The Standing Stone - Huntingdon, PA

Lew B.

Right in the heart of town. Nice little garden around an 1896 recreation of a native American stone marker. Worth reading up on the history. Huntingdon was originally known as Standing Stone, there's still a Standing Stone Creek, and Standing Stone coffee in town.

Tony R.

Beautiful preserved historic town. We parked here at The Standing Stone and wandered up and down looking at all the historic buildings- great way to spend some time

Zachary H.

The original inhabitants of Huntingdon and neighboring counties were the Susquehannock. Through a combination of ongoing war with other indigenous nations, such as the Haudenosaunee, disease brought by Europeans, and violence from settlers, the Susquehannock are currently thought to have been entirely wiped out or subsumed by other tribes.

The word "Juniata" is thought to be a corruption of the Iroquoian word Onayutta, meaning "Standing Stone". There was a large standing stone where the town of Huntingdon now stands. It was reportedly 14.5 feet (4.4 m) tall and contained carvings recording the history of the local Juniata Tribe. It disappeared in 1754, when the tribe left; tradition says they took it with them. A second stone was raised by the new settlers but destroyed in 1897. A two-foot (0.6 m) fragment of the second stone sits in Juniata College's museum.[3]

In 1768, Rev. Dr. William Smith began selling lots on the Standing Stone Tract along the Juniata, land he had recently acquired. The tract's two prior owners had not attempted to lay out a town, so Dr. Smith is considered the founder. Huntingdon (the name by which he eventually called his town) sits at the site of corn fields that had been cultivated at a date now unknown, next to where Standing Stone Creek flows into the Juniata River. The 100th anniversary of its incorporation was marked by the erection of a "Standing Stone Monument" on Third Street, modeled on a tall, narrow shaft known to have existed before 1750, whose purpose is unclear but may have served as a trail marker. It may be significant that natural sandstone formations (popularly called Pulpit Rocks), which "stand erect", are on a nearby ridge. A story surfaced during the early 19th century that Smith had renamed Standing Stone Settlement to honor an Englishwoman, Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon. Smith's descendants vehemently denied the story, and there exists no evidence to support it, despite a wide circulation in published sources. More likely, the Anglican cleric named it after the town of the same name in England; doing so had become a pattern for naming Pennsylvania settlements, Bedford, Carlisle and York being nearby examples of the trend. In 1796, the little village was incorporated as a borough.

The town was originally named after the standing stone, and in my opinion, the name should be changed back.

Derek R.

While it might not be a whole lot to look at, the Standing Stone Monument is a symbol of our town and it's historical significance is paramount to our local heritage.

Govind S.

Interesting fact is that this monument is right in the middle of downtown Huntington and asked a few people directions to this place - was surprised that people were not aware of this monument!

Chris

Just no.

Erik R.

10/10 to the guy who had this rebuilt to the original specs, it was quite the fight! Thank you

Joey S.