The Beauty Around Us

Emlenton, Foxburg and Marienville

By Linda G. on February 6, 2012

Leaving Freedom Falls we drove into the town of Emlenton, located less than 5 miles from the falls. We visited the Emlenton Antique Store, located inside the Emlenton Mill.

Built in 1875, the Emlenton Mill was one of the first steam powered grist mills in the United States. Later converted to gas and then electricity the Emlenton Mill was in operation for over 100 years. Today the Emlenton Mill houses Emlenton Mill Antiques and the Emlenton Creamery. The antique store was open; however, the creamery was closed for the season.While at Emlenton Mill Antiques we saw paintings and prints; Virginia Rose table settings; cups, saucers, and depression glass; old wooden toys and some furniture and crafts. We didn’t buy anything; however, I did look at the prices for the Virginia Rose table settings. I have a few Virginia Rose serving pieces that belonged to my mom. I have no plans to sell any of the serving pieces; however, it was interesting to see that some of the pieces were priced at $20+.

There is a bridge at Emlenton that is worth noting.

According to Wikipedia the I-80 Emlenton Bridge at 270 feet above the Allegheny River was the highest bridge in the Interstate Highway System when completed in 1968. This record was held until 1971 with the opening of the Fred G. Redmon Bridge near Selah, Washington. The Emlenton Bridge remains the highest road bridge in Pennsylvania. With an overall span of 1,668 feet, it was the largest bridge constructed as part of the Keystone Shortway project. With the completion of the Interstate System, it is likely that the Emlenton Bridge will remain the fourth highest bridge in the system for a significant time, behind the Glade Creek Bridge in West Virginia , the Pine Valley Creek Bridge in California, and the aforementioned Redmon Bridge.

Before beginning our drive back home we stopped at The Allegheny Grille in Foxburg. The Allegheny Grille is located on the banks of the Allegheny River. The waitress sat us at a table with an expansive view of the river. Our lunches were very filling. Bob ordered a Buffalo Chicken Salad of mixed greens, house made chicken tenders tossed with buffalo hot sauce, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, crumbled blue cheese and blue cheese dressing. I ordered a Big Grille Salad of mixed greens, red onion, hard boiled egg, cucumber, tomato, shredded mozzarella cheese and grilled chicken breast.

We made one more stop on our way home. In Marienville we stopped at The Bucktail Hotel, where we enjoyed pie for dessert. Bob ordered a chocolate peanut butter cream pie; I ordered a coconut cream pie. Both of our pies had meringue piled high and were delicious. We were there for only a short time but enjoyed our visit immensely. We had a very nice conversation with the proprietor, who identified the children in photographs that lined the wall near our table. What a lovely family she has! I think it is wonderful, too, that the entire family gets together at Christmastime and for the 4th of July!