If you hike the wildflower trail in Shenks Ferry, you will eventually spot this mysterious 12-foot tall stone pillar standing in the center of Grubb Run.
Before 1875, C.B. Grubb built a short narrow-gauge railroad track to transport iron ore from a nearby mine to an iron furnace. The hiking trail through Shenks Ferry follows the former rail line.
Remains of that railroad are still visible today in the form of two stone abutments, which were once part of a bridge. Nearby is the pictured 12-foot tall support pillar.
This structure may have cradled a 6-inch diameter cast iron pipe that transported oil or natural gas to Baltimore before 1900. If you peer closely at the top of the pillar, you will notice a cutout area that would have supported the pipe.
On the side opposite the trail, the cast iron pipe is visible from the bank. Segments of the pipeline have also been found farther south in the river hills.
Click here for the exact GPS location of the pillar. Shenks Ferry is full of history, mystery, and perhaps even the supernatural. Click here to learn more about all these things.
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Before You Go
The stone abutments and pillar are located inside the Lancaster Conservancy’s Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve. For the most up-to-date information about parking and accessing the preserve, be sure to visit their website by clicking here.