The Hermit of Hellam Hills: The search for Strong's Park, Joel Strong's 19th Century Home.
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- Legends say that a Hermit lived in a secluded forest in Hellam township after the Civil War. But is this story true? The hermit, Joel Strong allegedly turned his home into a park known throughout Pennsylvania as Strong's Park. Visitors stated that Strong lived in a cave on the property. After Strong's death in 1905 , records show that the Hellam Post Master John Gable purchased the property to turn it into a reservoir but did that ever happen?
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OH... I feel the PAIN of that research. And you sent TED onto an NEW adventure for his life... you KNOW he is gonna excavate that cave! Anyone who reads this comment, know that this was NOT a 5 minute or even 5 day research project. RIH had to spend weeks to get this much data and actually find this location. This is what makes a great video and a great HISTORY. Epic job RIH. LOVED the video.
Thanks a lot Scott! That was a lot of research but I definitely loved every minute of it.
Another historically fascinating coverage of the area I live in. When the pic of Katie Stoner showed up near the end, I had to walk across the road and take my own pic of her tombstone. Yes, I live directly across the road from the house in the background! I now know a part of her historical part in the saga of the Hellam Hills Hermit! Thank you once again!
Thank you! That's crazy you live right there. So much fascinating history in the Hellam area.
Just stumbled down the RabbetHole of UA-cam tonight...and find all this Local Stuff very interesting, and video editing and production is very well done, in my humble opinion. 👏 I live in Cumberland County.
Anyways, keep on keeping on brother 🤙 (and hello from up North to the guy across the street!)🙋♂️
Thank you Sir, I appreciate the support.
@@runningintohistorythis is my landlords property. No one is supposed to be here, not even the man in the video.
@user-nk3ht2dm4y you might want to tell your "Landlord" to remove him and his wife from the property record if they think they own it. According to York County, it is their property.
Quite fascinating Barry! Thanks!
Thanks Keith!
Another amazing video! Have you ever seen the giant mansion that sits on top of Roundtop Ln
in Wrightsville?
Thank you! I have been up there. Really nice place with an indoor pool that overlooks the entire river valley. I would definitely like to do a video on the history of that place eventually.
This is why I love youtube is because of comments like this. Have you ever seen the big mansion that sits on top of the huge hill in East Freedom right next to the walmart? That seems like a strange location and how there is only one house up there seems strange to me
I am a Lancaster county resident and found this very interesting! Thank you for all the work you put into shedding light on our local history.
Thank you! It's great to see others from the area interested in local history.
You did quite well finding people who knew some things. Very exciting!
Thank you!
My in-laws owned this property & it looked a lot different before the flooding in 2018.
Definitely an interesting location hidden away in York County.
This is so fascinating, good luck hunting for more info I look forward to seeing how this ends!
Thank you Louis!
Your videos are so fascinating.
Thank you!
I live about a 45 minute drive, just north from York PA and just happened to stumble upon your channel through the "UA-camShorts"
You have a new subscriber and I look forward to watching this video in full. 👍 (like right now)
I can't believe how extensive the ruins are!
I know man! It's so interesting back there.
I have lived in Hellam for 48 years… 3 different houses - all within yelling distance from this very spot! Thanks for the research - very interesting.
It's crazy how hidden this place and story is.
I'm 53 and lived in Hellam Township all of my life. I currently live by the 7 gates of hell. I just drove it the other day to avoid traffic along Druck Valley rd. York Water Company is bringing water up to our rural area.
I have never heard of this Hellam Hermit story before. So this is very fascinating to learn.
@@Archivist1971 it is definitely fascinating hidden history. There is a lot of hidden stories like this in Hellam. Stay tuned for more Hellam specific stories this year.
@@runningintohistory Awesome. I I look forward to your videos
I haven't watched the whole video but I'm glad someone mentioned the 7 gates of hell. The fact that someone built these gates or started this rumor about this area is extremely interesting. It almost seems to me like the intention by starting that rumor/legend is to keep people away from this area. It reminds me of this guy named Robert Shrewsbury. He said that skinwalker ranch is actually like a security system/scarecrow to keep people from discovering the underground tunnels in that area. This place in Pennsylvania feels similar to that
@CosmicNomad93 Yep the whole thing of the 7 gates was to try and keep people away. But did the exact opposite.
Very Cool
You need to go back in fall or winter
When the leaves are gone.
Thanks Chad. I was thinking the same thing.
Good video
Thank you Naomi!
Looks like your getting a lot of new subs, this is awesome and im gonna tell everyone around here about your channel.
Thanks a lot. I appreciate the support.
Excellent part of local Pa.history.Would love to see pt 2 the ongoing quest of Strongs Park.Theres much more history there for the taking and would complete some of the sources already known by historical sources. We to have a park not far away that holds stories of water locks and old villages.Swatara state park in Indiantown Gap😊
Thank you. I definitely want to find that cave. Also, I love Swatara State Park. Actually did a video about it and the cabin earlier in my feed.
I live in york PA😧
Interesting!
I’m guessing you’re from the York County area? I am as well, although not born here, kinda raised here. Anyway I’m an historian/living historian/reenactor. I know the history here a decent amount, all be it mostly 19th century. My mother’s side of the family has deep ties to the founding of many parts of York and Lancaster counties. Heck her side is related to the Blymire’s, if you’re from the area you know who that is. Would like to connect with you if possible. Be glad to help you with the history of the area, even find cool stuff. Anyway I could help I would love to, it’s the historian in me. Also, is your name Barry? That’s my real name too.
Hello! Yes definitely reach out to me. I have been trying to find a few living historians and re-enactors for a few stories in the area. If you get a chance email me or connect with me on Facebook. Runningintohistory@outlook.com
I wonder exactly where this Burial Ground is? I live along Druck Valley Rd
@@Archivist1971 it's behind the Brookhaven trailer park. Unfortunately, on private property and I haven't been able to make contact with the owner to gain access.
@@runningintohistory I live in the Vrookhaven trailer park. There is a farm behind us and a dirt road leading back to it off of Range rd. That's cool to know
awesome video. I can't prove it but I think there were previous civilizations that lived in America, and I think some type of a cataclysm berried them. Search youtube for a guy named Robert Shrewsbury. He said that at foothills at the base of mountains are the best to place to find burial tombs. You should make a video about burnt cabins PA. The history of that place seems very strange. I wonder if there were any other places where settlers had to burn their cabins for setting on Indian land? There is also a mountain near that place called pyramid point. Look at the old post cards for that place. Very telling if you ask me
Interesting. Definitely keep the ideas coming.
@@runningintohistory I believe that Hollidaysburg Veterans home was an important site for a previous civilization. Valley View also seems suspect to me. Have ever heard of Nella beach? This is a subject that interests me greatly
@CosmicNomad93 I haven't but I will look it it.
@@runningintohistory search for Nela Beach Altoona PA or it might not come up. I believe they used water to cover significant areas up. You see this at Lakemont, Canoe Creek, Raystown, Ivy side pool at Penn State Altoona. It was also popular to have air strips near these locations such as we see in Tipton and Duncansville
@@runningintohistory if you're ever bored search for Montana Megaliths
My friend lives on freysvill rd and we’re on the same bus so I see that house on freysvill rd
I am renovating the old stable for the hotel in hellam. The york Valley cheese company
Oh nice! Right behind the old Post Office.
Wanna be a hermit
Touch of Italy is good! I've eaten there plenty; never knew it was the original post office. Thx!
I was surprised when I saw that too.