Catoctin Aqueduct Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Date: October 15, 2011
Contact: Hollie Lynch, 301-491-0149

Hagerstown, MD - On Saturday, October 15, 1011, at 10:00 a.m., the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completed restoration of the Catoctin Aqueduct. Light refreshments, live music, and interpretive programs were provided from 8:30 until noon. Guest speakers included United States Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, Julianna Albowicz representing United States Senator Barbara Mikulski, Chief of Staff Bud Otis representing United States Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, Eric Brenner representative for Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland Senator Ronald N. Young, Frederick County Commissioner David P. Gray, National Capital Regional Director Stephen E. Whitesell, National Park Service, Dr. George E. Lewis Jr. President of the Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration Fund, and Superintendent Kevin D. Brandt of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park as master of ceremonies.

The restoration was completed under contract by Corman Construction, based in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. The National Park Service's, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal NHP) awarded the $3.93 Million contract under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

"This is an outstanding day for all those who support and love the C&O National Historical Park," said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a strong supporter of the restoration. "I was here for the groundbreaking of the project and I am here today because of the importance of this restoration to the region and because it provided jobs for Marylanders."This restoration also will help stimulate tourism and development as more people come to view the site at which the C&O Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad first competed to cross Catoctin Creek, a major tributary of the Potomac."

The Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration (CAR) Fund, Inc. and with funding from the Community Foundation's C&O Canal Current Initiatives/Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration Fund, led the effort to raise awareness of the significance of the Catoctin Aqueduct and substantial funds to undertake the project.

"I can think of no other public project in this area where so many, well over 1,000, citizens, donors, and government officials have come together to restore a historic structure," said CAR Fund President, Dr. George E. Lewis, Jr. "a project of local, state, national significance and interest, a restoration that so many people have a piece of."

"Today we bear witness to the accomplishment of the impossible - or at least what we once thought was impossible. The impossible became possible because one man motivated and led us into dreaming with him that one day the Catoctin Aqueduct would stand whole again.Dr. George Lewis inspired us and together we put history in our hands and this aqueduct back together.The restoration of the Catoctin Aqueduct represents the best in community partnerships," Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Superintendent Kevin Brandt stated."I applaud the many participants and heroes of this great effort and know that current and future generations of park visitors from across America and around the world will better understand the great 19th century battle waged between the titans of transportation that took place right here."

The Catoctin Aqueduct, one of the 11 aqueducts along the 184.5 miles of the C&O Canal, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The C&O Canal is the most intact and impressive example from America's 19th century canal building era.Catoctin Creek is the single national site where the two titans of period transportation, the C&O Canal and the B&O Railroad, struggled, fought, endured Asiatic Cholera, and finally compromised to cross in parallel a major tributary of the Potomac River; the Canal on the historic Catoctin Aqueduct and the railroad on the adjacent viaduct.The Catoctin Aqueduct was known as the most beautiful aqueduct on the Canal.On October 31, 1973, two of the three arches of the 139-year-old Aqueduct collapsed from frequent flooding.

"The Catoctin Aqueduct is a part of Maryland's history and America's history. But it's more than that. The restoration of this historic aqueduct means jobs, jobs, jobs for Frederick County- jobs in construction that brought us here today, and jobs in tourism tomorrow," Senator Mikulski said. "The Catoctin Aqueduct restoration project is a perfect example of Recovery Act funding put to work for local communities, both honoring our past and securing our future."

In addition, the NPS added important elements to the project including access improvements at Lander to facilitate the work and stabilization of the wing walls that protect the aqueduct from flooding on Catoctin Creek.Moreover, the project included removal of both the World War II era Bailey bridge that has served as passage across the creek for the last 37 years as well as the remnants of the failed footbridge erected in the 1970's after the Aqueduct collapsed.The project also included restoration of the stream bank and adjacent areas.

"Our infrastructure is an area where we have the largest investment deficit in our State, and that matters both for job creation today, and for what type of state we leave to the next generation," said Governor O'Malley. "The completion of the Catoctin Aqueduct restoration reminds us of our history as Marylanders and Americans. Thanks to our federal and private partners, we are able to create much-needed jobs for our families."

This project was made possible through an allocation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding along with funds raised by Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration Fund, Inc. and The Community Foundation of Frederick County.Additional funding came from individuals, families, corporations, the C&O Canal Association, Tourism Reinvestment in Promotion and Product Program Development grants from the Tourism Council of Frederick County, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, a State of Maryland Bond Bill, and funds received through the Maryland State Highway Administration's Transportation Enhancement Program.The Catoctin Aqueduct Adopt-A-Stone Program also raised money for this important project.

Together, the funds allowed the Catoctin Aqueduct construction project to be undertaken.Corman Construction began the rehabilitation of the Catoctin Aqueduct in the summer of 2010 and finished in late July 2011.

www.nps.gov/choh