Gibson's Rock

 mill, rocks, historic landmark

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From "History of Perry County, Pennsylvania", by H. H. Hain, 1922:

Gibson's Rock is located along the north side of Sherman's Creek, three miles west of Shermansdale. It is a striking geological formation, of which the county has many, and yet this is a surpassing one in size and interest. Located at the dividing line of Spring and Carroll Townships this mighty crag towers from the bed of Sherman's Creek almost perpendicularly. West of it the old Indian trail, known as the Allegheny Path, crossed the creek to the northern side. Here the mountain evidently once breasted the creek and held back waters which covered several townships, according to geologists. Picturesquely situated, this point has long been a mecca for campers, outings, and picnics. Above it, within sound of the human voice, stood the famous Gibson mansion, and still stands the "Westover" or Gibson mill. In that house was born Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson, Governor William Bigler, and John Bernheisel, representative in Congress from the then Territory of Utah. Governor William Bigler had a brother, John Bigler, who was governor of California at the same time that his brother was governor of Pennsylvania, but John Bigler was born at Landisburg, where his parents resided, prior to coming to the Westover mill in 1809. During the early years of the county's existence a bill passed the Pennsylvania Legislature making Sherman's Creek navigable, and many huge boulders were blown from the creek's bottom, some within the shadow of the great cliff, the drill marks being yet distinguishable.