Moraine’s 53rd anniversary approaching
The creation of Moraine State Park and Lake Arthur was one of the largest land reclamation initiatives ever pulled off, with Pennsylvania workers plugging 422 oil, gas and water wells and acquiring 15,000 acres.
State officials dedicated the park with a ceremony May 23, 1970, and the park’s staff didn’t get to commemorate its 50th anniversary because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They now plan to mark the park’s gold anniversary while also celebrating its 53rd anniversary with a history event Thursday, May 25.
“We still want to celebrate it, even though it isn't an even 50 — it's even better than 50,” Natalie Simon, environmental education specialist at the park said.
She said staff members plan events recognizing different anniversaries of the park, and the dedication is as good a time as any to relay its history.
“We had a big celebrations planned for the 50th birthday that had a whole number of programs for the season,” Simon said, “but, of course, it got shut down because it was three years ago.
The historical presentation begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the pavilion at McDanel’s Launch, where visitors will learn how the land has changed dramatically over time, “from the ice age to present day.”
During the presentation, visitors can “find out what sparked the idea to create Moraine State Park by its forefathers,” which changed the valley forever into a “recreational gem.”
According to the May 25, 1970, edition of the Butler Eagle, Lt. Gov. Raymond J. Broderick spoke at the park’s dedication about the efforts that went into creating it.
To create the park, two major highways had to be relocated, a dam had to be built, and 500 acres of strip mines had to be reclaimed. Additionally, 14 coal refuse pipes and 58 deep-mine openings had to be removed.
According to Simon, many people have attended events celebrating the park’s anniversary in the past to share their own memories of the park and its creation. Some of them have been farmers who have talked about the land before the park was created.
“A lot of people in the greater community here have remembrances of this area before the park was formed as well as the early days of the park,” Simon said. “One thing we particularly enjoy is when someone comes up to us after or before the ceremony and tells us their own story of someone they knew who worked at the park, or maybe they worked there.”
Simon said the park staff, too, enjoys hearing memories of Moraine State Park and the Muddy Creek Valley.
“There's a lot of connections to it, and this is a time to celebrate that,” Simon said.
The History of Moraine State Park presentation is scheduled to take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McDanel’s Launch on the North Shore, and anyone is welcome to attend, Simon said.
For more information on the event, visit the department of conservation and natural resources’ website.
