Latest news with #JohnstownFlood
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Remembering all these years later': 1889 Johnstown Flood anniversary commemorated with luminaria event
ST. MICHAEL, Pa. – Nine-year-old Grace Manack, her mother Rachel Manack and her grandmother Nancy Felix, along with other volunteers, spent time on a windy, cold Saturday lighting luminarias at Johnstown Flood National Memorial. There were 2,209 bags containing candles – one for each person who died 136 years earlier, in the historic Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889 – placed across the memorial grounds. 'I just think it's important that we're still remembering all these years later because it was such a big event and we shouldn't forget about it,' Felix said. Rachel Manack said, 'It's pretty special' to participate in the luminaria event with her family. 'I grew up right two miles from here,' she said. 'I definitely remember coming to the 100th anniversary with my grandparents. Then starting to come back with my daughter and sharing the story – we drive through this (park) every single day on our way to drop her off for school – so it's nice to keep that local history and also give back.' Grace Manack, who attends Forest Hills Elementary School, was 'really happy to do something for the community.' Leading up to the anniversary day, students from the elementary school also wrote the individual names of victims in black marker on each white bag. 'It's a nice connection with the next generation of school children to learn about this flood,' said Elizabeth Shope, the park's public information officer. 'This history happened right in their backyard. What I really love is when they come out to the park on May 31 with their families because they want to see the bags lit up at night, so they make a connection with it outside of just learning about this event in school.' Zoey Kurcin, a Greater Johnstown High School student and Girl Scout Troop 60122 member, said seeing the names on the bags 'makes you realize, 'Wow, these were like real people.'' Kurcin added: 'It's not just something that was just made up that your parents tell you the story about. This was like an actual, real thing that happened in the town that you live in.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cambria County trail celebrates being Pennsylvania's 2025 Trail of the Year
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A 14-mile stretch of trail tracing one of Pennsylvania's most devastating historic events has earned statewide recognition as the 2025 Trail of the Year. The Path of the Flood Trail in Cambria County, which follows the route of the 1889 Johnstown Flood, was honored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for its unique combination of history, outdoor recreation, and economic impact. Officials celebrated the designation this week in South Fork, where the infamous flood began after the South Fork Dam failed. Drawing roughly 80,000 visitors annually, including international tourists, the trail has become an economic driver for the region, supporting small businesses and hosting events like the Path of the Flood Historic Races, which brings in nearly 1,000 participants each year. The trail's route includes the historic Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel constructed in the United States, and is part of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail network. Designed for multiple outdoor activities including hiking, biking, birdwatching, and winter recreation, the surface is a mix of crushed stone and pavement, making it accessible year-round. Maintained through a partnership between the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority, the National Park Service, and local volunteers and businesses, the trail exemplifies the benefits of community and interagency collaboration. The recognition comes amid a statewide push to expand and enhance Pennsylvania's trail system. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the outdoor recreation industry contributed $19 billion to the state's economy in 2023, supporting more than 168,000 jobs and generating $9 billion in wages. DCNR continues to work toward its goal of placing a trail within 10 minutes of every Pennsylvanian and has closed four of the state's top 10 priority trail gaps over the last two years. More information about the Path of the Flood Trail and upcoming events can be found on the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Johnstown Flood National Memorial to hold 1889 flood anniversary activities
ST. MICHAEL, Pa. – The 136th anniversary of the 1889 Johnstown Flood will be recognized May 31. Johnstown Flood National Memorial will commemorate the victims of the flood that occurred on May 31, 1889, when the South Fork Dam broke, sending 20 million tons of water down the Conemaugh Valley to Johnstown. 'It is our duty each day to honor the 2,209 flood victims,' said Stephen M. Clark, superintendent of the Johnstown Flood National Memorial. The Visitor Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. free of charge. The park film 'Black Friday' will play throughout the day at a quarter after each hour. At 4:07 p.m., park rangers will lay commemorative wreaths on the remains of the dam at the time the floodwaters reached Johnstown. The wreath-laying will be broadcast live on the park's Facebook page at Beginning at 7 p.m., 2,209 luminarias, will be lit to honor the victims of the flood. They will line the remains of the South Fork Dam and around the Visitor Center. Each luminaria will have the name of a flood victim written on it and will remain lit until 10 p.m. Park grounds will remain open until the conclusion of the luminarias. Parking is available at the Visitor Center and the South Abutment. A shuttle runs between the Visitor Center and the North Abutment through the duration of the luminarias. Luminarias also will be visible from the Visitor Center area. For more information, call 814-886-6171 or visit
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Heart of this battalion': Memorial dedicated to 458th Engineers at Sandyvale Memorial Gardens
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – During the Persian Gulf War, U.S. Army Reserve 458th Engineer Battalion engineers developed sanitary water filtration systems for frontline troops in Iraq. In 2024, members of its 665 Engineer Utilities Detachment spent 10 months backing special operations, building barriers to protect remote Middle East bases, 458th Batalion Commander Trevor Needham said. Over its 66 years here, the Johnstown-based battalion has often served its country by serving Johnstown, 458th alumni said. They've helped build parks, playgrounds and dished out 500 meals a day to struggling Tanneryville patrons in the aftermath of the 1977 Johnstown Flood, retired Sgt. Maj. Robert Symon recalled. Even though the Goucher Street-based 458th Engineers now have reserve centers across Pennsylvania – as far away as Butler and Harrisburg – there was no better place than Johnstown to salute the battalion's past and present or service and sacrifices, members said Saturday. A crowd of approximately 60 people, including current and former 4548th Engineers, gathered at Sandyvale Memorial Gardens and Conservancy Saturday to dedicate a black granite memorial in the Army Reserve battalion's honor. "Never so much by so few," said retired Col. Samuel Contacos, paraphrasing Winston Churchill's historic words to summarize generations of work by the small battalion at home and abroad. 'Perfect place' The 458th Engineer Battalion's roots date back to 1943, first being activated as the Texas-based 1252nd Engineer Combat Battalion to serve in the European theater of World War II. In 1959, the unit moved to Johnstown. Plans for a memorial were in the works for years, said retired Sgt. First Class Joe Siwy. He said he first envisioned the memorial at Central Park until he toured Sandyvale. Its trail now features several military memorials – and plans have been discussed about relocating a few of Central Park's monuments. Sandyvale is anchored by trees planted for each of the nation's armed conflicts – and more importantly, the space and serenity to reflect on them, Siwy said. With a gesture to the sky, he pointed out the picturesque park that serves as the flight path for a bald eagle that nests above Menoher Boulevard. "It's a perfect setting," the Johnstown area veteran said. "This is what our veterans deserve." 'Heart of this battalion' Fellow 458th members also observed the fitting setting for their monument, which was created by battalion alumni through a multi-year fund drive under the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Siwy said. Needham reminded attendees that the 458th Engineers have long been called the "Anvil Battalion" – and for good reason. For generations, many of them have forged their military careers in a valley with a rich iron and steel history, he said. "Now, part of their permanent home is here in Johnstown as well," Needham said of the memorial. At 94 years old, Symon was the oldest living alumni to attend. Sitting near the memorial Saturday, he recalled reservists who answered the call over three straight months of flood recovery efforts in Johnstown. For weeks, meals were airlifted by helicopter to Tanneryville because the horrific torrent gutted access into the community. Symon was joined at the event by retired Col. Sam Contacos, a Johnstown native and longtime Coney Island owner who became the 458th battalion's commander in the 1960s. Contacos remembered a platoon commander telling him "remember your background" as a young officer. Those words still resonate today, he said, as he thinks about the work the 458th Engineers performed in Johnstown – and the men who served him. "They never let me down," Contacos said. Over 66 years in Johnstown, there's a growing number no longer living – many who "gave their all and will never be forgotten," said retired Maj. Gen. Rodney Ruddock said. "When you make your way to this memorial, you'll be reminded about what is good about America," Ruddock said, calling the monument "the heart of this battalion." "It will serve as our beacon of hope forever."
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
'A win for everybody': Path of the Flood Trail earns state's Trail of the Year award
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Cambria County's historic Path of the Flood Trail has been named Pennsylvania's Trail of the Year for 2025, state officials said Thursday. The recognition "is a testament to the partnership between many individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving this rich, historical trail," Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Executive Director Cliff Kitner said in a statement. "We are honored and excited to continue sharing this unique journey with all who visit." The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Trails Advisory Committee picks a Trail of the Year annually to boost awareness of the state's 14,000-mile trail network and to highlight the value of those trails to residents and visitors. The 14-mile Path of the Flood Trail, completed in 2023, connects the ruins of the South Fork Dam near St. Michael to downtown Johnstown. It follows and commemorates the path of the 1889 Johnstown Flood that killed more than 2,200 people. The trail receives about 80,000 visitors annually, including international guests, and is the site of the annual Path of the Flood Historic Races that average around 1,000 participants. The crushed-stone and pavement path is accessible for a variety of activities, including hiking, birdwatching, running, cross-country skiing, biking and snowshoeing. The scenic trail features the Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in the nation, built in the 1830s. It is part of the September 11th National Memorial Trail, which connects the sites in Somerset County, Washington, D.C., and New York City where hijacked jets crashed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Outdoor recreation is part of Cambria County's economy and we all rally behind it," Cambria County Commissioner Thomas Chernisky said. "This is a win for everybody." Chernisky, a longtime trail enthusiast and supporter, thanked DCNR for the honor and Kitner and his staff for their dedication to the local trail system. President Commissioner Scott Hunt also congratulated authority staff. Commissioner Keith Rager credited Chernisky for his support of the county's outdoor recreation opportunities for helping achieve the distinction. "In naming the Path of the Flood Trail as the 2025 Trail of the Year, we honor its unique role in preserving history while providing a vibrant space for recreation and community engagement," DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a release. "This trail is a destination, inviting visitors from across the nation and the world to experience the history of the 1889 Johnstown Flood while enjoying outdoor activities in a stunning natural setting. We hope this designation will bring even more visitors to explore the trail, supporting local businesses and fostering economic, environmental and social benefits for the region." This is the county's and authority's second Trail of the Year award. The Ghost Town Trail received the nod from DCNR in 2020. "Following the Ghost Town Trail's designation in 2020, the Path of the Flood Trail being named Trail of the Year marks the second time in five years that a trail in our county has received this designation," CCCRA Assistant Executive Director Caytlin Lusk said in a statement. "We are grateful to the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee and DCNR for recognizing the exceptional trails that we are proud to offer here in Cambria County." For more information about the county's trails system, visit
