History
The Hoodlebug Trail is a ten-mile recreation and commuter trail located in the central portion of Indiana County. The trail passes through residential, commercial, and natural settings, providing direct trail access to many local residents and employees of several schools, industries, and small businesses.
The trail follows the abandoned Indiana Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad between the Homer City area and Indiana. Built in the 1850's, the Indiana Branch was the first railroad to be constructed in Indiana County. 'Hoodlebug' was the local nickname for the self-propelled passenger coach that ran on the line until 1940. The corridor also was part of the Catawba Path, a Native American trail that extended from the Carolinas to upstate New York.
In March of 2007 the FMC plant, which is adjacent to the Hoodlebug Trail in Homer City, will close. The FMC site was the former home to one of the Prairie State Incubator Company's plants. The site involves some very interesting local history.
The Hoodlebug Trail is part of a large network of trails in western Pennsylvania known as the Trans Allegheny Trails network.