land. The
Forbidden Path was supposedly a shortcut and secret trail for Native Americans
– most likely Iroquois – who were in a hurry traveling west for whatever
reason. Their path traveled through and
along the southern edge of Iroquois country and, for their security purposes,
use of the trail was forbidden to other unfriendly or undesirable Indian tribes
and … especially forbidden to all white men. The penalty for being caught on
the trail is reported to have been death – being burned at the stake or
roasted. Yes… you read that
correctly. Roasted. The Iroquois were
serious about and possessive of their shortcut.
Obviously not all Native Americans appreciated sharing a Thanksgiving
table with the White Man.
To summarize a bit and to continue on the
Forbidden Path -- online research resulted in many interesting tidbits of lore
and history. In addition to the findings of giant prehistoric bones of the
Andaste Indians mentioned earlier, the tales of The Forbidden Path … and the
activities of Mad Anthony Wayne in making the North West Territory safe for
settlers, this part of Erie Co. is very near to what was considered, at that
time, to be the frontier and was heavily populated by various Native American
tribes. The Native American tribe that
is the most interesting to me and further inland than those who lived and
hunted closer to the Lake Erie shoreline are the Iroquois who are closely
linked to the Forbidden Path previously mentioned. To be clear though, I have also seen maps of
the Forbidden Path that show it running in what is now New York State as well -
sort of bypassing what is now Wayne Twp.
Bummer. Apparently, there has
been a bit of a feud between New York State and the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, both of which like to claim the path. Pennsylvania, at one time, even had those
fancy historical road signs designating its location. Historians disagree as to its exact
location—some thinking that NY Route 5 pretty much follows its course. Others place it a bit further south moving
into Pennsylvania through what is now the Bradford area and then continuing to
head west and passing through Wayne Twp. – right across my bit of land. For my purposes here I am going to claim it. I checked with two of my New York State
relatives and they are totally okay with this. Nothing I have found totally
disproves it and, placing it, at least in part in Pennsylvania, explains why
everyone who has investigated my property speaks of a strong presence of Native
Americans… and… the passing through part also supports their opinion that
entities here on my land are here on their way to someplace else. The two natural
spring ponds on the property would have made it an attractive stopover place as
well. I also think this theory nicely
explains the strong smell of tobacco from time to time.
In summary of this series – it is difficult to
find reasons to explain the unexplainable. The movement along the Forbidden
Path predates the movement along the Underground Railroad (early to mid-1800’s),
but both are interesting to consider. Also – it is not surprising that there is not
a lot of information on our small section of the country that would help
explain anything … settlers tended to use more established routes in heading
west. The government even tried to
encourage settlement of what was then the nearby Northwest Territory by
offering land grants to soldiers in payment for their service during the
American Revolution, but this was met with limited success. It wasn’t really until the railroad ran through this
area and the first oil well was built in the late 1850’s (Drakes Well in
Titusville, PA) that settlers found their way here in any number. So in conclusion – I simply do not have any definitive explanations. I am okay with that.
I have come to the realization now that I am nearing
the end of this project that there is something about this land that calls to
me. For the past 50 years of my life, I
have lived in four different homes all within less than 1/8 of a mile radius –
most less than that – more like a few hundred feet. I am hoping to live here for the rest of my
life. It feels right. What is it that draws me here? What are the
layers of human life that are held within this land? What is it that makes it
so easy to put up with the taps, smells, bangs and creepy occurrences that
happen here? What is it that grounds me here within such a sense of
belonging? Is it that it seems
comfortable to be in one place after moving around so much during the first
twenty years of my life or – is it something else?
I have found no conclusive or provable answers to
any of the questions regarding the haunting of this land. Not one. This writing, after all, is not to
be a source of accurate information for history buffs… if there even is such a
thing as accurate recording of history. This writing is to be a record of what
I have found and of what I am thinking.
Point of interest -- actually, most of the written accounts of this area
that I have found are personal journal accounts – each with its own unique perspective
and point of view. Is that the “truth” of history? One must always consider who
is telling the story, but, ultimately, what do we know of them?
Obviously, I cannot say with guaranteed accuracy what all may have happened in the past on this land that may be “tapping” in on the present – only speculation and gut feelings. Sometimes that just has to be enough. Native Americans on the move West? Runaway Slaves running North to freedom? Both? Spirits of those with whom I shared part of my life? A portal to another dimension? In answer to those and to other questions that have come up in this process … who knows? I tried… and it was fun. I originally began this research journey strictly for my family, but then decided to share…. These days a lot people seem to be interested in the unexplainable. A lot of people enjoy a good mystery. Perhaps these kinds of the unexplainable but interesting things offer a pleasant diversion. It seems obvious to me that we can all use a bit of diversion now and again.
One last minute addition... while we are on the subject, I, for one, would like to know what fell somewhere in my house at 1:54 this very morning, waking me out of a sound sleep. After a thorough walk through in the dark, I cannot find a single thing out of place. Maybe once the sun comes up.... And here I thought I had taken all the things off the walls that don't seem to want to stay there. Silly me.
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