In an area full of history, where George Washington honed his skills of
leadership during the French and Indian Wars... In the very valleys
where Washington allegedly shot Jummonville and where legend tells of golden
treasure... Of treasure, hidden in the hills by Colonel Dunbar after he and other
"deserters"
absconded and hid the gold coin wages meant to pay General Braddock's Troops... Among the ridges of charcoal, coal, iron, limestone, water and clay, where
our nation's "Age of Steel" had its birth.
The American Violet
Society establishes a new tradition by presenting an outing of unparalleled
natural beauty and diversity in a location that is central for all our members
in northeastern United States.
The ridges of the "Dunbar Hills are the southern range limit of many
northern species and the valleys are the northern range limit of many southern
ones. Consequently, there are few places in the eastern US with the
diversity of species represented in the Plants_and_Fungi
of the Dunbar Watershed. You can be certain, your attendance at this event will be long
and pleasantly remembered.
We will
meet you at your hotel (Holiday
Inn, Fairfield
Inn, Hampton
Inn; Uniontown or Stone House
Inn, Bed & Breakfast; Farmington) , early Saturday
morning, then car pool to Pechin
Shopping Village. It will be too early to shop, but not too
early to begin the morning with a hearty breakfast together at Pechin's
Market Cafeteria. It isn't fancy, but you will not find lower breakfast, lunch or dinner prices anywhere in the country.
You will never forget this experience!
Once we have fueled our
bodies, we will pile back into our cars for a short four mile trip to PA
State Game Lands # 51 and the beautiful Dunbar
Valley, a 17,000 acre public preserve where every turn brings
another microclimatic area into view. As we travel up the valley, you will be enticed to get
out of your car and start taking pictures of the numerous wildflowers, including many
species of violets that you will see right along the road. But, be
patient, there is much to see and we will have the opportunity for a
significant amount of road-side observations on our "Betty Knocks Road
Walking Tour". We will also follow Dunbar Creek's course
upstream, where we will observe various violet species growing in the
rock ledges, stream overhangs and woodland meadows.
Following our "spring romp", we will travel over the mountain
to historic Stone House Inn,
where we will share a dinner together, selecting from the varied menu,
(separate checks) in one of the charming dining rooms.
Finally, (weather permitting) we will head for the top of Mt. Independence
to watch the lights come on in the foothills below, before returning you
to your hotel base.
We encourage you to make a long weekend out of the trip and to visit
some of the world class attractions in the local area. Upon
receipt of your $10.00 registration fee, you will be sent a tour
package, with information of available lodging, dining, historical,
architectural, and historical attractions, including:
Fort Neccesity
National Battlefield
Jummonville Glenn
Frank Loyd Wright's Falling Water (Kaufmann Home)
Frank Loyd Wright's Kentuck Knob (Hardy Home [84 Lumber])
Ohio Phyle State Park and White Water Rafting
Yough River Bicycle / Walking Trail
Yough River Float Trips
Lenox Crystal
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
We recommend that you arrive in the area on or before Friday night and stay at
least through Sunday morning, as we will be having a full day of violet
associated activity.
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