Been back on my feet for 11 months now and finally getting back to the things that I used to like to do when I live in my old apartment since a year and a half ago since I left. It took me some time for me to feel in my comfort zone again and heading out and about for my morning walks. I knew I wanted to see one of Connellsville’s newest public art display, Jesus and the Children at the The Christian Church of Connellsville. I knew it would be a journey to see, but once I got there, I knew that I wouldn’t regret making the decision to go through town. After that I checked the status of the Liittle Free Pantry and see that the children of this community need fed, something I plan to ensure I can help with in the future.
As Far as the Pantry Goes
It is in desperate need of a replenish. I didn’t have any food with me at the time, but it is in the plans for the future. It needs to be reminded that foods for a Little Free Pantry needs to be food that can be easily consumed and opened by its users as well as food that they like.
Lastly I paid homage to one of the newer installations of public art in the city, Jesus and the Children. This mural was chosen by the congregation of the church and was a magnifcent installation that was painted during the summer of 2020 under little fanfare but was eye-gazing to patrons passing by.
Another Day off, and yet another walkabout with a bunch of errands, starting at Highlands Hospital where upon leaving I checked the Little Free Pantry, this was at about 9 AM.
Little Free Pantry at Highlands Hospital – March 5, 2020 at 9 AM
As you can see, there is a medium amount of supplies, there was other things 2 weeks ago, but this could use a replinishing.
Headed down to the downtown Business District to Lion’s Square, where I checked the LFL there
LFL #49904 – March 5, 2020 around 9:15 AM
Thanks to the supporters of the group and others for keeping this LFL stocked up and straightened up with plenty of books for young and old.
Next, I head to my next appointment on the west side.
New Mural at the Italian Club
Always nice to see the new Mural on the West Side. I have my haircut and after that head to the Yough River Park to take a look at the river
Youghiogheny River at Yough River Park
Before heading back to to the other side of town to my final appointment of the morning, I decide to stop at the #49905, but took a nice panoramic photo of the Memorial Bridge.
Memorial Bridge from Yough River Park
Stopped and Checked the #49905, fine and dandy again because of the supporters of the community, a plethora of good clean books to be had.
#49905 at Comfort Inn on March 5, 2020 around 10 AM
Here are some other photos from my walkabout, you can follow my photography channels on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @dlm79photo . I have a YouTube Channel as well… Search Dustin L. Murray Ameatur Photographer and a website: outdoorboy215.smugmug.com
Youghiogheny River and Mud Island
Connellsville Canteen Victory Garden
Connellsville Canteen Victory Garden
Welcome To Connellsville Mural at the Connellsville Canteen
Welcome To Connellsville Mural at the Connellsville Canteen
Welcome To Connellsville Mural at the Connellsville Canteen
Welcome To Connellsville Mural at the Connellsville Canteen
Welcome To Connellsville Mural at the Connellsville Canteen
What a day to be exploring Connellsville without a phone that has a camera capabilities, but I did check the both Little Free Libraries and the Little Free Pantry in Connellsville and they were well stocked and sorted.
I haven’t been able to get out lately, but had a 45 minute break the other day, so I thought I would visit the LFLs by the courthouse and the Central School in Downtown Uniontown.
On the way I stopped for a moment at Main and Pittsburgh streets in the downtown district and looked at the Marshall Statue.
As I head up the block, I cross the Beeson Avenue and stop at Eberly Square for a moment.
In a few minutes I cross Gallatin Avenue and arrive at the Courthouse Little Free Library:
#49891 – Nemacolin Woodlands Courtyard
The shelves are half full but messy. I didn’t really pay attention to the care of the little free library, it has a good mix of titles.
Next to the Central School #49896
A little more scarce than the one by the courthouse but has mostly adult titles.
Another Thursday is here and the train is running late (as many days heading in ways to DC) The train is a little over an hour late, so I head into town and stop by the #49904
#49904 – Lions Square
#49904 – 1/23/2020 – 750 AM
It’s more scarcely stocked than normal and has some religious material, but fairly okay.
Anyway I go and watch the train arrive, leave and head to breakfast. Knowing that I have other engagements in the morning, I go and visit the West Side counterpart #49905 at the Comfort Inn in the afternoon.
#49905 – Comfort Inn
#49905 – 1/23/2020 – 12:00 PM
Anyway, it’s more stocked than its Eastern counterpart and is in good shape.
Another weekend has came and gone. And yet another warm day here in the Laurels. So I thought about catching a view of the Amtrak this morning then checking out status of the Little Frees in town. I checked on the Amtrak website for the train status, which has difficulty on Sundays as the website is maintained on Sunday Mornings until 8 and the train is scheduled for 6:59. Anyway, I google how and find it to be delayed about 35 minutes, which is good in a way because of Standard Time and having daylight. Anyway, I progress to my viewing spot.
One of the nicest things about Connellsvillr on a Sunday Morning is the emptiness of a street such as North Pittsburgh Street in the lower Second Ward. It gives me a chance to stand in the middle of the crosswalk and “shoot” in both directions, although a car was heading southbound through town.
Anyway, I arrive a few minutes before estmated arrival time and is pleased that the city has a handful of lights on in veterans’ plaza
Connellsville Veterans Plaza
Anyway, We Wait
Antrak #30 carried by locomotives #79 and #83 on Sunday, January 12, 2020
Some pictures of the train
Anyway after the train heads to Cumberland, I head to do the LFL duty
But first, gotta grab some more “shots.”
The Home Hotel – 166-172 W. Crawford Avenue
Built in 1808 by brothers Samuel and Caleb Trevor to be used as a store room and dwelling. The Trevor brothers were the first successful merchants of the town. The building has been remodeled to such an extent and altered in appearance by the regrading of the street that it can scarcely be recognized as the old Trevor store. Over the years, it has been occupied by many speciality shops, such as Sam Simon, Tailor, Wagnetta’s Under Fashions, and Marguerite’s Religious Store to name a few.
The building has housed Atkins Music Store since 1960. Prior to this, it was home to Arrows Furniture, part of the Home Hotel, and many other businesses.
Fading images painted many years ago on the wall of a Connellsville building depicting trains of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad as they travel through the historic coal town have been given new life.
Faculty members and students of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus worked over last fall to restore those images, which have graced the side of a downtown Connellsville building for 36 years.
The mural, located at 139 W. Crawford Ave., was completed in 1983 by the late David DiPietro, a Penn State Fayette art professor, and 14 of his students. Later that year, on July 8, a day regarded as the city’s “Railroad Day,” the mural was dedicated by former mayor Ronald J. Haggerty.
More than three and a half decades later, Penn State Fayette is again putting its fingerprints on the Connellsville artwork when a restoration project was recently developed and completed under the direction of art instructor Patrick Daugherty.
“In the restoration, our goal was to be faithful to the original design and colors. We referenced two sources — the mural, with its badly faded colors, and the original color study,” said Daugherty, who gave the previously unnamed mural its title, “Trains of Progress.”
The name refers to the depiction of an old steam engine alongside a modern locomotive, representative of the town’s past and present. The artwork also features the town’s historic B&O railroad station, an essential part of the region’s history as a major hub of the coke industry.
#49904 – Status Update
#49904 @ Lions Square – 7:44 AM on January 12, 2020
The day before I seen people at this one and it astounds me the amount of donations that our citizens give.
Anyway, across the McCray Robb to the #49905
#49905 – Comfort Inn
Again, due to the great contributors of this community, there is a plethora of books for users.
Other Scenes from the West End, McCray Robb Bridge and CSX Railroad
This mornings weekly visit to the LFP at Highlands Hospital in Connellsville has seen the pantry stocked with notions and snacks and has room for some more needs.
Another Thursday has come and its time to head out to make some donations and straighten up the LFLs in our town. My first appointment was cancelled so my plan was originally to go and watch AMTRAK as usual take off at Daylight. However, when I got up this morning, I had checked online and seen that the train would not be in until sometime in the afternoon, therefore I would donate books to the LFL’s today.
#49904 – Lion’s Square
The first stop of the Morning is the Lions Square in Connellsville were I straigtened up and donated six books
There is still room and I did some general cleanup to make it along with our city look nice.
Then across the McCray Robb Bridge to the Connellsville Counterpart
#49905 – Comfort Inn
This library is generally full but could use some childrens material, and the door is sort of swelled and the glass needs cleaned up, however that will have to wait until a warmer day!
When people need the basics, sometimes they don’t know where to get help or they are afraid or embarrassed to ask. When people see others in need, sometimes they don’t know how to approach t
“Anyone might take a book or bring a book to share,” said Jim Shark, executive director of Fay-Penn. The project was inaugurated Friday with the unveiling of the first Little Free Library which is located on Church Street in Uniontown in front of the former Central School. That library box is sponsored by Neubauer’s Flowers. Each of the 15 boxes is starting out with a supply of books thanks to the sponsorship of businesses and organizations across the county. The Connellsville Rotary has sponsored a Little Free Library at the Cobblestone Hotel, while Kisiel and Associates sponsored the one at the Connellsville Canteen and Specialty Conduit is sponsoring one at Laurel Mall. Other Little Free Libraries will be located at various locations in Uniontown, Perryopolis, Fairchance, Smithfield, Brownsville, Keisterville, Smock and Lemont Furnace. One of the Leaders Academy graduates, Jessica Firmstone, said the group selected the project because it promotes a love of reading and provides a foundation of literacy in the county. State Rep. Pat Stefano applauded the efforts of the group. “As a Rotarian, literacy is one of our objectives,” Stefano said. “We are joining a network of 50,000 libraries across the world. Fayette County Commissioner David Lohr said the Little Free Libraries may influence the career paths for county residents. So many times you read a book and you read about something you’d like to try. I know that these libraries are going to open the doors for many youths and adults to maybe change careers,” Lohr said. The Little Free Libraries should become self-sustaining, as readers share books with one another, both taking and leaving books for readers of all ages. Once all fifteen Little Free Libraries are set up in Fayette County, they will be registered on the international website of the nonprofit Little Free Library organization. More information about the program may be found at littlefreelibrary.org.
Fayette County Little Free Libraries and Pantries 