Creveling Lakes
Forkston Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Named in honor of J. Q. Reveling ESQ. Dean of Pennsylvania Sportsmen Father of Game and Fish Codes
The Story
These lakes in the wooded hills of Forkston Township carry the name of J. Q. Reveling, a Pennsylvania figure remembered as the "Dean of Pennsylvania Sportsmen" and a driving force behind the state's early game and fish laws. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unregulated hunting and fishing had badly depleted America's wildlife, and reformers across the country pushed to codify seasons, limits, and protections. Naming a body of water for the man credited as "Father of Game and Fish Codes" reflects the era's growing conviction that woods and waters were a public trust worth safeguarding for future generations.
Why it matters
It marks the rise of the American conservation movement, when sportsmen and lawmakers turned dwindling game and fish into a shared resource protected by law — a shift that shaped how the country still manages its wild places.
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Related people
- · J. Q. Reveling
Themes & tags
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