Volunteers from The Friends of Blackwater gathered at the Cole Ovens near Thomas for a cleanup of the Blackwater Rail Trail the weekend of September 12. The organization conducted mowing, weed-eating and pruning of vegetation around the historic site and signage in the area.
“Together, we spent the afternoon clearing overgrown vegetation around our historic coke ovens and signage, helping make these important pieces of Blackwater’s history more visible and accessible,” a release from the organization stated. “…our volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got the job done! We’re grateful to everyone who donated their time and energy to help care for and preserve this special part of our local heritage. We couldn’t do this work without our incredible volunteer community—thank you for helping us keep Blackwater’s history alive!”