Richard White Wehrle (1852 - 1937) was a highly successful Indiana County businessman and an avid naturalist regarded as Indiana County's foremost naturalist of his day. Mr. Wehrle is the namesake of the Wehrle's Salamander which he discovered in Indiana County in 1911 and named in his honor in 1917. Mr. Wehrle submitted many specimens of snakes, turtles and salamanders to various museums. He was given an honorary membership in the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences for his collection efforts. Mr. Wehrle was highly regarded by the herpetologists of his era. Wehrle's Salamanders can still be found in Indiana County, an endearing symbol of Mr. Wehrle's lifelong dedication to the county's natural history. Mr. Wehrle was a strong believer in taking daily walks in nature, to which he attributed his good health and long active life. This photo of Mr. Wehrle appeared in Caldwell's History of Indiana County, published in 1913.
The impressive black granite etching at the entrance to Mine #6 in Vintondale is a 'must see' of the Ghost Town Trail. The life-sized etching is based on a 1940s film taken as miners were leaving and entering the mine.
Wood frogs egg masses line the edge of a ditch along the Ghost Town Trail. The trick is to lay the eggs in a spot that will retain water long enough for the tadpoles to hatch and mature into froglets. Large blooms of egg masses like this are a defense mechanism to help perpetuate the species by providing protection in mass. Wood frogs are widespread and are found even as far north as the Arctic. They have the ability to freeze almost solid and then resurrect themselves as temperatures warm.
