The day started off by driving an hour south of Pittsburgh to right outside of my hometown, to the town of Connellsville. Once we arrived in Connellsville, we went to Youghiogheny Opalescent Glass Company and got to have a tour around the facilities from the owner. During our tour, she explained the process of how the stained glass was made, which I found quite interesting, as she explained how stained glass could be imprinted to have different textures. The owner also talked about how most of her business is done internationally because there is a larger market for stained glass overseas, especially in Japan. She told us that Japan is one of her biggest clients because stained glass is a popular artform there. The stained glass factory is also one of only 4 stained glass facprties in the United States. After our tour we got to all keep a pice of stained glass as a souvenir.

From the stained glass factory, we headed to the canteen for lunch, which is run by the Fayette County Cultural Trust as a way to make some revenue to use for other upkeep projects. Dan Cocks and Michael Edwards were our tour guides for the day as they are key members of the cultural trust in Fayette County The canteen is filled with historic artifacts, all donated by locals, focusing on World War II. Inside the canteen, there is a train set which took 40 years to build and was then sold by the creator and was then gifted to Mr. Hardy of 84 Lumber and Nemacolin as a birthday present. The train set focused on the area of Connellsville and with being done by only one person it was quite descriptive. From the canteen we then went next door to there other building which houses a classroom and an area where local indian artifacts are on display. Currently Pitt is using the space for classes. This building also has a 75 person black box theater that is currently being built thanks to a grant. This space is an ongoing project that they are hoping brings more life into Connellsville.

After the Canteen, we headed to the only hotel in Connellsville, which is the Comfort Inn and is rated the 2nd best in the country. The hotel was created out of a need of trying to keep people in town from the bike trail. It sits right on the river and the bike path. The hotel also offers bike rentals, kayaks, and a shower/laundry room for cyclists if they do not want to stay the night and just need a quick refresh stop. From there, we headed next door to a restaurant and event space created by the owner of the hotel to try and bring more business to not only his hotel, but the town itself. This space has only been open since January and is already booked for numerous events and weddings. From the hotel and event space, we walked the bike trail to the archway and learned about different historic aspects of the trail. After that, we concluded our day and went back to Pittsburgh.

All in all, the experience taught me a lot about how small towns can help leverage local resources to support community businesses as well as how some of the topics we learned in Connellsville, small town America, can be translated to Carrigart, a small town in Ireland. The Fayette County Cultural Trust in Connellsville has successfully driven economic development by revitalizing historic buildings, promoting the arts, and leveraging the Great Allegheny Passage trail to boost tourism and support local businesses. Their collaborative model, focused on partnerships, cultural investment, and community engagement, has strengthened the local economy and identity. You can then use these ideas For Carrigart, as Connellsvilles approach suggests key strategies: use local assets (like natural beauty and heritage), support creative and cultural initiatives, and build partnerships between public and private sectors. Connellsville’s model shows how place-based, community-driven revitalization can create lasting economic and social benefits. I feel that everything I learned in Connellsville can somehow translate to Carrigart even though it is much smaller than Connellsville.