Huntingdon County is blessed with some terrific public art.
Train Trestles at Portstown Park, Huntingdon, PA
Public Art: Railroad Trestles at Portstown Park, Huntingdon, PA
In 2003 Matt D’Alberto created a series of murals on the abandoned railroad trestles at Portstown Park. He was aided by public school history day activities by 3rd and 4th grade students of Standing Stone Elementary School. The students signed the rainbow pillars to add to the art.
Public Art: Another view of the Railroad Trestles at Portstown Park, Huntingdon, PA
This art project was the first collaborative art project of the Huntingdon Borough and the Huntingdon County Arts Council.
Portstown Park commemorates its namesake Huntingdon neighborhood that met its demise in the flood of 1972. This former working class neighborhood was at the intersection of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain Railroad (H&BT). Today Norfolk Southern owns the main railroad tracks for both commercial and passenger service to Pittsburgh and New York.
The abandoned railroad trestles pay homage to the former H&BT Railroad whose service area roughly paralleled Route 26 South.
3rd & 4th grade students of Standing Stone Elementary School added their touch to the public art project.
Portstown Park has a 1/8 mile walkway with markers identifying tree species, a skate park, fishing deck, rain garden, playground, bocce ball court, and a pavilion. The park is home to the Farmers Market open on Thursday in spring through fall. The pavilion is available for event rental from the borough.
Iron Sculpture, Orbisonia, PA
Celebrating the history of the region, the Iron Sculpture salutes the southern Huntingdon area.
As you are traveling north on US Route 522, just before you enter the town of Orbisonia, this gateway Iron sculpture sits on the righthand side of the road.
Created by Massachusetts based artist Dale Rogers and installed in 2011, the Iron sculpture represents the prominence of the iron industry in the region for many years and had significance influence in the history of the region. In fact, the famous narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad was built to take coal from area mines to local iron furnaces.
Then state representative Mike Fleck was instrumental in securing the funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development to make this project happen.
