In the late 18th century, western Pennsylvania was still an untamed wilderness. In order to stake a claim to land and begin a new life in Somerset County, westbound settlers first had to make an arduous journey across the steep Allegheny Mountains. Only a few crude roads built during the French and Indian War were available to the stouthearted travelers.
German farmer Adam Miller and his family braved the hardships of having little food, living in an icy, cramped log cabin and lacking warm, decent clothing and shoes for the opportunity to own land and build a more promising future.
         Miller, along with other early Somerset pioneers, farmed the fertile land. They raised sheep to produce yarn. Chickens provided them with eggs and cows supplied milk and butter. The men handcrafted their crude furniture without the advantage of iron tools. Their make-shift beds were made of straw. Because the days were long and hard, personal cleanliness was not a priority with the early pioneers.
         The harsh western Pennsylvania winters did offer one great advantage for the ingenious settlers -- an abundance of maple sap. Miller and the small community tapped nearby maple trees in the spring. Because the sap would quickly spoil, families labored around the clock, tending the fires to boil and preserve the sweet, precious liquid. In order to produce just one gallon of maple syrup, 50 gallons of sap was slowly boiled. Many families continued to boil the thick syrup until maple crystals formed, which could be stored longer than syrup. The Pennsylvania Germans also used their maple harvest to make a special treat. A candy called Spotza was made by pouring hot maple syrup onto cold snow. As the years passed, the community grew and farmers enjoyed many successful growing seasons. Crude structures were replaced by warm, more sophisticated cabins. Better tools and equipment were acquired and life in Somerset County became close to the paradise Adam Miller first envisioned when he packed up his young east-coast family and headed west.
         Adam Miller's log cabin has been restored and placed within the Somerset Historical Center. Visitors are welcome to tour Miller's home and experience first hand what life was like in the 18th century. A beautiful covered bridge will lead sightseers into a maple sugar camp. From the first settlers to the turn of the 20th century, the center weaves a fascinating tale of real life in Somerset County.

Page: 4