This wagon is an original built by A.M. Grove during the early 1900 s. Mike Shay
guides the wagon while his brother Tom Shay pushes it.
Visit Village *Preserved In Time 9
To Track Railroads' Role
In American Heritage
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
MUDDY CREEK FORKS
(York Co.) “I want to preserve
a part of our past that few people
see. I feel it is important for our
generation to preserve history for
children,” said Dolores Krick,
president of Ma and Pa Railroad
Preservation Society.
Ma and Pa is the abbreviation
for the Maryland and Pennsylva
nia Railroad that ran from York
to Baltimore and stopped in
Muddy Creek Forks as often as
eight times a day. The railroad
brought goods and supplies to the
communities through which it
passed and took milk and pro
duce to the larger cities.
In Muddy Creek Forks, farm
ers bought wheat to the Roller
Mill to be ground into flour or to
Volunteers dress in period costumes during the annual
Railroad Heritage Day.
Lancaster
the grain elevator to be stored or
loaded on railroad cars. Some
produce was processed in the
local cannery and shipped out by
rail.
Railroads changed the land
scape of America. Almost over
night, villages sprang up at sta
tions stops that became the hub
of activity for surrounding com
munities. The railroads provided
transportation for people, freight,
and mail. Railroads provided em
ployment and a brighter future
for many financially struggling
families.
In the days before WalMart
and other superstores, residents
in the rural villages could receive
store items from York or Balti
more within a day by rail,
according to Krick.
But the popularity of rail
transportation dwindled when
cars, trucks, and later air travel
offered more convenience and
faster travel. Many railroad
towns became ghost towns al
most overnight during the transi
tion to air travel.
Muddy Creek Forks offers a
window of life as it was during
the railroads’ heyday.
“The preservation and renova
tion of the buildings and the im
provement of the tracks have
made it possible for people to
learn about rural York County in
1915,” Krick said of the historical
efforts that she and others who
recognize the historical signifi
cance railroads play in America’s
heritage.
On Saturday Sept. 28, Muddy
Creek Forks Village celebrates
Railroad Heritage Day from 10
a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tours of the 1894 wooden pas
senger car and caboose 2007 will
be offered. Motorcar rides will
depart from the station platform
every 40 minutes.
Visitors can tour the town,
which was once a bustling com
munity with a general store, rail
road station, post office, roller
mill and grain elevator.
The original 1900’s post office
housed inside the general store is
still intact. Even the unclaimed
mail remains in the postal boxes.
Volunteers dressed in period
costumes will provide a glimpse
into life as it was in 1900 even
the sending telegraph messages.
Slide shows, “A Journey in
Time,” and “The Ma & Pa De
bunking the Myths,” will be nar
rated on the hour in the store.
Unique artifacts from the rail
road station and from locomo
tives and historical photos will be
on display. Some artifacts and
photographs will be available for
bid at the silent auction to be
conducted on the second floor of
the store.
The event promises fun for the
whole family. In addition to the
many historical-related activities,
also available are special chil
dren’s activities with T.J. the
clown, and food available for
purchase.
Directions to Muddy Creek
Muddy Creek Forks offers free tours of its restored
general store and historical roller mill and grain elevator.
The original post office inside the general store is still
intact. Unclaimed mail from when the post office last op
erated is still in the boxes.
This isn’t a field tractor but a shramm used to replace
railroad ties.
Forks from Interstate 83: Take (Driving time from 183 is about
exit to State Route 851 at Shrew- 30 minutes),
sbury. Follow Rt. 851 east For more information, check
through Stewartstown to New out the Website www.mapaps.org
Park. Watch signs carefully. In for a virtual tour of the railroad
New Park when Rt. 851 bears town or call (717)927-6023.
right toward Delta, take the left On Sept. 28 and again on Oct.
fork to New Park Road and fol- 13 and Oct. 20, admission is free
low about six miles through Gat- to all exhibits. Train rides are $4
chellville to Muddy Creek Forks, for adults, $2 for children.