Hopwood, PA - Jumonville

I spent many weeks as a camper and a counselor at the camp at Jumonville.  I love to visit.  I researched wikipedia, and while the camp is listed, there are no photos.  I intend to put the current ones online, and add some historical ones from my time spent there.  Several friends are open to contributing also, so we should have a nice collection. 

The entry gate looks beautiful with the pathway cut showing the cross on the top of the mountain.  This wasn't cut when I attended camp in the 70s.  It is a great idea because the tree growth would block the view.

Small group conversation areas are scattered around the property.  The large Wesley Hall is in the distant background.

Asbury Dining Hall.  I can still hear that large bell ringing when it was mealtime.

Two small cabins are now used for Crafts and Pottery.  The property has been upgraded to be very accessible. You will see ramps throughout.  I was only a few pictures in to the tour when I was approached by a person with a name badge.  It didn't dawn on me that the camp had attendees and that I was an outsider!  A group was there, and Charon was in charge. I told her that I had attended camp back in the day and that I was in town from Arizona.  She saw that I was harmless ;0 and found an official tour guide/attendee for us and name badges. We signed in, promised to avoid taking photos with the camp attendees in the picture and off we went with Susan.

Captain Webb Hall is a main meeting place and residence for staff. 

 

The stone building is Fleming Hall.

Ah, my favorite place! The Snack Shop.  It wasn't open and we peered in the window to take a look.

A few upgraded conveniences, booths now instead of a lot of table and chairs.  Looked good!

 

The front and main doors of the Snack Shop.

 

I peered across the large grassy area and spotted the Straughn Amphitheater.  Susan, it turns out, has an interest in photography also and gave me some tips on this shot with the dead tree in the middle.



 

Further on the path I saw the building that was used (when I attended) to house the camp dean.  

It was made in to the official "The Inn at Jumonville" in 1993.  I will need to keep that in mind.

Continuing on, I saw this sign and recalled the section of cabins called "The Bishops' Cabins".  I have stayed in one of these.

 

 Nice area, nice cabins but quite a haul from the Asbury Dining Hall.  I see that these are now accessible also.  Nice touch.  Hey, what are they doing parking on the grass??  You can also see a part of the beautiful views in the distance. 

 Washington Lodge is standing regal as usual.  I've stayed in these dorms also.

 We crossed the parking lot to see the chapel. Love the red door.

 One last look at the large halls from a different view.  Left to right - Washington Lodge, the back side of the Snack Shop, and Fleming Hall.

 At this point, we exchanged email addresses with Susan and jumped in the car.  I took one last little drive to see the other side of campus.  Here are basketball, tennis and softball areas.

A nice row of trees surround the swimming pool.

This is the entrance way to the King Wood area.  There is a nice green chapel at the bottom, but the photos will need to wait for another trip.

 For the American History buffs, this is quite an area.

 

 It was time to move on to our next stop.  We were fortunate to see a few animals along the route.  This deer stopped in the middle of the road and checked us out.  When we didn't move (with the exception of the steady click click of the camera), Mom Deer ran across the road, followed by Baby Deer.  So cute!

Baby Deer scampering to catch up to Mom.

  A wild bird, perched and in flight.  Hawk?  Let me know if you can identify it.

 Camp website: www.Jumonville.org



Belle Vernon, PA - Sunset at Cedarbrook Golf Course

I saw the sunset at the Cedarbrook Golf Course the night that we met for the Pre-Reunion gathering.  I didn't have my camera with me that night so I went there a few nights later to see what I could capture.

The first photo is about 60 minutes before sunset.  Light was filtered by the grey clouds.

 We were rewarded for our wait.  The clouds stayed high and the sun cast golden light as it sank in the sky.

 This shot is looking north, north east.  I don't know how people can play golf with these beautiful views.

 One more photograph as the sun sank from view.

Charleroi, PA - Drive through Town

I drove from a lunch in Speers and decided to take "the long way home" through a few towns on my way.  I drove north on route 88 on McKean Avenue. These photos are from Charleroi taken through the window at times.  I haven't been here in a very long time.  The Coyle Theater was my main point of interest.  Charleroi's name means "Charles the King" and it is the sister city of Charleroi, Belgium.

The town has been trying to revitalize itself.  I drove on this main street only and the center area of town had shade trees and the buildings were painted, the street was clean.  The sad part was that the old Coyle Theater was in disrepair.  Groups are trying to save it.  Today Charleroi is home to World Kitchen, which makes pyrex.  It is the only plant in the United States to make pyrex.  I didn't know this but this explains why there is SO much of the kitchenware in the area.

The drive is through the Charleroi Historic District.  Most of the buildings are wooden frame two story front gabled residences but there are also brick stores, churches, union halls and clubs.

The building with the tall columns is the Gospel Alliance Church.

That is all.  I am now coming to the Monessen sign and the turn to cross over the historic Charleroi-Monessen Bridge.

Note for later: The First National Bank of Charleroi and the US Post Office and the Charleroi Historic District are all listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.