Central Oak Heights facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Oak Heights, Pennsylvania, USA |
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 Central Oak Heights, Pennsylvania, USA
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Kelly Township, Union County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city | Milton, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 55 acres (0.22 km2) |
| Established | 1909 |
| Governing body | Central Oak Heights Cottage Holders formerly owned by the United Methodist Church |
Central Oak Heights is a special community in Kelly Township, Union County, Pennsylvania, USA. It's a place where people own small homes called cottages on 45 acres of wooded land. It started in 1909 as a religious campground and retreat.
The land was first owned by a church group called the Bible Conference Society of Central Pennsylvania. Over the years, ownership changed as different churches merged. In 1990, a new group called the Central Oak Heights Association took over. Even though it's no longer officially linked to a church, many cottage owners are still part of the United Methodist Church.
Central Oak Heights is usually open from late May (around Memorial Day) to early September (after Labor Day). However, the official season runs from April 15 to October 15. Most cottages are privately owned and used by families during the summer. You can also rent some cottages and rustic cabins.
Other buildings available for rent include the Shaffer Building, which is like a large dormitory. There's also a dining hall, an open-air church called The Tabernacle, and a small chapel in the woods called Sylvan Chapel. The community also has a swimming pool and two picnic pavilions for everyone to enjoy.
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The Story of Central Oak Heights
The Bible Conference Society of Central Pennsylvania started in 1894. This group of Evangelicals wanted to hold summer camp meetings or bible conferences. They held their first meeting near Lock Haven in 1894.
They really wanted a place called Miller's Grove, but they couldn't buy it until 1907. Before that, they held meetings in different places in the Susquehanna Valley.
The Land and the Trees
Central Oak Heights sits on a small hill overlooking the West Branch Susquehanna River. It's across the river from Milton. Long ago, this hill was home to a small group of Shawnee people. Their leader was Shikellamy of the Iroquois.
The land was later bought from the Native Americans. Josh Hoffman was the first white person to own the land in 1770. When the Evangelicals bought the land, it belonged to George Miller. He loved the old oak trees on his hill. One rule of the sale was that these oak trees had to stay. The Evangelicals paid $4,816.35 for the hilltop. They agreed to protect the oak trees and finally had a permanent home for their summer meetings.
Buildings and Fun
The first camp meetings at Central Oak Heights happened in the summer of 1909. As many as 6,000 people came to the hilltop! They arrived by train or in horse-drawn wagons. Some stayed in tents, while others started building the cottages you see today.
The first buildings included the octagonal (eight-sided) outdoor church, The Tabernacle, a cottage, and a dormitory. More and more cottages were built over the years. The founders also built a summer camp on the southern side of the hill. This camp, which closed in the 1980s, was for young people from across the United States.
Before a swimming pool was built, people swam in the river. The pool was built because it was safer than crossing train tracks and a busy road to get to the river. This pool was used by both the summer campers and the families in the cottages. A large dining hall was built in the 1950s. It was even moved a few hundred feet in the 1960s to save it from being torn down for a road expansion. Sylvan Chapel, a small church deep in the woods, was also built around this time.
Central Oak Heights Today
Central Oak Heights is a bit different now than it was in the early days. Most cottage owners are retired. They come in the summers with their families to enjoy the cool, shady temperatures under the trees.
The big revival meetings are no longer held, but Sunday worship services still happen in the original Tabernacle. The summer camp from the 1980s is now history. The cabins are still there; some are rented to families or youth groups. The swimming pool, dining hall, and pavilions are also rented out and used often by the cottage families.
In the summer of 2009, Central Oak Heights celebrated its 100th anniversary. Many fun events took place, including guided tours, concerts, open houses, picnics, and even rides in antique cars.
