Nov 22, 2024 3 min read

HIT: A severe summertime drought is typically not good news, but it has had one unexpectedly good side effect in this region – it has lowered the water level in Yough Lake to such an extent that it has allowed a 206-year-old stone bridge to emerge from the depths. Thousands of visitors have been flocking to see the Great Crossings Bridge, which opened July 4, 1818, with President James Monroe in attendance. It had until recently been under 50 feet of water. The 375-foot span, located on the border of Fayette and Somerset counties, was once part of the National Road and it was in use until the 1940s, when the creation of the nearby Yough Dam put it and the town of Somerfield underwater. Along with the bridge, remnants of the little town have also resurfaced, such as sidewalks and the foundations of homes. Rostraver resident Michelle Hinerman said, “I’ve seen it low before, but nothing like this. (The bridge is) beautiful architecturally. It’s beautifully built. Just something neat to see.”

MISS: Mike Bradwell was the Observer-Reporter’s business editor from 1995 until his retirement in 2018, and he covered some momentous stories for the newspaper. Even as the region was still confronting the decline of manufacturing and the collapse of the steel industry, Bradwell reported on developments, both physical and otherwise, that changed the landscape of Washington County and the region. Bradwell reported on the growth of retail outlets in South Strabane, including Trinity Point and Strabane Square, the arrival of the casino in North Strabane that now goes by the name Hollywood Casino at the Meadows, the Tanger Outlets shopping center, the growth of Southpointe, and perhaps most importantly, the arrival of the Marcellus Shale industry. “It’s been a lot of fun,” Bradwell said upon his retirement from what proved to be an extraordinarily busy beat. He was appreciated by his colleagues not only for his knowledge of the region but also for his friendly presence in the newsroom. Bradwell died this week at the age of 72, leaving behind many family members and friends to fondly remember him. To his coworkers, he will not be soon forgotten.

MISS: Today is the 61st anniversary of the murder of President John F. Kennedy, a fact that will likely be noted in passing by some media outlets, but won’t be given a whole lot of attention. This is understandable, since this is not an anniversary that ends in a 0 or a 5. Plus, there is also the simple and sad reality that there are fewer and fewer Americans who are alive today who remember hearing the awful bulletins from Dallas on that Friday afternoon in November 1963. It’s estimated that only about 20% of Americans have any recollection of it. To even faintly recall it, you would have had to have been about 5 years old, which means you are now about 66, and either retired or rapidly heading toward it. Of course, Kennedy remains an object of fascination for historians, and the Kennedy family continues to make headlines, but the number of Americans who remember “Camelot” is shrinking by the day. This should serve as a reminder to hear the recollections of older relatives, whether it’s about American history or their own lives, while they are still here to offer them.