Sinkholes And Springs

When I was a young lad I used to listen to many stories which were told by the 'old timers' as they sat around the old pot-bellied stove in a country store.

One story was about a spring which was located on 'Dry Ridge' which at certain intervals would force large volumes of water above the ground's surface and then it would suddenly stop and appear to 'dry up'.

According to their stories, large crowds of people would drive by buggy, carriages and horseback to this spot in the summer. Many times picnics would be enjoyed by families at this place to watch the wonders of nature. It seemed no one could remember the exact spot of this spring. Through the years I made dozens of inquiries from the older residents but they could not tell me anything. Many, surprisingly had never heard of it. I had pictured this spring as being in one of several areas on the ridge. Then by accident—sixty years later, while doing some research I was surprised to read on page 361 in Waterman's History of Bedford-Somerset-Fulton counties, published in 1886, the following description in Harrison Township, "A natural curiosity known as the Flowing Spring, is situated on a farm where Mr. Beltz now lives. In former years it rose and fell hourly, pouring forth large quantities of water when it floods. It was visited by hundreds of people and was commented upon as one of the wonders of nature." I now had a lead to follow. Much to my surprise the spring was not on the Western slope of Dry Ridge. Through several distant descendants I found the farm to be up on the eastern side of the ridge about midway between Manns Choice and Buffalo Mills.

Very few people know about the 'Lost Run' in Cumberland Valley. It is located on the south side of Route 220 just less than one-quarter mile from the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line. This small stream sinks into the ground in a field at the foot of a high ridge. Over the years several sink holes have appeared suddenly on this farm. One former resident of the valley informed me that years ago chaff was thrown into this stream. Several days later chaff was found emerging from a spring located on Center Street in Cumberland.

Over the mountains to the east in an area known as 'Beans Cove' is another stream that disappears into a large hole in the ground. Waterman's History on page 376 states "Lost Run in Beans Cove is a curious and interesting natural phenomen. Two springs of considerable size meet and then just disappear into a large cavity. Where they emerge or whether they emerge at all has never been discovered. "

In the area of Rainsburg and certain sections of Colerain Township are many springs and sink holes. Several residents who have remembered the tales that have been handed down from generation to generation have told me about many instances in which the Beans Cove section would have severe rainstorms, but no rainfall occurred in the Rainsburg area. Several days later one or two of the springs in Colerain Township would suddenly become slightly muddy. The question now stands—is there an underground stream that flows under Martin Hill Mountain? What causes these springs to change color? It is a well known fact that Colerain Township farms have limestone formations. Also, to the south of Beans Cove in the area of Flintstone, Maryland are many large caves.

Years ago a group of ecologists from Penn State explored the sink holes in the Friends Cove district. We understand they made a map or series of maps, one hole was reported to be 'bottomless'.

Over in Snake Spring Township are a number of springs and sink holes. One resident told me that when he was a young lad he explored one of the openings and found a cavern containing 17 rooms. The entrance, over the years, has 'fallen in' and it would be dangerous to attempt to crawl into the cave now. The small stream following parallel to the 'lower road' in the summer dries up, especially the part that flows under the Route 30 to the Juniata River, yet, the streams fed by springs in the upper part of the valley flow all year. The waters slowly disappear apparently into a underground stream.

Moving further north into Morrison's Cove we find many curiosities. For years the people living near Furry's mill could forecast the weather by watching the color of the water as it flowed from a spring. If the water became milky the weather was bound to change within 24 hours. The temperature of the water in the three springs in New Enterprise remains at 51 degrees winter and summer. In the same area near the 'Koontz' church is a stream of water that can be seen as it enters and exits from a hill.

Another story is told about a man and his wife who lived about a mile north of Osterburg along the western slope of the mountain. On one occasion they were visiting friends in the Woodberry area. As they were preparing to return home in their horse and buggy, a terrible rainstorm broke. It rained so hard and long that the couple had to remain over night with friends. The next morning when they arrived home, much to their surprise, there had been no rain fall on this western slope. They found, however, the water coming out of a nearby spring was muddy. I am told that near by is a cave filled with water whose depths are unknown.

Up in King Township there were two wells that would produce a vibrating noise at certain times. ( One well has recently gone dry). The families, I am told paid very little or no attention to the noise. Strangers who heard this would inquire about the strange sounds. They were told the noise came from the well and that this occurs only when the weather was about to change.

Another story handed down by generations now gone was about the ridge between New Paris and Schellsburg. Families who had 'modern type' coal stoves had to get their supply of coal in Somerset County. They would drive their large wagons to the Hiteshew mines. On their return with a heavy load of coal they had to drive over one spot on the ridge road that vibrated or sounded as though they were driving over a hollow section. The drivers would always whip the horses into a gallop so they could pass over this spot before it collapsed beneath them.

There have been many sink holes found on this ridge. One resident many years ago emptied his 'bed chaff tick' into a bottomless hole on his farm. (we now call them matt resses ) . Chaff ticks were made of a heavy cloth material called 'ticking'. They were made into a large bag shape so they would fit into a bed frame. They filled these with chaff from grain. According to the story, within a week, particles of this chaff appeared in the waters of the big spring where Hughes distillery was located. (now called Living Waters). Also, chaff was seen in the large spring at the other end of the ridge at Spring Meadow (now called the Reynoldsdale Fish Hatchery).

At another location a stone could be tossed into a hole and one could hear the stone as it hounced from side to side. Suddenly a splash was heard as it hit the water at the bottom. In another instance a farmer's small dog chased an animal into one of these holes. The owner could hear the dog barking from a spot deep down in the hole but no one could get down to it. It was never rescued.

A number of sink holes above New Paris over the past thirty years have been explored by groups of geologists and scientists. In a number of them they found many animal bones and small skeletons of animals believed to be now extinct. One bone, believed to have been irom an elk, contained a stone arrowhead imbedded in it.

It is just possible if one were able to follow these underground streams that disappeared into the bowels of the earth, we would probably find an enormous series of caverns.

I predict that some time in the future someone will accidentally find an entrance to a beautiful cave or caves in one of our many limestone sections of the county.