May 6, 2007 By Joyce Koballa 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Stewart’s Crossing received a new addition Saturday that will serve as an overnight accommodation for out-of-town guests walking or riding their bicycles on the Yough River Trail. Crews from Hilltop Excavating began working at 6 a.m. to remove a green caboose located at the intersection of Route 119 and Crawford Avenue near the Sheetz convenience store.

The 25-ton train car is part of an ongoing effort between the city, the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority, the Connellsville Historical Society, the Cultural Trust Foundation, the Yough River Trail Council (YRTC) and the Regional Trail Council (RTC) to develop a campground along the bike/hike trail at Stewart’s Crossing.

“The biggest complaint from people that use the trails is that when they get to Connellsville, they have nowhere to stay,” said Ted Kovall, YRTC president.

The caboose, which previously housed several businesses, was donated to the city in March by owner Randy Strickler, with Hilltop Excavating coming in as the lowest bidder to relocate it at a cost of $2,600.

While the caboose was hooked up and ready to be transported to its new destination along the bike/hike trail next to Martin’s Food Stores, the chains on the front bent from the weight, leaving Don Allen, owner of Hilltop, looking for a heavier piece of metal to better secure the frame.

“When you start working on this kind of stuff, you don’t know what kinds of problems you’re going to run into,” said Allen.

Kovall said the YRTC purchased four back wheels and an axle to help aid in the removal of the caboose for $400.

Although it took several hours to finally move the caboose, it was well worth it, especially when the entire section of trail linking Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md., is completed to forge the Great Allegheny Passage, according to Dexton Reed, RTC president and vice president of the city’s redevelopment authority.

“We’re just one section of it, but (YRTC) has the largest part to maintain which is 26 miles,” said Kovall.

According to Kovall, the YRTC is a chapter of the RTC and is responsible for the maintenance and labor associated with trail improvements.

Kovall pointed out that relocating the caboose was part of the first phase to develop the

campground, with plans to install monuments depicting the area as Stewart’s Crossing and eventually constructing an amphitheater on the adjacent hillside.

Meanwhile, Kovall said the local Girl Scout troops have agreed to decorate the inside of the caboose, which is already carpeted and has electrical outlets.

The outside, however, has turned into an Eagle Scout project for area Boy Scout troops with the idea to cover up the wheels and make the caboose look like it is sitting on a railroad track using gravel and railroad ties.

Kovall added the caboose would be well exposed to light in its new location while a yellow caboose located further behind Martin’s would be moved to the same place to deter the possibility of any more break-ins and vandalism.

Until the campground is completed and public sewerage service installed, Kovall said the Mug and Brush located on West Crawford Avenue has agreed to offer its shower facilities for those staying in the caboose while bathroom usage would be available at Martin’s, which is open 24 hours a day.

Stewart’s Crossing, later known as Connellsville, is most noted in history as the place where Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock camped out with his troops before crossing the Youghiogheny River to confront the French at Fort Duquesne.