There must be something in the ancient human psyche that compels people to stack stones, known as cairns. Throughout the world you will find places where stones have been stacked in various formations and alters. These ones stood for quite awhile along the Ghost Town Trail. "A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Most people have heard of Punxsutawney Phil, not so many have heard of Blue Spruce Bob. Each year, for many years, our maintenance crew would place Blue Spruce Bob out near our park office to celebrate Groundhog Day and to have a little fun with Marlene, our former secretary. Each year Bob was decorated in a different theme, this one being the year the Steelers last made it to the Super Bowl. When Marlene retired after 28 years with us Blue Spruce Bob also retired.
We look forward to the day when the waters of Auld's Run will flow clean again. This small mountain stream begins far up the mountain and as it tumbles downward it picks up acid mine water discharges from abandoned coal mines. Groups like the Blacklick Creek Watershed are working hard to clean-up abandoned mine discharges but it takes time and money to do so. Because of its location along the Ghost Town Trail Auld's Run is receiving renewed attention as a potential site of a stream clean-up project.
