National Pike Wagon Train prepares for annual trek through Washington County

1 / 2

The National Pike Wagon Train will make its annual journey on Route 40 through Washington County on May 18 and 19.

Courtesy of Bill Glowacki

2 / 2

Onlookers greet the wagon train as it makes its way along the National Road.

Courtesy of Bill Glowacki

[expand]

close

Since 1978, Bill Glowacki Sr. has spent a few days each May on a wagon train traveling Route 40.

This year will be no different.

Glowacki, of Mt. Pleasant, is the wagon master for a portion of the National Pike Wagon Train, which takes to the streets May 18 and 19 to visit communities in Washington County.

The wagon train is part of the annual National Road Festival held the third weekend in May. It is known as the “world’s longest festival,” taking place along 90 miles of the Historic National Road in Pennsylvania (Route 40) through Somerset, Fayette and Washington counties.

An authentic wagon train makes its way from town to town while people line the streets to get a glimpse. Many communities and towns along Route 40 hold their own activities ranging from festivals to arts and craft shows.

Some of those communities in Washington County include Scenery Hill, Richeyville and Claysville.

Glowacki said between 10 and 12 wagons, horses and mule teams and about five or six horseback riders will travel about 25 to 30 miles over the two days. Wagons will be coming from St. Clairsville, Ohio, and portions of West Virginia to join participants from the Washington area.

The group will gather in Washington Park on Friday evening, and on Saturday morning trek to the festivities in Scenery Hill.

“When we pull along that sidewalk in Scenery Hill, you can’t walk through them,” Glowacki said. “That’s how crowded it is.”

A meal, organized by Scenery Hill resident Cheryl Lammey, will be provided at the old Scenery Hill School Saturday evening.

The journey resumes Sunday morning as the group’s journey proceeds to Richeyville, where the wagon train members will have a meal prepared for them by Bunny Waleski.

“She gives us a hot meal,” Glowacki said. “There’s no paper plates. It’s all regular plates and silverware. (She) goes all out and feeds the whole wagon train.”

The wagon train then heads on to Brownsville for the National Pike Steam, Gas and Horse Association’s Steam Show, where they will participate in the parade.

For years, Glowacki said, groups from four different directions would all meet in Brownsville.

“That ended probably 20 years ago,” he said.

One of those groups came from Grantsville, Md., through Fayette County. Waning participation, however, necessitated that the group cut down its journey. This year, they will trek from Farmington to Uniontown in Fayette County on Saturday.

For some, making a two-day ride that harkens back to bygone years may seem taxing. Glowacki said it’s just the opposite for him.

“When I get out on the road, I’m relaxed,” he said. “I forget about everything. If I have a hundred problems, I just don’t think about them. I’m just concentrating on those horses.”

Glowacki, who has been wagon master for five years, came by his interest in taking part in the National Pike Wagon Train quite honestly.

“I was born and raised around horses all of my life,” he said. “Back in the ’70s, friends of mine got me involved. I started as a horseback rider. Eventually, I got a team of horses and broke them, bought myself a wagon, put it together and have (operated a team of horses) since about 1985.”

At 69, Glowacki said he has no intention of hanging up his stirrups.

“I’m going to keep going,” he said. “As long as my health and the good Lord lets me, I’m going to keep doing it.”