Active citizen remembered with renovated park in Beech Bottom
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BEECH BOTTOM -- The village's park on Hill Street has received a major facelift and a new name in honor of an active community member who once lived next door to it.
Councilman Greg Sheperd said he and many other residents remember that Ethel Haddon, who died in 2016 at the age of 84, as someone who always could be counted on to help, whether it be as a member of the local volunteer fire department auxiliary or Beech Bottom Community Christian Church or as a volunteer for various community events.
"You could count on Ethel Haddon. If there was assistance needed at the fire department, she was in that kitchen (working fish frys or other fundraisers)," said Sheperd.
"Probably one of the most important things she did was watch over this playground and the many children who played here," he added.
Sheperd said while living next door to the park, Haddon was concerned about the safety of each child and wouldn't hesitate to speak out if she saw them doing something that might harm the park or themselves.
"We didn't need security cameras, we didn't need patrols. We had Ethel Haddon here," he said.
Mayor Becky Uhlly noted Haddon was the first resident to be named Beech Bottom Citizen of the Year in 2007, adding she also was an unofficial historian in a sense.
The mayor explained that whenever a resident died, Haddon recruited children to collect money for flowers for that person's funeral to ensure every citizen was remembered and as she did this, she kept a record of each person's date of death.
Among many members of Haddon's family in attendance was Stephanie Verner of Follansbee, who recalled playing in the park during visits to her grandmother.
Jerry Haddon, maintenance supervisor for the village, said his aunt would have been "ecstatic" to see the new equipment installed there.
In addition to a bench sponsored in her memory by her family, the updated park includes a gazebo built by Yoder's Backyard Structures of Burgettstown, Pa; a playset with climbing structure and slide, swings, merry-go-round and other spring toys from Playground Boss of McKinney, Texas; and rubberized surface from Adventure Turf of Brookfield Wisc.
The $175,000 project also included the creation of a new retaining wall along the hillside at the park's east side by Keith Yost Excavating of Wellsburg and a new sidewalk leading to the park by K Construction of Wellsburg.
Joyce Painter, village recorder and chairman of Beech Bottom Council's recreation committee, noted much of the playground was installed by village crews who started work this spring.