Cammal, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cammal, Pennsylvania
|
|
|---|---|
McHenry Township Community Center in Cammal (2012)
|
|
 Cammal, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Cammal, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lycoming |
| Township | McHenry |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP |
17723
|
| Area code(s) | 570 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1193709 |
Cammal is a small, unincorporated community located in Lycoming County, in the state of Pennsylvania. An unincorporated community means it's a place with a shared identity but no separate local government.
Cammal is nestled along Pine Creek in a beautiful area called the Pine Creek Gorge. It's upstream from Waterville. A stream called Mill Run, which flows through the nearby Tiadaghton State Forest, joins Pine Creek right here. The popular Pine Creek Rail Trail, a path for biking and walking, also goes through Cammal.
Contents
A Look Back: Cammal's History
How Cammal Got Its Name
The name Cammal is actually a shorter version of Campbell. This name came from some of the first people to settle in the area. Around 1820, a man named Michael Campbell started farming about one mile (1.6 km) upstream along Pine Creek. His brothers, Abner and George, built a mill along Mill Run.
The Railroad Boom Years
For many years, people in Cammal mostly farmed to feed themselves and their families. But things changed a lot when railroads arrived in the late 1800s. A post office opened in the village in 1884.
The New York Central Railroad built a main line through the Pine Creek Gorge. By the 1890s, three smaller logging railroads connected to this main line at Cammal. These were the Trout Run Railroad, the Cammal and Black Forest Railroad, and the Oregon and Texas Railway.
During these busy years, Cammal was a lively place! It had stores, four hotels with places to eat and drink, and four churches. There was also a meeting hall for a group called the International Order of Odd Fellows, which sometimes also served as a church. The village even had its own weekly newspaper, called the Pine Creek Pioneer. Local businesses included a sawmill that cut down hemlock trees and other companies that processed wood.
Changes and New Beginnings
Around 1905, the supply of local timber started to run out. Because of this, the sawmill and other wood-related businesses had to close. Many residents left Cammal to find work elsewhere.
However, those who stayed found new ways to make a living. For example, they grew and sold a plant called ginseng to buyers from Philadelphia until about 1940. They also started providing services to tourists and people who came to hunt and fish. Some residents found jobs working for the railroad or for state departments that managed forests or highways.
Cammal Today
The post office in Cammal closed in 2002. Even so, Cammal still has a few businesses today. You can find a restaurant, a campground for visitors, and a community center. This community center is located in the building that used to be the Odd Fellows hall.
