Often there was heard no comment, for in this silent cathedral of the Almighty, it was unuttered. Cook would comment, as he led the way into the silent ‘temple of the gods’, and then listen to the exclamations of astonishment that were sure to come from those who followed along the fern-bound path in this fairyland. "It was a beautiful day, August 21, 1910, that the writer with a few others were invited to a weekend house party at the A.W. The idea to make Cook Forest a public park originated on McCreight's first visit to the "Forest Cathedral" near the Clarion River in northwest central Pennsylvania. Once called the "Black Forest", the area is famous for its towering white pines and hemlocks. Cook Forest is the most important tract of virgin timberland to be found in Pennsylvania, and is without rival for size East of the Rockies. Major Israel McCreight of Du Bois, Pennsylvania, was author and steward of Cook Forest State Park, the first Pennsylvania State Park acquired to preserve a natural landmark, and a founder of the Pennsylvania Conservation Association. After Andrew's death, the business was managed under A. Cook family descendants still inhabit many of the homes along River Road. About 1870, he built the Cook Homestead (now a bed and breakfast) at the intersection of Route 36 and River Road. Andrew also served as a judge and local bank president. Andrew erected three sawmills, one flouring mill, one planing mill, a boat scaffold, several dwellings and a store. Andrew's industry expanded, and he built the original Cook Forest Inn for his woodsmen's living quarters. John's son Andrew bought 36 acres (15 ha) from his father, then gained the rest of his land when his father died in 1858. He worked his mills, logged with oxen, rafted logs to Pittsburgh and also engaged in flatboat building through the years. Īt the mouth of Tom's Run, now adjacent to the park office, John built his one-story cabin and the first of many water-driven sawmills. John purchased 765 acres (310 ha) and settled here with his wife and 10 children in 1828. He arrived in 1826 to determine the feasibility of building an east-to-west canal along the Clarion River for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. John Cook was the first permanent American settler.
DeMille and starring Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard. Seneca Rock is still named after the first inhabitants, and the Paramount Pictures' film " Unconquered" was shot here in 1946 by Cecil B. They used this area as a hunting grounds the land of Cook Forest was then purchased by the English. When European-Americans reached this part of Pennsylvania it was inhabited by the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.