One of the great new fads across
America today is the Rails to Trails concept for exercise, and
getting back to nature. This type of entertainment is ecologically
and environmentally correct and it provides a logical cause to
recycle unused rail lines. This is becoming a national past time. What
does this have to do with the Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee,
you ask?
The good news is that the Preston
County Rails to Trails Committee is working to complete a trail
between Kingwood and Rowlesburg on land presently owned by CSX
Railroad.
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- The Preston County portion of the Rails to Trails
Committee has been working diligently to reach some compromise
with CSX and Allegheny Wood Products to help fulfill this dream
but it is costly. Estimates of costs to buy this property
to complete the trail from Albright to Rowlesburg reach millions
of dollars. Naturally, these goals cannot be met by having raffles
or bake sales. It will require grants, cooperation between the
corporations and the committee and overcoming yards and yards
of red tape. It appears to many of the people who have been working
on this project that success is possible but it will require
mega amounts of pressure placed on politicians, both national
and local in order to come up with the funding.
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- Anyone who has driven Route 72 or "the river
road", as it is sometimes called, knows that during any
season the scenery is an artist's paradise. The view of the rambling
Cheat River, whether high enough for whitecaps or just meandering
through the mountains, is breathtaking.
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Autumn brings an unbelievable array of fall colors
with the reds, yellows and oranges blinding you as the sun reflects
off the water; during winter this drive can be like a crystal
palace, especially after an ice storm. After a heavy snow the
trees glisten with the pristine whiteness of an angel's feathers.
A trip to Rowlesburg in the summertime can cause
you to pull over and watch the rafters or kayakers as they test
their skills in the temperamental waters of the Cheat. This describes
the trip to Rowlesburg on Route 72.
- The rail trail, of course, will be on the opposite
side of the river (the Manheim side), which will provide an unblemished
view of the Cheat River and the surrounding mountains. On the
rail trail one can stop at anytime to view the scenery and enjoy
this gift of naturewithout endangering the flow of traffic.
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This map
shows the Rail Trail which has been completed and the portion
yet to be completed between Albright and Rowlesburg. The bold
black line is the Preston County portion that extends 19 miles
into Monongalia County and has been completed. The blue line
is the proposed trail from Reedsville to near Albright. The green
line is the Kern Valley railroad (formerly the West Virginia
Northern) which goes into Tunnelton. The yellow portion from
Albright to Rowlesburg is the area that will benefit us the most.
- Thanks to Gloria Dean
and JoAnn Sisler,
- Greater Downtown Rowlesburg
- has worked very hard dressing up the entrance
- to the park and the main portion of town with blooming
plants to brighten the outlook of residents and visitors alike.
Former residents are beginning to migrate back home and are establishing
summer residences which some say may become permanent.
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This project can be
the much needed transfusion of new life in our beloved childhood
community. The completion of the rail trail from Albright to
Rowlesburg will provide a necessary market for new business such
as an eating establishment, housing, (bed and breakfast or small
motel), bicycle shop for sales and repairs, and, some form of
entertainment for the visitors to our community. The residents
have already learned that special events such as the Labor Day
Ox Roast bring thousands of visitors to our beautiful park by
the riverside and events such as this could be planned for the
entire summer season, thereby providing jobs and income for the
local residents.
Written
by Shirley Cook Hartley
shartley812@verizon.net
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