\\ V'' w \, «'
Old Things Put To Good Use At Juniata
Juniata Crossings as viewed from the river is the entrance to the gift shop.
Picket fence, old posts, and an antique jelly cupboard
make up this display.
An old hutch used for display adds to the charm of the
shop.
Lancaster v
LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
EVERETT (Bedford Co.)
Kenny and Paula Clingerman
have combined their talents to
turn a historic old building into a
picturesque gift shop.
The Clingermans are the own
ers of Juniata Crossings, a build
ing oozing with charm and dat
ing from the early 1800 s. If the
grounds could talk, the Crossings
would tell of early settlers in con
stant peril from savage foes and
victims of the tomahawk. The
packhorse trail on the property
was first established by Indians
and was one of the earliest east
west routes traveled by white
men.
The first building on the prem
ises was a small stockade known
as the Block House and built as a
defense against Indians in the
summer of 1758. That same year,
the old Military State Road was
completed by General Forbes to
allow easier movement of troops,
wagons and military supplies and
was later the principal thorough
fare until the Pittsburgh/
Philadelphia turnpike was built.
Juniata Crossings as it now
stands was built around 1842 by
George Householder. It was
bought by George McGraw and
quickly renamed McGraw’s Tav
ern. The property included small
fields where traveling cattle,
horses, sheep and turkeys could
rest for a few days before going
on the long trip to eastern mar
kets.
Around 1882, Juniata Cross
ings became the property of Sam
uel and Sarah McGraw who
called it Sun Hotel.
The first bridge, a one-lane
chain link type, was severely
damaged by the Johnstown
Flood in 1889. At that time, it
was made into a double-lane cov
ered bridge, one of the most
unique in Pennsylvania. The sec
ond Johnstown flood in 1936 de
molished the bridge and it was
never rebuilt.
According to some people, the
property is said to be haunted. A
former owner, Huston Neptune,
said a man from Breezewood told
him he spent a summer night at
the Crossings when the tempera
ture was more than 100 degrees
and he would have frozen to
death if he had not used three
woolen blankets.
Another story states the ghost
of a golden horse supposedly
trots across the covered bridge
searching for its rider who had
been killed by bandits.
To date, the Clingermans have
not encountered any of the
ghosts.
Kenny, an excavator with car
pentry and building skills has put
the building into beautiful condi
tion.
Paula says her whole family
has helped with inside renova-
The porch creates the setting. These feed bins display
colorful items.
Dried flowers hang from an antique window frame.
Crossings
tions including finding old family
relics to be reincarnated and used
in displays throughout the shop.
“We have taken anything any
one offered and put it to good
use,” Paula laughs.
Kenny used old lumber to
build a house within a house in
the main shop and filled it full of
Americana. An antique store
counter from Vermont has be
come the checkout counter.
Old windows from a sun porch
form a jewelry cabinet. Old posts
and pieces of picket fence all add
to the ambience.
Feed bins display colorful
items on the porch.
The back of the building is the
entrance. Prior to the new road,
the back was once the front. A
path leads to the picturesque Ju
niata River overlook where the
double-lane covered bridge once
crossed the river.
The Clingermans plan to do a
number of things with the old
building where the floors still sag
and the wooden door stoops are
well worn. Occasionally, Paula
hosts a tea for special events such
as Mother’s Day, Christmas or
just to welcome spring.