Montour Trail-Letter

Volume 11, Issue 3

May/June, 2000

Small Streams

A small river or stream flowing by one's door has many attractions over a large body of water like the Hudson. One can make a companion of it; he can walk with it and sit with it, or lounge on its banks, and feel that it is all his own. It becomes something private and special to him. You cannot have the same kind of attachment and sympathy with a great river; it does not flow through your affections like a lesser stream.

Hello, Montour Trail members and friends! In a 1998 Montour Trail survey at mile 4.1 near the Gazebo, users were asked a series of questions. One of the questions was "What additional amenities would you like to see along the trail". Of course, additional Port-a-Johns were the number one request. But high on the list was "Please make the Montour Run stream more visible to the trail." I wondered at the time about why streams have such a strong appeal. Well, I think John Burroughs had some insights into a streams appeal as expressed in his words above.

So you ask, why I am mentioning the allure of streams at this time? Well, Montour Trail users, one of your requests has been fulfilled. A company, as part of a settlement, had to perform a certain amount of environmental work. The company decided to provide stream bank protection for an erosion problem adjacent to the trail parking lot at Cliff Mine Road. The by-product of this work was the creation of an 80 foot long newly sodded scenic stream viewing area. Enjoy your new companion!

On April 1 there was no time for fooling around for the Montour Trail volunteers. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of all of the activities of the Montour Trail volunteers. April 1 was one of the most active days ever for volunteer activity. Significant work was occurring in four separate sections of the trail. First, came the good news from Peter Kohnke, President of the Bethel Park Friends of the Trail. The friends and the contractor ( Ellis Paving ) had just completed the second part of the Bethel section from Clifton to Irishtown Road. The Bethel Friends are to be commended for their tremendous efforts over the last two years in completing the two miles of the Bethel Section. The Bethel section is truly a jewel of a trail. (In fact, "Jewel" was the Montour Railroad name for the area of the trail near Clifton Road.) A grand opening of the second mile in Bethel is scheduled for National Trail Day on Saturday, June 3. (Please see opening day details below.)

Second, came news from Dick Quasey and the work crew at the future site of the Quicksilver bridge at RT. 980 in Robinson Township, Washington County. The digging of the southern abutment for the new 140 foot long bridge was completed. This was the first significant step in the huge project of erecting the new bridge. The bridge is scheduled to be moved to the site from Ambridge on Saturday, April 15.

Third, came a report by Stan Sattinger, that the McDonald Friends of the Trail (lead by Ray Johnson) had cleared all of the brush under the 980 foot McDonald Trestle - a job well done!

Fourth, came news from Paul McKeown, who is heading the Clairton/Jefferson Hills Friends group in the development of those sections. Working in Clairton near Rt. 837 the crew cut a new path with the trail tractor through piles of dirt to the future trail head. In addition they completed clearing the long abandoned right-of-way and parking area of hundreds of trees. A locust post barrier and gate was also installed.

Truly this April 1st was a remarkable day for a remarkable group of dedicated Montour Trail volunteers. It is a pleasure to be a part of the historic creation of the Montour Trail.