Mar 7, 2013 3 min read

Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. It seems that Fredericktown resident Pam Morosky may be stuck behind one of the trees. Her March 2 letter to the editor was so filled with misleading and untrue comments regarding the Fredericktown/Millsboro area and our work to develop it into a recreational destination that I have to respond.

For starters, let’s talk about the amenities that we offer to both locals and visitors. We have five bars and restaurants, three marinas that dock more than 400 boats, 125 camp sites situated on Greene County hill, a bank, two grocery stores, two convenience stores, a Family Dollar store under construction, two beer distributors, a state liquor store, an eye doctor, an insurance agent, an attorney, a decorating apparel store, a dance studio, a seamstress, a laundromat, a jewelry store, a hair stylist, an American Legion post, two auto garages, a pizza shop, a ceramics shop, a deer processing shop, a hardware store, two post offices, a fire department, a library and a police department! This a far cry from Morosky’s statement that we have only two restaurants, a cafe and three stores.

True, there’s no gas station. But not for trying! We have been in contact with every major gasoline supplier in the area and they have expressed no interest in establishing a station in the area for a variety of reasons. And the Clyde mine property is for sale and is currently in better condition than it has been in years.

Plus, we have a beautiful 5.2-mile walking trail along the Monongahela River, and Tenmile Creek is being groomed for kayak launches and is now being stocked by the Izaak Walton League of America with trout. Washington County Park is here, as well as 20 miles between locks of the most beautiful section of the Monongahela River. In addition, the Maxwell Basin Recreation Area will host over 25 events this year for both locals and visitors to attend. We have a strong association with the River Town Program and with the help of this group and many others, the Monongahela River was named Pennsylvania’s River of the Year.

And, yes, we have a ferry. And no one, including me, wants to see the ferry end up in the junkyard. I offered up a possible solution after realizing that its days certainly seemed numbered. The ferry is a part of our history and our proposal was a thought-out solution to keep the ferry as a museum and, at the same time, increase our chances of revitalizing this community by cleaning up an environmental and visual eyesore, providing new access to the river and an additional place to hold events.

But, regardless of what happens to the ferry, the river will still flow, the boats will be out and the Maxwell Basin Recreation Area will come alive this summer. You see, Ms. Morosky, the thousands of people who visit our area have a slightly different opinion than yours.

Dennis Slagle

Fredericktown

Slagle is president of the Fredericktown Chamber of Commerce.