Today we had the wonderful opportunity to visit the small town of Connellsville. Our group met with Dan Cocks and Michael Edwards, the two men who run the Fayette County Cultural Trust. They showed us all the new features that they have been adding to the town to make it most desirable for people traveling through to stay there for a night. Our first stop was at Youghiogheny Opalescent Glass Company, which is a pillar of the community in Connellsville. It is regarded as one of the five main stained glass companies in the world. The Haller team was given a fascinating tour of the facility and a behind the scenes look at the entire process of how the company produces their stained glass. The company’s products are distributed worldwide for use in the making of stained glass lamps, panels, windows, and other arts and crafts. I found it very interesting that about 50% of their sales come from buyers in Japan and only about 20% of their sales are domestic. Youghiogheny Glass is world renowned in the artist community for its uncompromising quality and color artistry, designed to recreate the magnificence of nature’s colors.
Over lunch, Dan and Michael gave a presentation about their work with the Cultural Trust. They shared some of the projects they’ve completed, as well as those currently in progress. Some of these include the benches, bike racks, and garbage cans that can be seen walking around the streets in Connellsville. One of the larger projects that was recently completed was the hotel. Connellsville has a new renovated hotel in the heart of the town for tourists and bikers to stay at as they are passing through the town. Dan and Michael talked about how they are actively trying to update the outdated biker signs that surround the town area. By doing so it will make the town more marketable and noticeable for passers by. The Connellsville model can be used to help us when we are making recommendations for revitalization in Carrigart. Both towns are small communities that rely heavily on tourism, making it essential to leave a positive impression on those passing through. By continuing to highlight its charm and amenities, Connellsville is ensuring that visitors see just how much the town has to offer.