Tag: park

Watkins Park, Mount Airy, Maryland

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Maryland is the state where the Star Spangled Banner was written.  It was the state that donated the land that would become the District of Columbia and the capital of the United States of America.  It was where the first railroad in the Western Hemisphere began.  There is so much to this state.  It is where you will find the small town of Mount Airy.  Located in the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan region, it is a town that pales in comparison to the more famous towns of nearby Frederick, Annapolis, Baltimore, Hagerstown, Ocean City, and Cumberland.  In this town, you will find Watkins Park.  Watkins Park?  Some of the D.C. area locals will confuse this park with Watkins Park located in the historic town of Upper Marlboro, but this is a different park with the same name.  What is special about Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland?  It is a park with picnic tables with shelters and grills, softball and baseball fields plus soccer fields, a playground, and courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball.  It is a park for the neighborhood.  Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland is a place where you can relax and enjoy.

Some of you are saying, “This is very interesting.  You have two parks in Maryland with the same name.  There is a big problem with this park.  What is the problem?  There is no railroad here.  Therefore, I will not be ‘parked’ here.”

Why visit Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland?  Let us begin in the year 1827.

What happened in 1827?  Well, a whole lot of things.  Let us go to the city of Baltimore.  The day was February 27.  The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was born.  The first leg of the railroad ran east from the Mount Clare Station to the town of Ellicott Mills.  (The town is called Ellicott City today, and the oldest surviving train station in the United States of America is here.  It is no longer an active train station, but it is open as a museum.)  The railroad went west from here.  It went to the town of Mount Airy, Maryland.  Many years later, the railroad line was relocated south, and the railroad no longer served the town of Mount Airy.

This brings us to Watkins Park.

Yes, it is a park that has picnic tables, ball fields, and a playground just like any other neighborhood park.  What is special about this park?  Another feature of this park is that it has a nature trail.

Some of you are saying, “Big deal!  Many parks have nature trails.”

That is true, but this one is very special.  How special?  It is only a mile long.  Most of it is paved with a boardwalk.  It begins at Watkins Park.  You walk the trail to the end, and you see something amazing.  What do you see that is amazing?  You see the old Mount Airy Train Station.  (The train station is now a museum.)

Some of you are saying, “That is nice that you see an old train station on the trail, but that is nothing special.”

Well, as you walk along the trail, you notice something that looks like a railroad cut.  Ladies and gentlemen, the trail was part of the original Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Line that ran between Baltimore and the small town of Point of Rocks.  (The old train station at Point of Rocks was on a postal stamp, and it still stands today.)

As you can see, Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland is a local park that holds a piece of railroad history.

Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland is located at 615 Center Street in, of course, Mount Airy, Maryland.  It is right off of Maryland Route 27 and north of Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40.  The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and the trail is accessible to wheelchairs.

The next time you hear about Watkins Park in Mount Airy, Maryland, please do not confuse it with the park in Upper Marlboro.  Think of it as a simple neighborhood park with a railroad past.

Hazel Ruby McQuain Park, Morgantown, West Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Who is Hazel Ruby McQuain?  She is not famous to most people.  Although she was born in the town of Coshocton in the U.S. state of Ohio, she made great contributions in the city of Morgantown in the U.S. state of West Virginia.  Morgantown is famously known as the home of West Virginia University.  Hazel Ruby McQuain is famous for establishing the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust which made a donation to build the John Wesley Ruby Memorial Hospital which is located on the campus of West Virginia University.  (The hospital is named after her husband.)  She made other contributions throughout Morgantown.  For this reason, the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park was created in her honor.  Located on the Monongahela River, it features an amphitheater where concerts are played, a kayak launch for those who wish to paddle on the river, a hiking and biking trail, and a picnic area.  The view of this park is a real contribution for a woman who did so much for this city.

Some of you are saying, “You know, this is very nice.  It is great to honor a great woman who did great things for the city of Morgantown.  Go Mountaineers!  However, there are numerous problems here.  The first problem is that Hazel Ruby McQuain has made no contributions nor does she have any connections to the railroad.  The second problem is that Morgantown, West Virginia is not a railroad town nor is there a railroad passing through here.  The third problem is that this park has nothing to do with the railroad.  Therefore, I will not be contributing a visit to this town or to this park.”

Why visit the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park?  She has no connection with the railroad.  Why visit the park?

It is true that Morgantown, West Virginia, being famous for the University of West Virginia has no real railroad history.  Other than a light rail system, there is no railroad here.  However, that was not always the case.

As you enter the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park, the first thing you see is an old train station.  Why is there an old train station here?  It is because the Caperton Trail passes through the park.

Some of you are saying, “That is great.  It has the old train station, but what is special about the Caperton Trail.”

On the south side of the park is an old railroad bridge.  Why is there an old train station and old railroad bridge?  The Caperton Trail is a rail trail.  The Deckers Creek Trail, another rail trail, begins at the old railroad bridge and continues along Deckers Creek.

As you can see, you have a reason to visit Hazel Ruby Park.  Along with the concerts, you have a place where the railroad once ran.  The old train station can be rented for events as well.

The Hazel Ruby Park is located at 185 Garrett Street in Morgantown, West Virginia.  It is just off of U.S. Routes 19 and 119 and a short drive from Interstates 68 and 79.  Parking is on site, or you can hike or bike the trails to the park.

Why visit Hazel Ruby McQuain Park?  She has no connection to the railroad, but the park keeps the railroad history of Morgantown, West Virginia alive.

Miller Park, Bloomington, Illinois

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Cities big and small throughout the United States have their landmarks and city parks.  Among these city parks is Miller Park in the city of Bloomington in the U.S. state of Illinois.  The park has trees, a playground, a small zoo, a manmade lake, a miniature golf course, a memorial to firemen and a war veterans memorial.  Located in the southwestern area of the city on the Historic U.S. Route 66, it is a park within the city that is an oasis from the urbanization.

Some of you are saying, “It is nice that these cities have parks.  These parks are great.  However, there is a problem.  Since this park has no railroad history, I will not be taking a walk in this park.”

Oh, you will want to take a walk in this park.  Why?  One of the big features of this park is Nickel Plate Road Steam Locomotive Number 639 and its tender.  Another feature is Caboose Number 4770 from the Southern Pacific Railroad.  Other feature include a whistle that was on top of the shops of the Chicago and Alton Railroad and pays tribute to the workers of those shops.  (The shops are now gone.)  Another feature is an old semaphore.  (Semaphores have been replaced by the railroad signals today.)

The locomotive was built by the Lima Locomotive Works and was used by the Nickel Plate Road.  When the Nickel Plate Road decommissioned the locomotive, they donated it to the park.  Today, it is on display with the Southern Pacific Railroad Caboose.

Miller Park is located at 1020 S. Morris Avenue in Bloomington, Illinois along the Historic U.S. Route 66.  (It is west of U.S. Route 51 by way of Wood Street.)  Parking is on side.  The park is open sunrise to sunset, and the park is wheelchair accessible.

When in Bloomington, Illinois, visit Miller Park.  See a locomotive that once ran on the rails of the United States of America.

The Falls Park, Pendleton, Indiana

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Oh the U.S. state of Indiana is a state famous for the Indianapolis 500 in the capital city of Indianapolis, The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, and for basketball which inspired the movie ‘Hoosiers’ starring Gene Hackman.  Like other states in the United States of America, Indiana has great hidden treasures.  One of these treasures is the town of Pendleton, a suburb of Indianapolis.  What is the town of Pendleton, Indiana famous for?  Well, unlike Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, and Elkhart, there is not much fame in the town of Pendleton.

Some of you are saying, “Well, it looks like I am not going to visit this town.”

Well, this town has a great treasure.  What is this great treasure?  Welcome to Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana.  What is great about Falls Park?  Well, it does have a waterfall.  It may not be as grand as Niagara Falls or Iguazu Falls or Victoria Falls, but just like most waterfalls, it is a beauty to see.  Now you have a great reason to visit Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana.

Some of you are saying, “Oh, I love waterfalls.  They are such a beautiful thing to see.  I also enjoy parks.  There is a big problem.  This park is not a railroad park.  Therefore, I will not ‘fall’ in love with the town of Pendleton, Indiana.”

So why visit Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana?

The park itself has a deep history that goes deep.  As you enter the park, you will notice what appears to be railroad bridge abutments.  Why are they there?  Pendleton is not a railroad town nor was it ever a railroad town even though a railroad line does pass through the town.  The old abutments are from a railroad line that did cross over the falls.  The ‘Bee Line’ passed through the park.  Originally part of the ‘Big 4 Railway’ which came through the park in 1851.  One of the trails follows the old railroad bed.  Like many unused railroad lines, they were abandoned, and the rails were taken up leaving the remnants of the railroad today.

Falls Park is located at 460 Falls Park Drive in Pendleton, Indiana just north of Indiana Route 38 and minutes from Interstate 69 and U.S. Route 36.  The park also has a museum and a veterans memorial.  The park is open sunrise to sunset, and access to see the waterfalls is available for wheelchairs.

You now have a reason to visit Falls Park in Pendleton, Indiana.  Be warned.  You will fall in love with this place.