HUGHESVILLE — According to Melanie Norton, a noted historian from the Sullivan County Historical Society, the construction of Route 220 was under the guidance of Gifford Pinchot who was appointed head of the Division of Forestry in 1898. Pinchot was a famous conservationist and an avid forester most of his adult life which ended in1946 at the age of 81. In 1920, he became head of the Pennsylvania Forestry Division and in 1922 Pinchot became governor of Pennsylvania. He served for two terms.

The forestry industry began in the 1800’s and was most prevalent in north central Pennsylvania, especially Sullivan County. Norton described how an entire mountainside would be used for its timber, especially hemlock which was used for making tannic acid from the bark. It was shipped to tanneries to make leather goods.

In the long run, Gifford wanted to save the forests and protect their long term health for conservation and recreation. “He began creating the National Parks system and expanded the entire forestry department,” Norton explained.

Route 220 was originally built to accommodate traffic coming in and out of Pennsylvania. It was thought of in 1891 and proposed as a highway in 1926 along with the rest of the National Highway System. In 1911 Route 220 was a planned highway system “to get the farmer out of the mud.” It became known as the “Yellow Brick Road” of rural counties.

It travels a total of 248 miles through Pennsylvania from the Maryland border in southern Cumberland County to South Waverly in northern Bradford County. Brick was first laid for the horses before the road became all concrete. The paved road became a benefit for rural farmers. “The steam power helped build it,” said Norton. “And the speed of the combustible engines completed its spread.”

In 1928 there was a big celebration in Dushore for the completion of the northern section of Rt. 220. “This was a huge stride in transportation and the economy,” Norton added.

Citizens wanted Rt. 220 to be scenic, but also straighter so a map was drawn in 1921. Traveling through a mix of woodland and farmland, the entire route was officially opened in 1928.

Today the nearby Route 220 reaches Hughesville where it intersects with Route PA 405 and continues past Picture Rocks leading northeast into Sullivan County where it intersects with PA 42. In Dushore it splits east and continues to Bradford County. It bypasses Towanda and eventually enters into South Waverly. The Pennsylvania Department of Forestry is now part of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. They are responsible for over 2 million acres of state forest land.

The history program was well attended and presented on June 19th at Lime Bluff Park which is part of the East Lycoming Recreation Authority.