Spring 2019 | Issue No
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SPRING 2019 | ISSUE NO. 25 THE CANAL QUARTERLYwww.CanalTrust.org SWAINS LOCKHOUSE TO OPEN AFTER REHAB After three years of fundraising, planning, before updating the and construction, the doors to the newly- plumbing and rehabilitated Swains Lockhouse will swing electricity and adding open to guests this summer. This lockhouse, drywall, flooring, and located at a popular entrance point to the a new roof. An ADA- C&O Canal National Historical Park at Lock 21 accessible bathroom in Potomac, will join the C&O Canal Trust’s and Murphy bed were award-winning Canal Quarters program as installed on the first the seventh lockhouse available to guests floor, making Swains for overnight stays. The public can visit the the first lockhouse in lockhouse during an open house Saturday, the Canal Quarters June 29 from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. program to be ADA-accessible. Funded by both public and private dollars, construction work was completed by Now that construction PARK HISTORICAL C&O CANAL NATIONAL COURTESY PHOTO a contracting firm which removed the is complete, we are circa-2000 fixtures from the house. Workers filling the space with Construction wraps up at Swains Lockhouse at Lock 21 in Potomac, MD. installed a vapor barrier and insulation antique furnishings. The lockhouse is being rehabilitated and will join the Canal Quarters program, Volunteer Robert where it will be open for overnight stays. Saturday, June 29 Mertz, who has assisted the Trust in furnishing all of the lockhouses, 1916, including scrapbooks and interactive 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. SWAINS has scoured antiques stores for the perfect exhibits. Photos and stories of the Swain pieces. The house will interpret 1916, the family, after whom the lockhouse is named, OPEN 11700 Swains Lock Rd. year the National Park Service was formed will also be featured. HOUSE Potomac, MD 20854 and the date when the C&O Canal was beginning to transition from a working canal The Swain family’s history is intertwined with Be one of the first to tour the newly- to a recreational space. The Park Service’s the canal’s. Members of the family helped rehabbed Swains Lockhouse! Part of to build the canal in the nineteenth century, Heritage Montgomery’s Heritage Days. interpretation rangers have developed content that will teach visitors about life in “Swains” continues on page 4 CANAL TOWPATH RESURFACING UNDERWAY Third year of funding sought from state government Visitors accessing the C&O Canal National roots capable of sending hikers Historical Park (NHP) at Edwards Ferry (Mile sprawling. By the end of 2019, the Park 30.8) will find a smooth surface running to plans to resurface another 17 miles from Whites Ferry (Mile 35.5) – the first five miles Brunswick (Mile 54) to Packhorse Ford of the towpath to be resurfaced as part (Mile 71.4) near the Shepherdstown of the Park’s proposed multi-year, 80-mile Bridge. Another 16 miles (from Mile towpath resurfacing project. 42.2 near the Monocacy Aqueduct to Brunswick) will be resurfaced in 2020. It’s a far cry from the old clay and gravel PHOTO BY C&O CANAL TRUST BY PHOTO surface that required hikers and cyclists Two funding packages totalling $4.05 to negotiate long stretches of muddy, million are supporting this work, a The new towpath surface is crushed stone dust, treacherous ruts waiting to catch the tires of joint commitment from the Federal the same material that is used on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). unsuspecting bikers, and the rocks and tree “Resurfacing” continues on page 6 A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS I hope you have had the chance to enjoy great to have everyone back. During the CHAIR Stephen E. Chaudet the warmer weather on the C&O Canal! The shutdown, many people reached out to VICE CHAIR John S. Guttmann C&O Canal Trust Board of Directors and staff us and volunteered to help us with Park have been gearing up for this special time maintenance needs. These projects were TREASURER Bert Swain of year and invite you to join us in the Park. tackled during our Canal Pride events. SECRETARY Sandra Adams Personally, I’m glad to have my bike rack back on my car and have already enjoyed a few We are proud to expand our staff capacity William Randall Cone rides on the towpath. I hope you will enjoy to aid the Park and enhance the visitor Sherif Ettefa your favorite activity in the Park, with far less experience through partnerships. We will rainfall than last year (we can hope!). soon have three grant-funded interns from Francis Grant-Suttie partners Chesapeake Bay Trust, Montgomery Donald Harrison We are thrilled that a years-long project will County, and AmeriCorps. These organizations Paul Juola come to fruition this summer when we open are assisting our mission through programs the newly-rehabbed Swains Lockhouse as that include environmental workshops Edward J. Kessler part of the Canal Quarters program. We can’t (see page 4), a Conservation Jobs Corps Paul B. Krogh wait to show off our hard work. Join us for to introduce teenagers to career options our open house on Saturday, June 29 — tour in the National Park Service (see page 5), Michael C. Mitchell the home, learn about the Swain family, and and economic development in Western Bill Newman “experience” life in 1916. Maryland. John Schnebly Many Park lovers are curious about how Thank you for your part in making our work Dan Spedden we fared during the partial government possible through your generous support and Anthony Stacy shutdown. Details are provided in an article volunteerism. We couldn’t do it without you. in this newsletter (page 3) but I want to Sandy Vogelgesang add a couple of thoughts. While we at the Anne Wallace Trust were able to carry on with our work, it was difficult knowing that our National Robin Zanotti, ACFRE Park Service colleagues were not. It’s Robin Zanotti, Trust President STAFF PRESIDENT Leave a legacy for tomorrow by Robin Zanotti, ACFRE Making a Bequest to the DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Patricia Barber C&O Canal Trust DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS & Making a bequest that benefits the C&O Canal National Historical Park could be the PARTNERSHIPS most important charitable gift you ever make. By naming the C&O Canal Trust in your will, you will become a member of the Patowmack Society, creating a legacy Becky Curtis for the future that helps ensure that generations to come will have the opportunity DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & to love and nurture this extraordinary natural and historical resource. COMMUNICATIONS Heidi Glatfelter Schlag OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR “The C&O Canal National Historical Jane Neff Park has been an important part of PROGRAM & VOLUNTEER my family’s life for the past 30 years. COORDINATOR To help assure that the Park is preserved Rod Newton for future generations, I am dedicating a bequest to the C&O Canal Trust.” COMMUNICATIONS/ DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE — Ambassador Sandy Vogelgesang, Patowmack Society Founding Member Ellen Kinzer INTERNS Contact Director of Development Patricia Barber at 301-745-8880 or Ben Bender, Cheyenne Sebold [email protected] for more information. The C&O Canal Trust is the official non-profit partner of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Its mission is to work in partnership 2 | with the National Park Service to protect, restore, and promote this national treasure. 300 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN CANAL PRIDE Each year, the C&O Canal Trust welcomes dirty in a way that benefits spring with our annual Canal Pride Days. the C&O Canal and its These public events draw hundreds of 5 million visitors.” volunteers from the community and allow Canal lovers to help ready the Park for the This year’s Canal Pride busy season by tackling a variety of projects helped to mitigate preservation and maintenance projects. damage and the maintenance backlog Events this year were held in Great Falls, that arose during the Williamsport, and the Paw Paw Campground. shutdown. “We are still Volunteers assisted with removing graffiti, dealing with significant trash, and invasive plant species; improving damage in the Park from campgrounds and picnic areas; planting grass multiple flood events in seed; and repainting historic structures. 2018 that needs to be SIMON BARBER BY PHOTO addressed,” said the Celebrating their twelfth year, Canal Pride Trust’s Director of Programs Days are the Park’s largest public volunteer and Partnerships, Becky Curtis. “The need for Canal Pride. Artist Jordan Mansaray’s events. “Our public Canal Pride Days events for volunteer assistance this spring was winning design, shown below, was featured bring the community together to care substantial, and we were thrilled that the on this year’s Canal Pride Days shirts worn by for their local national park,” C&O Canal community came out to join us and show volunteers. Trust President Robin Zanotti explained. their love for the C&O Canal.” “Volunteers are able to get their hands Our Canal Pride work doesn’t end with We want to express our most these public events, however. We welcome sincere appreciation to our corporate and community groups for private Canal Pride Days sponsors: events all year. These groups take on a REI, Guest Services, Inc., variety of projects David and Page Dekker, M&T to beautify and Bank, Friends of Historic preserve spots up Great Falls Tavern, FedEx and down the Park. Ground, Minkoff Development If your group would Corporation, Younger Toyota, like to volunteer Clark Construction, and Keller for a Canal Pride Stonebraker Insurance. event, visit our website at www.canaltrust.org/ PHOTO BY SIMON BARBER BY PHOTO Again this year, the C&O Canal Trust held an artwork contest pridedays.