Rothrock State Forest

About Rothrock State Forest

In 1895, Dr. Rothrock was appointed the first Forest Commissioner to lead the newly established Mifflin County Forestry Commission. Over the years, the department's current forestry department has grown into one of the largest and most respected forestry authorities in the country. The Roth Rock State Forest, recognized as the father of forestry in Pennsylvania, is named after former Miffslin County Commissioner John R. "Rothrock," who is recognized as the father of forestry throughout Pennsylvania.

There is a Forestry Academy that trains public service foresters, and the Corps of Engineers operates the Mifflin County Forest Service Forestry Training Center in the Roth Rock State Forest, which provides training in forest management, forestry, and environmental management. The Corps operates a forestry service office in Pennsylvania under the auspices of the federal government, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey, and other federal agencies.

In the southern part of the Rothrock State Forest, bordering Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, you can enjoy the scenic beauty of Raystown Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Pennsylvania. Built in the mid-1970s for $76 million, the lake controls 960 square miles of drainage and provides flood protection downstream through controlled water release. There are no dams, but a dam that sits at the eastern end of a 1.5-meter bridge over the river that forms Raytown Lake.

The furnace was used to smelter iron ore, which was an important industry in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 19th centuries. When the two Greenwood Furnace fireplaces were closed in 1903, Dr. Rothrockbeed bought the Forestry Bureau, and the woodland now known as Roth Rock was cleared of trees to supply the wood.

The original land purchase was designated as a state forest reserve and divided into three separate reserves. Further purchases followed, with the state taking over most of the forest area in the Siebengebirge.

Penn State Forest, based in Milroy, became the first state forest sanctuary in Pennsylvania and the second state park in Pennsylvania. The other two state forests, the Logan State Forest, based in Petersburg, were to be called "Logan State Forests" or "Petersburg State Park" (or Logan Park).
Forestry of Mount Union, Entriken referred to the Rothrock State Forest as the "Mount Union Forestry" office of the Pennsylvania Secretary of State, in his Mount Union office.

When he became governor of Pennsylvania in 1923, he was instrumental in elevating the state's fledgling Forest Administration to full ministerial status. The Logan-Penn and Rothrock forests remained separate entities until they became part of the Bald Eagle Forest District in 1953. When the newly aligned State Forest Roth-Felsen was brought back into harmony with the district administration, the remaining forests became their own territory. In 1954, the new Forestry and Water Authority received its first full-time employees, building on Entriken's previous work at the Mount Union Forestry Authority.

Forest fires were a major problem in Rothrock in the 1950s, but the frequency and size of fires was steadily declining. Fire safety training was paid for and visitors were prevented from climbing the tower due to liability issues.

In 1933, newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor Roosevelt founded the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) of the US Department of Labor. During the Great Depression, 93 labour camps were set up in the United States, most of them in New York and New Jersey. There were six camps in what is now the Rothrock State Forest, where a total of 1,000 people lived.

State Forestry officials planned and supervised the work for the CCC, including the construction of a tent camp, fire station, office, school and other activities. In early 1942, the CCC camp in Rothrock was closed by the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) and the New York Department of Labor.

The next significant development in Rothrock was in 1955, when the entire state forest system in Pennsylvania was placed under a scientific timber management plan. Timber management became very important in the state, as the forests became large enough to be used for harvesting. The Huntingdon Forestry crew has been increased from four to eight, and a fire station, office, school and school building have been added.

The scope of the timber management plan has been revised to cover all functions of forest resources, including timber harvesting, forest management and forest resource management such as water quality, water supply, fire protection and wildlife.

Leisure time is becoming more and more important as more citizens take advantage of the outdoor opportunities and the Rothrock State Forest is truly a living forest. We are proud to provide recreational opportunities for thousands of visitors while making a significant contribution to Pennsylvania's economy through our high quality timber production. Visitors are encouraged to use the forest and its facilities, to respect, learn and comply with state forest regulations and regulations.