WW II Bower Hill Memorial Rededicated
Conservancy Members Make a Difference in Scott

Ed Stevens, a Korean War Veteran, Judge John G. Brosky and Zack D'Alesandro, Jr.

For a little over ten years now the Scott Conservancy has been putting to flight the notion that the spirit of volunteerism is dead and we have all become a nation of self-centered couch potatoes. Whether it's been landscaping a barren traffic island, helping to clean our water of mine pollution, or leading hikes in the Kane Woods, Conservancy members are making a difference in Scott Township.

One of those members, Judge John Brosky stepped up recently to volunteer his time and considerable organizational and people skills to help preserve, refurbish, and move to a new location a neglected, and deteriorating memorial to the World War II veterans from Bower Hill.

The Judge, during his remarks, said that freedom is not free. The stars beside the names for four of the veterans on the memorial, and all of the names on the memorial are a silent testimony to their sacrifice. Maybe the next time you're driving by, you can stop to read the names, or leave flowers at the memorial. Thanks to the efforts of the Judge, the memorial will be there a long time, and the names will be remembered for a long time. God help us if we forget.

After reading about the neglected memorial in the "Scott Conservationist", and seeing that his good friend and tipstaff Harry Volkhart was one of the names listed on the memorial, the Judge sent a donation to the Conservancy to help with the restoration. But he didn't stop there. He arranged with the County to have the memorial moved to a better location on Kane Boulevard. He worked with Roger Gaydos of the Gaydos Memorial Company to have the memorial refurbished and repolished.

Another of the Judge's friends, Richard Thomas of the Richard L. Thomas Body Shop, furnished a crane and the manpower to move the 2,300 pound memorial to its new site.

And he did this all in about two months, in time to have the memorial rededicated on Veteran's Day, November 11th.

Over a hundred people gathered on that day, making the rededication ceremony that the Judge organized one of the most memorable in some time.

Many of those present were World War II veterans who came to remember their friends who served this country so bravely and so well 60 years ago.

Their courage preserved our freedom, and as we well know, Americans are still serving today to preserve that freedom.

One of them, Air Force Colonel Alan Thompson, who attended the re-dedication with the University of Pittsburgh color guard, was himself headed overseas after the ceremony.

The Whiskey Rebellion is important in U.S. history because it provided the first real test of the new American Constitution..

In 1794 an angry mob of Whiskey Boys marched through the Scott Conservancy's Kane Woods to "Bower Hill," the plantation home of the Federal Inspector of the Excise, General John Neville, which was located at the top of Kane Blvd. near Kane Hospital.

The insurgents burned Neville's home. Neville, a Federalist, narrowly escaped the grasp of the crowd.

Our Kane Woods Trails, through which the Whiskey Boys once marched, are named in honor of the rebellion.

An historic marker now marks the location of Neville's home on Kane Blvd.

Conservancy Erects Marker on Historic
Bower Hill Site

In 1996, the Conservancy with the support of the Scott Township Commissioners, received approval from the Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission to erect a state historical Marker on Bower Hill, the site of General Neville's mansion.

Another state historical maker was erected two years later at Old St. Luke's Church, also in Scott Township, to honor the role it played in American History. Old St. Luke's is the oldest church established west of the Allegheny Mountains. The church is still preserved today as a house of worship. Reverend Richard Davies led the effort to secure approval for the St. Luke's Historical Marker.

General Neville worshipped at Old St. Luke's Church and the Church's cemetery is the resting place of many of our region's earliest settlers including a number of Revolutionary War veterans.

Our Kane Woods nature area trails now honor the history of the Whiskey Rebellion.

Cub & Boy Scouts Lend Helping Hand

As part of the “Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge, one of 12 required Merit Badges for Eagle Scout, Boy Scout Troop 365 volunteered to assist the Scott Conservancy by making improvements to our Kane Woods property in Scott Township.

Directed by Don McGuirk, our Conservancy representative, and Troop Leader Dr. Jeff Wentz, members of the troop from Covenant Community Presbyterian Church worked hard digging holes to be used for planting shrubs and they constructed a temporary protective fence along the property line to protect the new plantings.

On the morning of October 22nd, 2005, six boys working on Eagle Scout badges from Boy Scout Troop 365 and three boys who offered to assist them arrived at the field owned by the Scott Conservancy along Scrubgrass Road. They came ready to dig with shovels and hammers in hand.

A week later, Cub Scout Pack 861 from Holy Child Parish in Bridgeville arrived in the afternoon to complete the work. With help from their parents, they planted 60 shrubs and 6 trees using holes dug by the Boy Scouts in the previous week.

The boys worked hard and did a great job! The Scott Conservancy would like to thank both troops for their help and hope they will be able to work with them in the future.

Spring Cleanups

The Great PA Cleanup every spring around Earth Day

This spring, join your fellow conservancy members, community volunteers and other Pennsylvanians across the state for the Great PA Clean-up

Last spring, Scott Township, for the first time ever, joined the conservancy in cleaning up, by sponsoring a township wide clean-up of various roadways. We would really like their participation to become an annual event.

Earth Day is always a good time to stage a cleanup. And in Scott Township we always have a lot to clean up. The conservancy is restoring our Kane Woods property, so we can use a hand for clearing debris and picking up trash.

With a $5,000 grant from the PA Dept of Community & Economic Development to help restore our land, the Kane Woods is becoming even more attractive for public use.

So, besides picking up trash, the annual spring cleanup is always an opportunity to do some much needed trail care and maintenance..

On Earth Day weekend, Scott Conservancy will again clean up the Kane Woods Nature Area. Meet at the Whiskey Point Trailhead, at the newly constructed shelter, and park in the lot located on the corner of Main Street and Scrubgrass Road across the street from the Veterans Bridge.

We encourage volunteers to bring tools such as rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, pickaxes, saws, loppers and hand clippers. Wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, and sturdy shoes. If possible, we would appreciate it if volunteers can bring a bucket for the collection of sharp objects.

Gloves, trash bags, safety vests, and water will be provided. This is a unique opportunity to make a difference in your very own neighborhood.

The Pack, along with members of Boy Scout Troop 834, also from Glendale, have participated in many activities resulting in improvements to the community and our environment.

Some of their projects have included trail and stream clean-ups, the building of steps on a popular trail, community clean-ups, and various service projects. Keep up the good work!

Cub Scout Pack 849
Conservancy Proud Sponsors

The Scott Conservancy is the proud sponsor of Glendale's Cub Scout Pack 849. The scouts are involved in worthwhile community projects. Chartered in Scott Township, visit Cub Scout Pack 849 for more info or if your children are interested in joining.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy designed the island and provides the flowers and tools needed for the planting.

Volunteers can conveniently park at the end of the Flynn Tire parking lot closest to the traffic island.

A couple hours of work and your volunteer effort results in a garden enjoyed by motorists, including yourself, as you drive past throughout the summer.

Planting Patty's Park

Patty's Park is a traffic island on the corner of Hope Hollow and Route 50 across from Flynn's Tire. Conservancy members work together with township volunteers and commissioners each spring.

Scott Conservancy members volunteer to help plant community flower garden

Work continues on the traffic island the conservancy maintains at the intersection of Greentree and Cochran Roads. If you have driven by "the island" you may have noticed work on the flower beds and the grass being cut more regularly. A drip system has been installed to make it easy to water plantings on the island, using $2000 in grant money from Pennsylvania's Dept. of Community and Economic Development which was then matched by Scott Township.

Traffic Island Facelift

With some extra help from Scott Township with the grass cutting and the garden planning done by Mary Pitzer, the appearance of the island has really improved.

Bishop Landscaping, owned by Ron Bishop, a Scott Township resident, removed weeds and rocks on the island, added top soil and planted new grass.

WW II Bower Hill Memorial Rededicated Conservancy Members Make a Difference in Scott

Conservancy Erects Marker on Historic Bower Hill Site