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something to drink, then signal the owner of the White Ball Tavern on the ridge overlooking the road to saddle another horse for the rider. "Refreshed, the rider would pass through Newport, then cross the Juniata River at Reider's Ferry and be on his way," said Ranney. "is system helped maintain communications between Washington, D.C., and Fort Niagara during a critical time in our history. " e tavern closed in 1841 and is currently managed by the Historical Society of Perry County. yeAr rouND Leaving Blue Ball Tavern, follow the signs to Shoaff 's Mill. As you walk up to the mill from the parking lot, enjoy a stroll through Clay's Bridge, a burr arch-style covered bridge. Built in 1890, the bridge was moved to its current site in 1971. When the Juniata Furnace Iron Works closed in 1848, William Shoaff bought 63 acres, which included a mid- 1830s gristmill and a log cabin. e commonwealth purchased the mill in 1966 and renovated it in 1976 for grinding cracked corn and apples. Once you leave the mill, follow Route 34 into the borough of New Bloomfield. At the square, take a moment to observe the historic Perry County Court House. Built in 1826, it's the oldest continually used courthouse in Pennsylvania. In the middle of the square, the Soldiers and Sailors Statue dates back to 1898 and honors Perry County citizens who lost their lives in war. It's only a mile from New Bloomfield along Route 274 East to Huckleberry Road and the Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area. Gene Odato, the district forester at the Tuscarora State Forest, has responsibility for the site. "is 10 acres is Pennsylvania's smallest state-designated natural area," Odato said. "e specimens of box huckleberry here have been estimated, based on their observed rate of growth and clonal reproduction, to be between 1,200 to 1,300 years old." A nature trail winds throughout the box huckleberry plants. Because the plant is an evergreen, keeping its leaves in the winter, this natural area attracts visitors year round. After your visit, continue on Route 274 East into the borough of Duncannon and follow Market Street into town. On the town square, you'll pass the Doyle Hotel, famous among hikers on the Appalachian Trail as a great place to stop for a meal to celebrate reaching the mid-point of the trail. ICe CreAM & ArCheoLogy If the mood strikes you, consider stopping for a treat at the 3B Ice Cream shop. en you can walk across the street to the Clark's Ferry Tavern and check out the archeology dig, which is open to the public most Sunday afternoons. "e Clark's Ferry Tavern, the oldest building in Duncannon, was originally built in 1788," Hocker explained. "It served as a docking point for the ferry crossing the Susquehanna River and a stage stop on the first road westward. During the Civil War, it was known as the Topley Hotel and served as a mustering point for men of Company B of the famed Pennsylvania Bucktails." Round out your trip with a stop at the Old Sled Works. In 1904, the production of Lightning Guider sleds opened in this two-block-long factory building. For nearly 85 years, millions of sleds and other wood products were built here and shipped throughout the United States. At one point, the factory had become the largest sled production facility in the country. "My dad bought what was then called the Standard Novelty Works in 1968, and it continued to operate as such until the fall of 1990," said owner Jimmy Rosen. "I was only 26 when my dad turned the sled works over to me. I could hardly wait to begin refurbishing the building to make it sparkle like so many of the others I'd seen." Today, more than 120 vendors pack the Old Sled Works to sell a wide range of antiques and crafts. To add to the old-timey atmosphere, Rosen has styled the building so families can amuse themselves at the penny arcade and buy a milkshake at a real soda fountain. ere's even a sled museum inside. I hope you enjoy your tour. For those of you looking for more information on the history of Perry County, check out www.perryheritage.com. Dennis Hocker has written 12 books on the history of Perry County. I think you'll find them informative and fun to read. Don Helin published his first thriller, " y Kingdom Come," in 2009. His recently published novel, "Devil 's Den," has been selected as a finalist in the Indie Book Awards. His latest thriller, "Secret Assault," was published in November. Contact Don on his website, www.donhelin.com. geTTINg There e Red Rabbit Drive-In is located on Route 322 one-half mile west of the Clark's Ferry Bridge and one-quarter mile east of Route 11/15. e hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit www.redrabbitdrivein.com. Juniata Junction and the Canal Lock. Take the Amity Hall exit off Route 322 then turn left at the bottom of the hill and park at the River Road sign. Walk about 300 yards up the southbound exit ramp (to the right of, and along, the PennDOT yard) until the ramp bends to the left. e trail will be to the right, across from the smallest PennDOT building. When you reach the bottom of a short hill, you will be in the canal itself. If you look to your right, you'll see what is left of the canal, which headed north along what is now Route 11/15. ere was a bridge across the northbound canal for the mules to turn the boats destined to enter the Juniata River branch of the canal and go west. As you walk straight ahead, you'll see the towpath at the top of the berm to your right for the mules that pulled the canal boat toward the lock. In about 800 yards, you'll reach the Juniata Junction Lock. Notice the cut stone sides of the lock, which have weathered almost 200 years. Blue Ball Tavern Museum is located at 59 State Park Rd., directly across from the Little Buffalo State Park offices. e site is open Sundays during the summer, 1 to 4 p.m. Shoaff 's Mill is located at 1579 State Park Rd., one-half mile up the road from the Blue Ball Tavern. is 19th-century mill still runs on the 103-year-old, 32-foot waterwheel. It's open Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. from May to the third weekend in October. For information about tours, call 717-567-9255. Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area is one-half mile along Huckleberry Road from Route 274. When you see the sign for Arbutus Lane, pull over and stop along the side of the road. e site is on the left, up the hill. For more information, call the Tuscarora Forest District Headquarters at 717-536-3191 or email nrfd03@pa.gov. e Old Sled Works is located at 722 N. Market St. in Duncannon and is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go to www.sledworks.com or call 717-834-9333.

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