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Longtime Bethany Park volunteers honored

SPECIAL RECOGNITION — The Bethany Community Recreational Association recently recognized Helen Moren and Russ Schwertfeger for their years of service to the group and Bethany Park, which it oversees and maintains. From left, Moren, Schwertfeger and his son, Russell “Rusty,” were on hand for the naming of the park’s ballfield in Schwertfeger’s honor and the dedication of a tree for Moren. -- Contribvuted

BETHANY — Two longtime members of the Bethany Community Recreational Association were honored by the group for volunteer efforts that have helped to better Bethany Park, which is overseen and maintained by the organization.

The park’s ball field was named for Russ Schwertfeger in recognition of his many years as the group’s president and his leadership in establishing the field more than 50 years ago.

Schwertfeger explained the field was created after he was approached about starting a baseball team at the former Bethany High School, where he was a teacher, a career he had pursued after serving the Army in the Korean War.

A wooded area of about 14 acres near Buffalo Creek was cleared for the field by the team’s future players and Schwertfeger.

Known as the Bison, like the Bethany College athletic teams, the team competed against teams from Wellsburg, a big rival, and Newell, New Cumberland and the former St. Anthony School at a time when there were no class divisions for the state’s athletic teams.

Later baseball and softball leagues of various ages also used the field.

Schwertfeger said three shelters, a basketball court and playground equipment were added to the park through the efforts of “a lot of talented people,” including skilled tradesmen.

He and his son, Rusty, who also was one of his players, noted about 15 years ago, the Bethany College team began using the field and has made many improvements, including the addition of artificial turf, bleachers and a new dugout and backstop.

Such upgrades have allowed the field to be used recently for American Legion games between Wellsburg and Weirton and games in the Beast of the East Tournament.

Now 89, Schwertfeger remains involved as the playground’s manager and frequently cuts the grass there.

A tree was dedicated in honor of Helen Moren, a member of the park association for at least 30 years, of which she was often secretary and treasurer while working in the U.S. Postal Service’s Weirton or Bethany offices.

Moren said she became involved with the group as a representative of the Bethany Woman’s Club. The group once included at least two representatives of the town’s various civic groups, she explained.

Several years ago she worked with the woman’s club to establish a monument to the town’s veterans at the park. Under Moren’s leadership, private donations and a state grant were secured with the help of then state legislator Jack Yost.

Community members also were invited to sponsor bricks for a walkway to the monument. She noted residents still may have a brick engraved with the name of a veteran, living or deceased.

Moren added a brick paver at the site honors six Bethany veterans who were missing in action.

She noted the practice of dedicating a tree for a park volunteer and the posting of a plaque there began last fall with one designated for the late charles Lowe, a longtime president of the park association who often cut the grass and performed other tasks there.

Moren said yearly membership fees paid voluntarily by many residents and other supporters help the group to maintain the park.

Both she and Schwertfeger noted the park has been enjoyed by many community members, with its shelters rented for many family reunions, church picnics and other special occasions.

Schwertfeger noted land adjacent to the park was donated by the park association to the town and was occupied first by the town’s fire station and currently, its town hall and community center.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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