GREENCASTLE HISTORICAL SITE RECEIVES $207K FOR TRAILS, KIOSKS

GREENCASTLE, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has committed to investing $207,000 toward purchasing land for trails and educational kiosks around the Ebbert Spring Archaeological Preserve.

The grant to The Archaeological Conservancy was among $45 million announced Friday by department Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn for 261 projects across Pennsylvania, according to a department news release.

“The idea behind the park and interpretive trail system there is that it will let people get out to exercise, explore and learn about the community they live in,” said Andy Stout, Eastern regional director of the nonprofit organization.

The Archaeological Conservancy plans to use its grant as payment toward acquiring land. Antrim Township is a partner in the purchase, which is expected to occur in mid-2017.

Stout, an anthropologist and native of Greencastle, said the Allison-Antrim Museum will lease structures on the 12-acre property from the conservancy.

Ebbert Spring, off U.S. 11, provides water to Greencastle-area residents through the public-water system.

It was temporarily cut off when the Greencastle Area Water Authority opened a treatment plant 2 miles away, but officials started reusing the fourth spring on their system in 1999 after a drought.

The conservancy obtained 3.4 acres of the archaeological site in 2010 to explore its role in the French & Indian War.

Historians believe the property has the only standing structure in Greencastle built by the town’s founding family, plus they said it was used by Native Americans living in the region.

A total of 1,000 artifacts that archaeologists found on the land, including pottery and stone tools, are housed in the Allison-Antrim Museum.

The conservancy is planning for 12 acres of trails and signage to tell the story of the community’s history from Paleo-Indian times to today.

Stout said the steering committee will work with Greencastle-Antrim School District to develop kiosks that tie into classroom curriculum.

The Archaeological Conservancy has partnered with the Bonnell family, Antrim Township, the museum, developers of the Antrim Commons Business Park and others to bring the project to fruition.

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