close

Annual hike, celebration of Mason-Dixon Line to be held Oct. 19

By For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read

Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon surveyed the historic Mason-Dixon Line, effectively the southern border of Pennsylvania (and, in part, West Virginia’s northern border), from 1764-1767.

Over the next few years (2014-2017), events will be held at various locations to commemorate the 250th anniversaries of their work.

At Mason-Dixon Historical Park, northwest of Morgantown, W.Va., close to Mount Morris and near the western end of “The Line,” an annual October event this year will celebrate Mason and Dixon’s work while taking note of another historic event of local importance.

This year’s hike and celebration at Mason-Dixon Historical Park, located on Buckeye Road, off Route 7 near Core, W.Va., will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19 and will feature the usual guided walk to the third and last crossing of Dunkard Creek by Mason and Dixon and into Greene County. Those wishing to participate need to meet in the parking lot at the park’s Red Barn before the hike.

An interactive activity also will be held to mark the return of prisoners from the French and Indian War, which ended in 1763. Historian Doug Wood of Nitro, W.Va., will begin the day by leading the interactive program, in which visitors will be invited to participate. Wood may be known to previous Mason-Dixon hike attendees with his popular presentation of Cherokee leader Ostenaco (ca. 1703-1780).

Joining Wood will be historical re-enactors Dianne Anestis, of Nitro, W.Va., and Ed Robey, of Morgantown, W.Va.

As always, Pete Zapadka, of Morgantown, W.Va., founder of the Web site exploretheline.com, then will lead the hike and talk.

Zapadka, a Pennsylvania native, is a longtime journalist, historian and astronomer. He will guide participants along the banks of Dunkard Creek to the seldom-visited area near which Mason and Dixon were confronted by their Indian companions who said they would not proceed. The survey team had crossed a warpath on Oct. 8, 1767; Charles Mason noted on that day in his journal:

“At 232 miles 43 chains crossed Dunchard’s Creek a second time. At 232 miles 74 chains crossed Ditto a third time. This day the Chief of the Indians which joined us on the 16th of July informed us that the above mentioned War Path was the extent of his commission from the Chiefs of the Six Nations that he should go with us, with the Line; and that he would not proceed one step farther Westward.”

The hike, which will be held weather permitting, covers easy terrain and is about 1 1/2 miles out and back. There is one small stream to cross.

The hike is a great opportunity for history buffs to learn about Mason and Dixon, their contemporaries and the true meaning of their line, which has nothing to do with the Civil War or slavery, as so often believed today — The Line was drawn 100 years before the war.

Led by historian Ed Robey, participants also will be able to visit the marker atop Brown’s Hill that was erected in 1883 resurvey by Cephas H. Sinclair. It sits at the site of Mason and Dixon’s last earth and stone mound and wooden post.

While the hike runs amid beautiful fall foliage along a mostly flat area next to the creek, visitors who also wish to climb to the marker atop Brown’s Hill should be prepared for a steep trail.

The hike and celebration offer a wonderful opportunity to walk in the footsteps of history.

For directions and information about Mason-Dixon Historical Park, call 304-879-4101. To learn more about the western end of the Mason-Dixon Line, visit exploretheline.com.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today