Hells Hollow Falls facts for kids
Hell's Hollow Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in McConnells Mill State Park near Portersville, Pennsylvania. This special area is known for its amazing nature, including many types of wildflowers and different natural homes for plants and animals.
One of the trails in Hell's Hollow leads you right to the pretty waterfall. You can also find one of the last old iron furnaces in the area here. The Lawrence Furnace was built around 1864. It was placed against a cliff to make it easier to load materials into it. Another furnace, the Wilroy Iron Furnace, built in 1854, is also nearby. It's one of the best-preserved furnaces in Western Pennsylvania.
Contents
Discovering McConnell's Mill State Park
McConnell's Mill State Park officially became a state park in October 1957. Later, in May 1974, it was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural place! The park is famous for its stunning views and the deep gorge carved by Slippery Rock Creek.
How the Gorge Was Formed
The amazing gorge was created tens of thousands of years ago by glaciers. A huge sheet of ice, called the Wisconsin Ice Sheet, blocked Muddy Creek and Slippery Rock Creek. This created a large lake system. As the ice melted, water from glacial Lake Arthur flowed into the Slippery Rock valley. The melting ice dam caused the water to cut a spectacular gorge. This gorge is about 122 meters (400 feet) deep! Large, house-sized sandstone boulders also slid down into the gorge. This process even changed how the water flowed, from going towards the St. Lawrence River to flowing into the Ohio River watershed.
The Historic Mill's Story
In 1868, Daniel Kennedy rebuilt his mill after a fire destroyed the original one. Thomas McConnell bought this mill in 1875. He made it even better by replacing the old water wheel with modern water turbines. He also swapped the grinding stones for rolling mills. This mill was one of the first rolling mills in the country. It processed corn, oats, and buckwheat for local farmers. The mill operated until 1928, when new technology and lower profits led to its closing. The McConnell family later gave the mill and the surrounding land to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. They wanted it to be saved for future generations to enjoy.
Explore Nearby Attractions
There are other cool spots to check out near Hell's Hollow Falls.
The Historic Covered Bridge
Inside the park, you'll find a historic covered bridge. This bridge belongs to Lawrence County. It's a Howe truss bridge, built in 1874. The main reason it's covered is to protect its inner parts from rotting and rusting. This helps to reduce how much maintenance it needs. It is one of only two covered bridges in the entire county.
Cleland Rock Scenic View
The Cleland Rock area offers an amazing view of the Slippery Rock Gorge. This scenic spot provides a unique look at the deep valley and its natural beauty.
Images for kids
-
McConnells Mill Covered Bridge from the inside.
