Hastings can be explored through two distinct routes: Brubaker Creek, which flows through the town today, and the Hastings Outback Nature and Recreational Trail, which follows a former railroad bed. The history of coal mining also shapes how visitors can understand transportation and work. When planning a trip, you can choose between a specific route and historical themes.
Trail Route and Watercourse
The Hastings Outback Nature and Recreational Trail was established in 2001 and is a public recreational facility. It follows the former railroad bed from Station Street in Hastings to Pine Street in Elder Township. The two endpoints provide a clear geographic orientation: the trail leads from a street in Hastings to a named destination in Elder Township. So the trail is not just a recreational amenity; it also offers an opportunity to learn about the former use of a railroad bed.
Brubaker Creek offers a different way to get oriented. It rises in the southwestern part of Elder Township, is a tributary of Chest Creek, and flows through present-day Hastings. Its description thus connects its source area in Elder Township with its course through Hastings. Along with the railroad bed, the creek shows a second geographic feature that helps place the town: a stream on one hand and a railroad bed that is now part of a recreational trail on the other.
Coal Transportation and Local History
Hastings’ railroad history is closely tied to coal transportation. The Pennsylvania Railroad was extended from LaJose to Hastings to transport coal to markets. In July 1888, the Chest Creek Coal and Coke Company shipped its first load of coal from Hastings. These two details illuminate different aspects of the subject: the railroad extension explains its transportation purpose, while the dated shipment records a specific event in the town’s coal trade.
This connection between transportation and industry is a notable historical theme in Hastings. It complements the present-day trail along a former railroad bed with the railroad’s former importance to coal transportation. These are two distinct aspects: the railroad bed as part of today’s trail, and the Pennsylvania Railroad as a connection extended to transport coal. Those interested in industrial history can therefore explore both a named route and a specific reason to learn about coal mining and transportation.
Chautauquas, 1924 to 1926
The Hastings UMWA District 2 Labor Chautauquas also give local history a clear timeframe: they took place from 1924 to 1926. The events featured nationally known speakers and educators, as well as local entertainers. Hastings recorded the series’ largest attendance in 1925. Their dates, participants, and attendance make the Chautauquas a distinct chapter in local labor and cultural history.
These dates help distinguish this chapter from the earlier history of coal and railroads. While coal shipments are associated with a single shipment in July 1888, the Chautauquas were a series of events held over several years. The highlighted figure for 1925 provides an additional point of reference within the series. Visitors who want to learn about Hastings primarily through its history can consider both industrial change and a later cultural event.
The Coal Industry in the Wider Area
The story of coal mining also extends to the wider region. As mining developed in the Hastings area, the Chest Creek Coal and Coke Company built coke ovens. The company’s coke product won an award for best coke at the 1893 World’s Fair. This regional context adds another dimension of the coal industry to the details directly connected to Hastings’ railroad and coal shipments.
There are several ways to approach planning your stay. The trail offers a specific route between Hastings and Elder Township; the railroad extension, coal shipments, and Chautauquas provide historical context for the town. Depending on whether you are more interested in a trail route or in industrial and cultural history, you can give these themes different levels of attention during your trip.
Discover more destinations: Northern Cambria, Ebensburg, Cresson, Carrolltown, Spring Hill, Loretto, Johnstown, South Fork.
For the full travel overview: Cambria County.
