The first stop on our visit to Connellsville was Youghiogheny Glass. Our group had the opportunity to tour Youghiogheny’s facilities and learn how they differentiate their glass from their competitors. One of the most interesting facts I learned today was that there are only five stained glass factories worldwide. This surprised me because I initially believed that there would have been numerous factories around the globe to meet the demands for stained glass. After the tour, I discussed the effects COVID had on the factory with the owner. Unexpectedly, the stained glass industry took off as people began purchasing large quantities of stained glass for their hobbies. This aided Youghiogheny glass throughout the pandemic and provided a boost for the town’s economy during a time when most of the country was struggling to stay afloat. We discussed the similarities between Waynesburgh’s and Connellsville’s economies and the different ways they were trying to rebound. It was fascinating to examine how two similar towns were heading in different directions regarding their economic rebuilding.
After our discussion, I was then able to pick out a piece of stained glass from their expansive inventory. I chose a piece that features dark red, black, and hues of white, which together create an image resembling flowing lava. We then had lunch at Connellsville canteen, where we learned about the role Connellsville played in feeding traveling soldiers before they went off to war. The restaurant had a vast collection of World War II memorabilia that soldiers had gifted to the town after the war was over. During lunch, we heard about the efforts Connellsville was making to revitalize its economy in great detail. One of the primary methods that the town uses is applying for grants from the federal and state governments. The city council decides how the funds will be allocated to best aid the town in attracting tourists. Several of the town’s latest projects include renovated dilapidated buildings, parks, a theater, and an educational center. Following lunch, we visited the theater, which was nearing completion. We didn’t have a chance to stay there long because we had to visit the educational center. I was immediately drawn to the Native American artifacts on display and read the descriptions of as many of them as I possibly could. Fascinatingly, the state of Pennsylvania took hundreds of years to recognize that native americans inhabited the state. To this day, Pennsylvania still does not recognize any land that formerly belonged to the Native Americans, even though the most recent state census reported over thirty thousand Native Americans within the state. Our group then drove to one of the hotels in Connellsville to learn about the efforts it was making within the community to boost tourism. The hotel offers amenities such as rental bikes, rental kayaks, and nearby restaurants owned by the hotel. One of the managers we met stated how the hotel makes considerable efforts to accommodate the bikers who come from the Great Allegheny Passage trail. This trail is one of the town’s most important assets when it comes to attracting tourists. Our group then had the opportunity to walk up to part of the Great Allegheny Passage and view some of the parks that the city council recently installed. My main takeaway from the trip to Connellsville is that one of the most critical actions a small town can do to attract tourists is to invest in activities that a majority of people can enjoy. A city must also be welcoming to tourists, making them feel comfortable in a foreign environment.
A Day in Connellsville
