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National Park Service News Releases
23 Jun 09 - C&O Canal Family Reunion is part of Hancock Barge Bash
Hancock, MD – A Canal Family Reunion will be held on Saturday, June 27,
2009, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. as part of the Barge Bash along the C&O
Canal in Hancock, MD. The Barge Bash will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. There will be bands playing music, the Canal Family Reunion, the
parade of Barge Bash floats, and the competition as the Barges are pulled
down the canal.
Do you recall the days over eighty years ago when the C&O Canal still
operated? Are you a descendent of a Canawler? Do you have tales that have
been passed down through your family about the canal? Or would you like to
learn more about the history of the C&O Canal? If so, you are invited to
attend a Canal Family Reunion at the Hancock Barge Bash.
All along the 184.5 mile C&O Canal from Georgetown to Cumberland, reside
families who link their heritage back to the canal during the years when it
still operated. Some families are descendants of canal boat operators.
Some families descend from lock keepers. Still other families descend from
the workers who labored to construct the canal. All are invited to the
Canal Family Reunion to tell or hear stories and to interact with other
canal families!
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in partnership with
the Hancock Arts Council and the Town of Hancock are partners for this
year’s Barge Bash and the reunion.
Contact the C&O Canal Williamsport Visitor Center at 301-582-0813 for more
information.
16 Jun 09 - C&O Canal Hosts Independence Day Special Event
Washington DC. – The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
will be presenting its traditional Independence Day excursion to Fletcher's
Cove on the canal boat "Georgetown" on July 4, 2009. The "Georgetown"
will depart its dock at 1057 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington DC, at
11:00 am and will arrive at Fletcher's Cove at approximately 12:30 pm. It
will depart Fletcher's Cove at 2:30 pm and arrive back in Georgetown at
about 4:00 pm.
Music, storytelling and a history of the Star Spangled Banner will be
featured on the canal boat, while 19th century games such as quoits,
horseshoes, and croquet will be available to all at Fletcher's Cove from
11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Fares for people aged 4 and up are $5.00 one way and $8.00 round trip.
Reservations are strongly recommended as space is limited. Call the park's
Georgetown Visitor Center at 202-653-5190 Wednesday through Sunday from
9:30 am to 4:30 pm for reservations or for more information.
09 Jun 09 - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Announces Mushroom
Collecting Regulations
The morel mushroom season is here and the National Park Service would like
to inform visitors about the regulations on collecting mushrooms in the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The National Park
Service has an obligation to protect all of the natural resources of the
park, but the collection of small amounts of some edible mushrooms for
personal consumption is permitted. Visitors are allowed to collect
one-half gallon per person per day for all types of mushrooms. The
collection of edible mushrooms can be a rewarding experience, but can be
dangerous and should not be attempted unless you know how to identify
edible mushroom species. If you do not know mushrooms well, only go
hunting with someone who does.
These regulations are found in the Superintendent’s Compendium and Title 36
Code of Federal Regulations. The Superintendent’s Compendium lists
closures, use restrictions, permit requirements, designations, and other
restrictions governing use of the park. A copy of the compendium is
available on C&O Canal’s web site under Management, or at
www.nps.gov/choh/parkmgmt/index.htm.
For more information concerning this program, please contact the Natural
Resource Program Manager in the Resource Management Division at
(301)714-2224.
09 Jun 09 - C&O Canal Rangers Seek Information on Dumping, Vandalism
Sharpsburg, MD –Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
rangers recently discovered a white chest type freezer filled with rotten
meat. The freezer and meat were dumped next to the C&O Canal at the Marsh
Run access area about ½ mile west of the Taylor’s Landing boat ramp. The
nature of the contents required the removal to be conducted as a hazardous
materials cleanup. Because of this the cost of the cleanup exceeded
$2000.00.
Park Rangers are investigating this incident. Anyone with information on
the incident should call 866-677-6677. The park is offering a reward for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible
for these crimes.
02 Jun 09 - C&O Canal Invites Public to Comment on Proposed
Evitt's Creek Combined Sewer Overflow Upgrades, Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Md. – The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal National Historical Park, is conducting a public review of the
Evitt’s Creek Combined Sewer Overflow Upgrades and Establishment of
Right-of-Way Environmental Assessment. The National Park Service will be
accepting public review comments beginning June 2, 2009 through July 2,
2009. The draft Environmental Assessment presents information on projected
impacts to park resources from the proposed request from the City of
Cumberland to implement upgrades to their combined sewer overflow lines
between the Evitt's Creek pump station and the City’s Waste Water Treatment
Plant. Proposed upgrades involve construction on National Park Service
property between mile 181 and 182 of the park. The project would also
establish a right-of-way to govern new and existing sewer lines within the
park at that location.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the National
Historic Preservation Act the National Park Service invites public comments
regarding this project. Comments received will be used to evaluate this
project. The National Park Service will be accepting written comments
beginning June 2, 2009 through July 2, 2009.
A public meeting will be held on June 16, 2009 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM at
the City Hall, Council Chambers (Second Floor), 57 North Liberty Street,
Cumberland, MD 21502
Further information about this project is located on the National Park Service Planning, Environment & Public Comment website. Written comments should be submitted through this website.
28 May 09 - Construction Work Begins at Great Falls Tavern Entrance Road and Parking Lot
Potomac, Md. – On the week of June 1, 2009 the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
National Historical Park will begin a construction project at the Great
Falls Maryland area of the park. The project will improve the entrance road
through widening to a consistent width, clearly marked shoulders and
complete reconstruction to remove potholes and other hazards. In addition,
the overhead utilities along the entrance road will be placed underground.
The large parking lot will be repaved and the walkways will be improved to
allow full accessibility under the Architectural Barriers Act. The final
completion date for the project is anticipated to be in spring 2010
Every effort will be made to minimize traffic delays and accomplish the
work in a timely manner. Visitors are asked to observe posted construction
signs, obey traffic direction provided by flaggers, and exercise caution
when driving along the park entrance road.
The work is being performed under a contract administered for the Park by
the Federal Highway Administration.
12 May 09 - C&O Canal Prohibits Bringing Firewood into the Park
Hagerstown, Md. - The National Park Service reminds visitors that bringing
firewood from outside the park to use in campgrounds or picnic areas in C&O
Canal National Historical Park is prohibited. Firewood may contain
non-native insects such as Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorned Beetle.
Bringing firewood into the park from other areas may accidentally spread
pest insects and diseases that threaten the health of our forest.
“By complying with this regulation our visitors help us protect the park”
Kevin Brandt, Superintendent of C&O Canal said. “These pests and diseases
can cause great damage to trees in the park and on private lands nearby.”
Dead wood on the ground may be collected for use as fuel for campfires
within the immediate vicinity of designated picnic and camping areas, but
may not be removed from the park. Some firewood cut by park staff from
inside the park may be available at campsites. Check with the campground
host or a park ranger.
Management of trees infected with these pests involves drastic measures -
complete removal of all trees (infested and otherwise) in the immediate and
surrounding areas. Both beetles can be easily spread in firewood, which
may look normal, but still be infested with the immature stage of these
insects. The ash borer primarily infects species of ash trees. The
longhorned beetle attacks maple, elm, horsechestnut, and other hardwoods.
There are specific quarantines that restrict the removal of wood products
from Prince George’s County Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and
parts of New York and New Jersey. The firewood ban reflects measures taken
by the State of Maryland (May 2007) in their parks and forests, and at
Catoctin Mountain Park, a National Park Service site.
For additional information on this program, contact Scott Bell, Natural
Resource Program Manager, Resource Management Division at (301)714-2224.
04 May 09 - NPS Announces C&O Canal Recovery Act Projects
WASHINGTON, DC –The National Park Service announced on April 22 nearly 800
projects totaling $750 million that can be completed across the country
with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
“These projects are an investment in America’s future that will create
jobs, stimulate the economies of local communities, and get our country
moving again,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “They are also
an investment in telling the story of America to future generations through
our national parks by conserving our awe-inspiring landscapes, our rich
culture, and our great heritage.” “We will use Recovery Act funding to make
a difference in parks,” said Acting Director Dan Wenk. “We will fix trails,
invest in energy efficient vehicles, build new visitor facilities, cleanup
abandoned mine sites, increase our ability to generate power from the sun,
and finally complete overdue maintenance on our buildings and roads.”
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park has seven projects
totaling nearly $14 million among those announced. The projects funded at
C&O Canal are the following;
$12.1 million to repair the Big Slackwater historic stone wall and towpath
$661,000 to repair parts of the C&O Canal towpath
$475,000 to replace the boat ramp and parking area at Point of Rocks,
Maryland
$322,000 to repair Lock 22 near Potomac, Maryland
$213,000 to control exotic plants
$113,000 to repoint masonry structures in watered areas of the canal
$112,000 to expand the Brunswick boat ramp and improve the service road
A full list of National Park Service projects is available at
www.interior.gov/recovery/nps.
“These important projects will provide much needed jobs in many of the
local communities along the canal” Kevin Brandt, Superintendent of
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park said. “They will make
the C&O Canal a safer more enjoyable place to visit, will support our
community partners along the park, and will help preserve many of the
park’s outstanding resources. We are delighted at this opportunity to move
these projects forward.”
All the projects are long-standing priorities of the National Park Service
and meet the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project
addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the
largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting
value for the American public.
Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and
accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery
projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on
the recovery web site and on www.interior.gov/recovery/nps.
22 Apr 09 - Second Annual C&O Canal Pride Days Kicked off April 18 Great Falls, Potomac, Maryland
More than 200 volunteers gathered at Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center area
in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac,
Maryland on Saturday, April 18 to kickoff the second annual C&O Canal Pride
Days. Volunteers installed concrete trail markers, cleared vegetation from
trails, raked leaves, mulched around the concession building, completed a
thorough spring cleaning of the Historic Great Falls Tavern, painted, and
removed invasive plants.
C&O Canal Pride Days is expected to attract over 800 volunteers to various
locations along the C&O Canal over the next month. The events are intended
to spruce up the park for the visitor season and increase appreciation of
park resources while providing an opportunity for participants to enjoy the
outdoors and meet new people.
The work day began with brief remarks by Kevin Brandt, Superintendent of
the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Karen McManus,
representative from the office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Roger
Berliner, Councilmember of Montgomery County, and Matthew Logan, President
of the C&O Canal Trust. Superintendent Brandt thanked the volunteers
saying, “On behalf of the over three million annual visitors to the park, I
want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who are helping us
today.” Matthew Logan said “The C&O Canal is lucky to have so many people
who care enough about it to spend their free time helping to clean up and
beautify our facilities and resources.”
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park preserves the beauty
and history of the 184.5 mile long canal. Millions of visitors each year
enjoy the natural, cultural and recreational opportunities available in the
park.
For additional information contact Peggie Gaul 301-223-4151,
peggie_gaul@partner.nps.gov or Jenna Warrenfeltz 301-714-2233,
warrenfeltz@canaltrust.org
15 Apr 09 - C&O Canal Pride Days Kicks Off On Saturday, April 18, at Great Falls, Potomac, Maryland
More than 250 volunteers will demonstrate their Canal Pride when they
participate in C&O Canal Pride Days on Saturday, April 18 at Great Falls
Tavern Visitor Center area in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National
Historical Park, Potomac, Maryland. April 18 is the kickoff event for the
second annual C&O Canal Pride Days, which will attract over 800 volunteers
to several locations along the C&O Canal over the next month. The events
are intended to spruce up the park for the spring season, and increase
appreciation of park resources while providing an opportunity for
participants to enjoy the outdoors and meet new people.
On April 18, volunteers will gather at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the
Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center to register and then take on tasks such
as installing concrete trail markers, clearing vegetation from trails,
raking leaves, removing invasive plants, mulching, painting, spring
cleaning the historic Great Falls Tavern, and improving the grounds around
the mule barn.
The work day will begin with brief remarks by Kevin Brandt, Superintendent
of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Sue Hansen, Chief
of Interpretation, National Capital Region of the National Park Service,
Karen McManus, representative from the office of Congressman Chris Van
Hollen, Roger Berliner, Councilmember of Montgomery County, and Matthew
Logan, President of the C&O Canal Trust.
For additional information contact Peggie Gaul 301-223-4151,
peggie_gaul@partner.nps.gov or Jenna Warrenfeltz 301-714-2233,
warrenfeltz@canaltrust.org
14 Apr 09 - Building America’s Canals Traveling Exhibit Returns to C&O Canal
Williamsport, MD – Building America’s Canals, an exhibit organized by
the National Canal Museum, will open on Friday, April 17 in the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Trolley Barn Building at the
Cushwa Basin in Williamsport, Maryland. The traveling exhibit blends
science and history through hands-on activities that allow children and
adults to experience the marvel of canal engineering first-hand. The
exhibit will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April 17 through
October 11, 2009. Admission is free.
When the exhibit was at Williamsport in 2008 over 11,000 visitors,
including over 3,500 school students, visited it. Due to that success, the
park is bringing the exhibit back in 2009.
Elements of the exhibit include a chance to build your own canal, construct
an aqueduct, design and operate lift locks, be your own boat captain, build
a suspension bridge, and operate cranes used to load and unload canal
boats. Exhibits also provide historical background on the C&O Canal and
the role that the canal played in the development of canal towns like
Williamsport.
C&O Canal Superintendent Kevin Brandt stated, “Williamsport is a classic
canal town. It is only appropriate that this exhibit, Building America’s
Canals, will be displayed in the historic Trolley Barn in Cushwa Basin in
Williamsport. I am thrilled that all Washington County fourth grade classes
are participating in the Park Ranger curriculum based education programs
associated with the exhibit.”
This spring numerous elementary school classes have already scheduled field
trips to visit the exhibit and participate in Ranger programs. Spaces are
still available for additional school groups to come and see the exhibit.
Teachers can call 301-582-0813 to schedule a trip.
The C&O Canal Trust in partnership with the C&O Canal National Historical
Park has provided support for the Building America’s Canal exhibit.
Donations from the Town of Williamsport, Washington County, Eastern
National, the C&O Canal Association, Maccaferri, Hagerstown-Washington
County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Allegheny Energy, Hopewell
Manufacturing, GS Images, Ellsworth Electric, and Washington County Public
Schools, have all contributed to make the Building America’s Canals exhibit
a reality. D.M. Bowman Trucking is transporting the exhibit from Ohio to
Williamsport, with their truck arriving on April 15, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. to
unload.
In conjunction with the opening of the Building America’s Canals exhibit,
the C&O Canal National Historical Park Williamsport Visitor Center will
extend its hours of operations to 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
beginning April 17. Please contact the Williamsport visitor center at
301-582-0813 for more information about the exhibit or other park programs
and services.
02 Apr 09 - C&O Canal Association Donates $40,000 to Park for Big Slackwater
Hagerstown, MD – Today the C&O Canal Association presented the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal National Historical Park a $40,000 donation to help fund the cost of an
environmental assessment for the Big Slackwater repair project. This brings the C&O Canal
Association’s donations to this project to $80,000.
“Restoration of the Big Slackwater towpath will enhance visitor safety and encourage
heritage tourism that will enhance local and regional economies” said Rachel Stewart, President
of the C&O Canal Association. “Slackwater is the priority project for the Association.”
Superintendent Kevin Brandt recognized the Association for their support of the park and
the Big Slackwater project, and called the donation “…an important step in bringing the project
to fruition.”
With the assistance of the C&O Canal Association and other partners the C&O Canal
National Historical Park has completed the 30% design plans for the repair of Big Slackwater,
which is the only break in the 185 mile historic canal towpath that connects Cumberland to
Washington, DC. The next phase of the project is the environmental assessment. The repair of
Big Slackwater is the park’s highest priority repair project.
The Big Slackwater section of the towpath is just west of Dam #4. It was destroyed
during the Hurricane Agnes flood of 1972, and damaged again during the floods of 1996.
Pedestrians and cyclists have been forced to use a nearly 5 mile detour on a narrow county
roadway to by-pass this closure. Over 30 people have been injured in accidents on this detour in
the last five years.
The C&O Canal Association is a citizens’ association concerned with the conservation of
the natural and historical environment of the C&O Canal and the Potomac River Basin. The
Association supports the National Park Service in its efforts to preserve and promote
20 Mar 09 - C&O Canal Pride Days
The C&O Canal Trust, in partnership with the C&O Canal National Historical
Park, seeks energetic and community-minded individuals and organizations to
complete maintenance and conservation projects throughout the park during
the upcoming C&O Canal Pride Days. Locations and dates are as follows:
April 18 at Great Falls, April 25 at Brunswick and Lander, and May 2 at
Williamsport and Hancock.
Volunteers are needed to mulch, paint, rake leaves, prune and clear
vegetation, clean up trash, install picnic tables, and many other tasks.
These are projects that the National Park Service cannot accomplish because
of time and staffing constraints. The C&O Canal Trust, along with
ambitious volunteers will assist the park by completing the tasks.
C&O Canal Pride Days is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, meet new
people and participate in the national spirit of unity and service. With
your help, C&O Canal Pride Days can mark the beginning of a lasting
relationship between yourself, the C&O Canal, and our future. Refreshments
will be served and the first 500 volunteers to sign up will receive a
T-shirt and complimentary canal boat pass.
For more information or to get involved, visit the C&O Canal Trust web site
at www.canaltrust.org, email peggie_gaul@partner.nps.gov or call
301.714.2233.
18 Mar 09 - Tom Kozar Artwork Displayed at C & O Canal
Williamsport, Md. – Tom Kozar, “Artist in Residence” for the C&O Canal
National Historical Park is having a showing of his art work at the at the
C&O Canal in Williamsport, Maryland. The exhibit will be shown in the
Trolley building next to the Williamsport Visitor Center. The opening day
of the exhibit is March 21, from 2pm to 8 pm, with a reception and
opportunity to meet the artist from 4 pm to 6pm. The exhibit will be open
on Sunday, March 22, noon to 4 pm; Saturday, March 28, 10 am to 4 pm; and
Sunday, March 29, noon – 4 pm.
The theme of the show will be “Ladies on the Canal”, highlighting Kozar’s
new series. The show will include canal-related works, both originals and
prints, of various scenes along the canal, from Georgetown to Cumberland.
This is a great opportunity to view the range of Kozar’s work.
29 Jan 09 - Park Offers Reward for Identifying Those Responsible for Burglary from Lock House 49
The National Park Service is offering a reward for information leading
to the arrest of suspects responsible for the burglary and theft of
property from Lock House 49 in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National
Historical Park. This site is located in the Four Locks area of
Washington County, Maryland. Sometime between Thursday night January 22,
2009, and Friday morning January 23, 2009, unknown person or persons
broke into the historic lock house and stole various items.
Any persons with information regarding this crime are asked to call the
National Park Service Toll Free Number 1-866-677-6677 or contact U.S.
Park Ranger Leigh Zahm at (301) 491-6267. Callers may remain
anonymous.
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