In 1957, Half-Way Dam in Hartley Township, Union County, was renamed for Huntersville native Raymond B Winter. The forester spent 45-years with the Pennsylvania Department of Forestry and Waters where his distinguished service earned him the honor of having his name affixed to a Union County State Park.

HUNTERSVILLE – The name of the late Raymond Burrows Winter, a Huntersville area native, was given to a State Park in Hartley Township, Union County, Pa. Formerly known as Half-Way Dam State Park, the site 17 miles west of Lewisburg by way of Route 192, is currently known as R. B. Winter State Park.

The park’s website reveals a description of the park and 40 of Mr. Winter’s 85 years. However, it does not list any information as to Winter’s nativity or final resting place in our East Lycoming area.

Raymond was born near Huntersville, Mill Creek Township, Lycoming County, PA, December 20, 1881. He was the son of Jacob and Alma “Amanda” Burrows, his mother a Muncy native, the daughter of canal boatman John Burrows and wife Margaret.

Due to the family residence near Huntersville, it is likely Raymond attended a nearby one-room school with siblings Clyde, Chauncy, Jacob ‘Randall’ Winter and Mabel, later Mrs. Ransom Plotts.

In 1906, Raymond graduated from Muncy Normal School then entered Mont Alto State Forestry School earning a Bachelor of Science degree graduating in 1910. Mont Alto, the first public forestry academy, was founded in 1903 as a part of what is now Penn State University.

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Immediately employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Forestry and Waters, he was assigned to White Deer Park until 1920 when sent to Bald Eagle State Park. Within this time period, Raymond was a part of the student army reserves at Bucknell University, Lewisburg. He enlisted and was inducted October 10, 1918, at Harrisburg, with the rank of Private serving only six weeks due to the ending of WWI.

In 1930 his residence was Mifflinburg as a border with the family of S. M. and Annie Roadarmel and their son Ralph. Our subject’s occupation went from forester to district forester assigned to Halfway Dam State Park, now the park of his name.

The park encompasses 695 acres, established in 1933 after improvements were made by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps stationed there. An interesting note in the 1940 census concerning his occupation, recorded he worked 35 weeks with a total yearly wage of $1,585.

Remaining unmarried until 1941, at age 58, Raymond wed Ethel Rippel at McKeesport, PA. At about that time, Raymond was required to register for WWII, his draft card revealing a missing thumb on his right hand, and on his left a missing fourth finger. No information was available as to the cause of amputations.

After a 45 year career with the department, Raymond retired in 1955 as District Forester. Two years later, on May 23, 1957, he was honored when the state legislature renamed the park in Winter’s honor due to his foresight and work in it’s development.

The couple residedIn retirement, Raymond spent his spare time building a cabin on one of his woodland properties in the Mifflinburg area. At the time, his wife was teaching in Mifflinburg, having taught one year in Hughesville.

The conservationist died October 20, 1968, at Williamsport Hospital and was interred in Webster Cemetery with the funeral held in the adjoining church of his youth, Huntersville United Methodist Church.

According to Paul Burkhart, current overseer of the forenamed cemetery and a church member, the Jacob Webster families were considered ‘pillars of the church,’ as revealed on a window in the sanctuary having the names of Raymond’s parents, Jacob and Amanda Winter.

PARK BOARD RECENTLY FORMED

Friends of RB Winter State Park is a volunteer group which officially began meeting in May 2021, and will promote the park and educate visitors. The group will be a great set of eyes seeing things needing done, making it’s members more than just visitors.

Michael Crowley, park manager, is grateful to the volunteer friends group, officers Jack Miller and Gary Kendall, part of the 25 member park group. An upcoming workday schedule will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 20 with a litter pickup along Route 192, a stretch adopted by the group. Future projects will be adding a pedestrian walkway and benches along a nature trail.

Residents in our area who are relatives or friends who wish to honor Mr. Winter, or just want to work in the wilds, are encouraged to join the group by going online at www.friend-sofrbwinter.org.