Around The Hollow
The Ferry Boat Crossing
Visitors walking along the Youghiogheny River Trail near Dead Man's Hollow sometimes wander up onto the old P&LE railroad tracks that run parallel to the trail. While these individuals move from one wooden tie to the next, some of them may have noticed an unusual square column embedded into the hillside between the rails and the river. This particular concrete formation is all that is left of the Ferry Boat Crossing that operated in Dead Man's Hollow around the turn of the century. With employment in the hollow on the rise, an easier way of crossing the Youghiogheny River was desperately needed. Prior to the construction of the boat landings, those living on the opposite bank of the river were forced to cross the Boston Bridge and walk over a mile to get to work.
It wasn't long before the men working at the stone quarry and the brick factory were moving back and forth across the river on the flat-bottom boat. The boat itself wasn't very large. However, it did have the capacity to transport a small number of men and even a horse. The ferry boat used a winch-and-cable pulley system that was controlled by a simple hand-crank. When in motion, the pulley glided along a heavy gauge cable that had been stretched across the Youghiogheny River just a few feet above its surface. To stabilize the guide wire, each end of the cable was secured to massive concrete columns that seemed to mirror each other from opposite banks. Ironically, each concrete slab was called a 'Deadman'. When the ferryman let out the cable, the bow of the boat was aimed slightly to the left or right of the river's center. This technique allowed the gentle current to push the boat along without the risk of capsizing. Throughout the spring and summer, conditions on the Youghiogheny River were just right for this type of service. The ferry continue to operate daily until the winter weather caused the Youghiogheny River to freeze. Once this occurred, most of the men that used the ferry regularly ignored the dangers and simply walked across the ice to get to work.
Season after season, the ferry added convenience to those living and working in the Dead Man's Hollow area. This operation continued up until the Union Sewer Pipe Company was destroyed by a fire in 1925. When the owner announced that the factory was not going to be rebuilt, the individuals that piloted the ferry boat recognized that there would no longer be a need for their service. Not long after, the flat-bottom boat was relocated. The heavy cable, on the other hand, had been left behind. Almost immediately, the families living in Dead Man's Hollow began using the cable with their small boats and homemade skiffs. Many of them found that it was much easier to pull their boats across the river rather than row. Eventually, the cable would disappear as well. All that was left now were the two concrete slabs. Of course, even that wouldn't be the case for long. By the 1960s, erosion had caused the column on the Versailles side of the river to collapse and slide into the Youghiogheny. Since then, the last remaining piece of evidence that a ferry boat had operated out of Dead Man's Hollow is a single concrete column.
Visitors walking along the Youghiogheny River Trail near Dead Man's Hollow sometimes wander up onto the old P&LE railroad tracks that run parallel to the trail. While these individuals move from one wooden tie to the next, some of them may have noticed an unusual square column embedded into the hillside between the rails and the river. This particular concrete formation is all that is left of the Ferry Boat Crossing that operated in Dead Man's Hollow around the turn of the century. With employment in the hollow on the rise, an easier way of crossing the Youghiogheny River was desperately needed. Prior to the construction of the boat landings, those living on the opposite bank of the river were forced to cross the Boston Bridge and walk over a mile to get to work.
It wasn't long before the men working at the stone quarry and the brick factory were moving back and forth across the river on the flat-bottom boat. The boat itself wasn't very large. However, it did have the capacity to transport a small number of men and even a horse. The ferry boat used a winch-and-cable pulley system that was controlled by a simple hand-crank. When in motion, the pulley glided along a heavy gauge cable that had been stretched across the Youghiogheny River just a few feet above its surface. To stabilize the guide wire, each end of the cable was secured to massive concrete columns that seemed to mirror each other from opposite banks. Ironically, each concrete slab was called a 'Deadman'. When the ferryman let out the cable, the bow of the boat was aimed slightly to the left or right of the river's center. This technique allowed the gentle current to push the boat along without the risk of capsizing. Throughout the spring and summer, conditions on the Youghiogheny River were just right for this type of service. The ferry continue to operate daily until the winter weather caused the Youghiogheny River to freeze. Once this occurred, most of the men that used the ferry regularly ignored the dangers and simply walked across the ice to get to work.
Season after season, the ferry added convenience to those living and working in the Dead Man's Hollow area. This operation continued up until the Union Sewer Pipe Company was destroyed by a fire in 1925. When the owner announced that the factory was not going to be rebuilt, the individuals that piloted the ferry boat recognized that there would no longer be a need for their service. Not long after, the flat-bottom boat was relocated. The heavy cable, on the other hand, had been left behind. Almost immediately, the families living in Dead Man's Hollow began using the cable with their small boats and homemade skiffs. Many of them found that it was much easier to pull their boats across the river rather than row. Eventually, the cable would disappear as well. All that was left now were the two concrete slabs. Of course, even that wouldn't be the case for long. By the 1960s, erosion had caused the column on the Versailles side of the river to collapse and slide into the Youghiogheny. Since then, the last remaining piece of evidence that a ferry boat had operated out of Dead Man's Hollow is a single concrete column.
The P&LE Railroad Water Tank
A visit to Dead Man's Hollow in the winter can often provide an opportunity to get a better look at some of the 'historical treasures' that are hidden during other seasons. One particular place of interest that is seldom seen in the spring and summer would be the site of the former P&LE Railroad Water Tank. The remnants of this forgotten structure can be found along the paved section of the Youghiogheny River Trail between the entrance to the conservation area and the Liberty Trail access. The building's foundation has been permenantly indented into the earth by a circular wall of Bowman bricks.
The P&LE Railroad Water Tank was constructed in the 1880s, around the time when the railroad company was expanding its reach from Pittsburgh to Connellsville. During that era, most of the functions on a locomotive were powered by steam. As a result, a constant flow of water was required to operate the engine's boiler. This water was generally hauled in an unpressurized storage tank located in the tender car. As the locomotives raced back and forth along the banks of the Youghiogheny River, the need for additional 'clean' water to refill the storage tanks increased.
Construction of a new water tank outside of the city of McKeesport began once a suitable location was found. Those in charge of erecting the structure selected a site on the sloped hillside above the steel tracks. The advantage of building the tank on the hill was that it eliminated the need for a wooden tower to raise the tank above the engines. Another benefit of the proposed location was that the tank would be in close proximity to a fresh water stream. Once the foundation was set, large wooden planks were used to frame the large cylindrical structure and a metal roof was added. Next, the water from the stream was pumped into the twenty foot tall storage tank. It was estimated that the water tank could hold up to forty-five thousand gallons of water.
It wasn't long before the steam engines that were travelling south on the P&LE line were making use of the water stored in the tank. With the locomotive stopped beside the water tank, the engineer could easily operated the water release mechanism from the engine's window. With one swift tug of the pull-chain, the discharge valve would open and the metal spout would tilt forward on its hinge. Gravity would do the rest. Water would spill down the chute and into the engine's storage tank engine. Once the tank had been filled, another tug on the pull-chain would close the valve and retract the metal spout. Minutes later, the train would be on its way again.
By the 1950s, the number of steam locomotives that were crossing the Pennsylvania landscape began to decrease as more companies were switching to diesel-electric engines. The long list of benefits that came with this new method of powering engines raised eyebrows. One noticeable advantage was that diesel-electric engines did not require a constant supply of water. Thus, the large number of water towers that lined the region's railroad tracks were now considered obsolete. In the years that followed, most of these structures were removed by the railroad companies. Eventually, the P&LE Water Tank in Liberty Borough would also meet the same daunting fate.
A visit to Dead Man's Hollow in the winter can often provide an opportunity to get a better look at some of the 'historical treasures' that are hidden during other seasons. One particular place of interest that is seldom seen in the spring and summer would be the site of the former P&LE Railroad Water Tank. The remnants of this forgotten structure can be found along the paved section of the Youghiogheny River Trail between the entrance to the conservation area and the Liberty Trail access. The building's foundation has been permenantly indented into the earth by a circular wall of Bowman bricks.
The P&LE Railroad Water Tank was constructed in the 1880s, around the time when the railroad company was expanding its reach from Pittsburgh to Connellsville. During that era, most of the functions on a locomotive were powered by steam. As a result, a constant flow of water was required to operate the engine's boiler. This water was generally hauled in an unpressurized storage tank located in the tender car. As the locomotives raced back and forth along the banks of the Youghiogheny River, the need for additional 'clean' water to refill the storage tanks increased.
Construction of a new water tank outside of the city of McKeesport began once a suitable location was found. Those in charge of erecting the structure selected a site on the sloped hillside above the steel tracks. The advantage of building the tank on the hill was that it eliminated the need for a wooden tower to raise the tank above the engines. Another benefit of the proposed location was that the tank would be in close proximity to a fresh water stream. Once the foundation was set, large wooden planks were used to frame the large cylindrical structure and a metal roof was added. Next, the water from the stream was pumped into the twenty foot tall storage tank. It was estimated that the water tank could hold up to forty-five thousand gallons of water.
It wasn't long before the steam engines that were travelling south on the P&LE line were making use of the water stored in the tank. With the locomotive stopped beside the water tank, the engineer could easily operated the water release mechanism from the engine's window. With one swift tug of the pull-chain, the discharge valve would open and the metal spout would tilt forward on its hinge. Gravity would do the rest. Water would spill down the chute and into the engine's storage tank engine. Once the tank had been filled, another tug on the pull-chain would close the valve and retract the metal spout. Minutes later, the train would be on its way again.
By the 1950s, the number of steam locomotives that were crossing the Pennsylvania landscape began to decrease as more companies were switching to diesel-electric engines. The long list of benefits that came with this new method of powering engines raised eyebrows. One noticeable advantage was that diesel-electric engines did not require a constant supply of water. Thus, the large number of water towers that lined the region's railroad tracks were now considered obsolete. In the years that followed, most of these structures were removed by the railroad companies. Eventually, the P&LE Water Tank in Liberty Borough would also meet the same daunting fate.
The Metal Giants
High above the factory ruins in Dead Man's Hollow, visitors will find another link to the past on a grassy knoll near the conservation area's Calhoun Road entrance. In the clearing behind a few homes, there are four radio towers that stretch above the treeline. This area is the transmitting station for 1360 AM on the radio dial. The main purpose of the transmitter was to control the broadcast signal's distance and direction in order to eliminate the problems that AM stations often experienced after dark. Each red and white colored structure has a 'latticework' design and stands around four hundred feet in height. One of the towers stands slightly taller than the others, though. During the early days, all four towers were equiped with aircraft warning lamps that automatically came on at dusk or during thunderstorms. The steady glow of the bright red bulbs could be seen for miles. For added safety, the lamps positioned at the top of each tower 'pulsed' on and off throughout the night. Today, only two of the four towers have lights that operate from dusk to dawn.
The four towers were erected shortly after World War II. The station was originally WMCK 1360 AM. It played a mix of news bulletins and country music. This type of broadcast continued until 1969. On February 27th of that year, the station changed its call letters from WMCK to WIXZ (pronounced Wick-See) without any notice to the public. At first, many listeners were baffled by the new music format. A publicity stunt which featured a computerized voice and a rock 'n' roll montage only added to the confusion. However, the advertising tactic worked. WIXZ radio and its 'hip and happening' disc jockeys were rousing the attention of the younger audience. Even those who weren't regular listeners were tuning in just to hear what all of the fuss was about. It wasn't long before WIXZ became one of the most popular radio stations in Pittsburgh.
In 1972, WIXZ radio helped to launch the career of political commentator Rush Limbaugh. At the time, Limbaugh was a popular Top 40 music disc jockey broadcasting under the name Jeff Christie. Another popular personality at the station was Terry Lee with his Music For Young Lovers program. Despite the continued success and a growing number of listeners, WIXZ said goodbye in 1974 when new owners changed the format once again. As time went on, the station saw additional changes. Today, 1360 AM is still on the air and has a talk radio format. However, it is unclear as to whether or not the station still uses the towers in Lincoln Borough for broadcasting since the transmitter reportedly 'went bad' in September of 2011. Of course, 1360 AM will always be remembered as WIXZ to those individuals who listened to the original broadcasts in the late 60's and early 70's. For many of them, just the sight of the tower lamps shining brightly beneath a canopy of distant stars still brings back cherished memories of a better time.
Being that the transmitting station is close to Dead Man's Hollow, it should come as no surprise that the towers also have their own 'ghost story' of sorts. Every now and then, someone will mention the 'Phantom Broadcast' whenever the conversation turns to the 1360 AM towers. Local 'music buffs' swear that if you tune in to the station during the early morning hours just before the dawn, you might catch the faint echo of a lost WIXZ broadcast. This story often states that listeners can still hear the first few seconds of the song 'Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow' by The Rivingtons somewhere in the static. Whether it is true or not has yet to be determined. In this particular case, one would think that a technical explanation would most likely solve the mystery. Then again, stranger things have been known to happen in and around Dead Man's Hollow.
Please note - The 1360 AM transmitting station and the properties surrounding it are privately owned. This area is NOT open to the public. Individuals caught trespassing will mostly likely be detained by local authories.
High above the factory ruins in Dead Man's Hollow, visitors will find another link to the past on a grassy knoll near the conservation area's Calhoun Road entrance. In the clearing behind a few homes, there are four radio towers that stretch above the treeline. This area is the transmitting station for 1360 AM on the radio dial. The main purpose of the transmitter was to control the broadcast signal's distance and direction in order to eliminate the problems that AM stations often experienced after dark. Each red and white colored structure has a 'latticework' design and stands around four hundred feet in height. One of the towers stands slightly taller than the others, though. During the early days, all four towers were equiped with aircraft warning lamps that automatically came on at dusk or during thunderstorms. The steady glow of the bright red bulbs could be seen for miles. For added safety, the lamps positioned at the top of each tower 'pulsed' on and off throughout the night. Today, only two of the four towers have lights that operate from dusk to dawn.
The four towers were erected shortly after World War II. The station was originally WMCK 1360 AM. It played a mix of news bulletins and country music. This type of broadcast continued until 1969. On February 27th of that year, the station changed its call letters from WMCK to WIXZ (pronounced Wick-See) without any notice to the public. At first, many listeners were baffled by the new music format. A publicity stunt which featured a computerized voice and a rock 'n' roll montage only added to the confusion. However, the advertising tactic worked. WIXZ radio and its 'hip and happening' disc jockeys were rousing the attention of the younger audience. Even those who weren't regular listeners were tuning in just to hear what all of the fuss was about. It wasn't long before WIXZ became one of the most popular radio stations in Pittsburgh.
In 1972, WIXZ radio helped to launch the career of political commentator Rush Limbaugh. At the time, Limbaugh was a popular Top 40 music disc jockey broadcasting under the name Jeff Christie. Another popular personality at the station was Terry Lee with his Music For Young Lovers program. Despite the continued success and a growing number of listeners, WIXZ said goodbye in 1974 when new owners changed the format once again. As time went on, the station saw additional changes. Today, 1360 AM is still on the air and has a talk radio format. However, it is unclear as to whether or not the station still uses the towers in Lincoln Borough for broadcasting since the transmitter reportedly 'went bad' in September of 2011. Of course, 1360 AM will always be remembered as WIXZ to those individuals who listened to the original broadcasts in the late 60's and early 70's. For many of them, just the sight of the tower lamps shining brightly beneath a canopy of distant stars still brings back cherished memories of a better time.
Being that the transmitting station is close to Dead Man's Hollow, it should come as no surprise that the towers also have their own 'ghost story' of sorts. Every now and then, someone will mention the 'Phantom Broadcast' whenever the conversation turns to the 1360 AM towers. Local 'music buffs' swear that if you tune in to the station during the early morning hours just before the dawn, you might catch the faint echo of a lost WIXZ broadcast. This story often states that listeners can still hear the first few seconds of the song 'Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow' by The Rivingtons somewhere in the static. Whether it is true or not has yet to be determined. In this particular case, one would think that a technical explanation would most likely solve the mystery. Then again, stranger things have been known to happen in and around Dead Man's Hollow.
Please note - The 1360 AM transmitting station and the properties surrounding it are privately owned. This area is NOT open to the public. Individuals caught trespassing will mostly likely be detained by local authories.