Adopt a stone to rebuild Catoctin Aqueduct on the C&O Canal

So, I was riding the C&O the other day between Point of Rocks and Brunswick. For the past several years, there's been restoration work going on at the Catoctin Aqueduct, with signs about their need for donations to complete the work. For the first time, I noticed that they've got an "Adopt a Stone" program going on.

Stone adoptions begin at $125. Would anyone be interested in going in on this with me? The C&O is such an awesome place to ride (as certain TE ladies besides me know ;) ) and the restoration of the Monocacy Aqueduct turned out so well, it'd be terrific to see another section restored as well. If a few of us chipped in together it'd be fairly cheap. Anyone else wanna see this iron monstrosity replaced by an open stone bridge supported by elegant arches?

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z.../012edited.jpg




And, of course, I have to add the obligatory bike shot :D

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z.../008edited.jpg

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Stone adoptions begin at $125. Would anyone be interested in going in on this with me? The C&O is such an awesome place to ride (as certain TE ladies besides me know ;) ) and the restoration of the Monocacy Aqueduct turned out so well, it'd be terrific to see another section restored as well. If a few of us chipped in together it'd be fairly cheap. Anyone else wanna see this iron monstrosity replaced by an open stone bridge supported by elegant arches?

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That sounds like a great plan. I'd be happy to contribute.

I've known about that adoption plan for a while but I had no idea it started at that level.
I can pop for a few bucks.

Although I kind of like that bridge

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...DSCN0777-1.jpg

I'll chip in, too.

I don't have a calculator but that would make it $33 and some change.

What name do we put it under?

i'll go in.

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Originally Posted by Zen

What name do we put it under?

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The Ladies of TE-DC? We'd have to ask whether we could have more than one certificate, though I wouldn't necessarily care if I got one.

Hmmmmm...possibly. Sounds like a good cause.

Ok, so six of us are interested at this point. I e-mailed to find out whether each of us could get an adoption certificate and map of our stone location (at least any of us for whom that stuff is desirable). Then we'd just have to choose a stone.

Anyone else out there who might want to join in?

I don't care about a certificate, but I would like to get a tax deduction.

I'm willing to chip in, too.

I've never been able to get a tax deduction to work for me

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Originally Posted by madscot13

I've never been able to get a tax deduction to work for me

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Buy a house with a big mortgage and property taxes, and a rental property, and voila! itemized deductions kick in. Give it time, you're young and relatively unencumbered.;):)

She already has a box.

Ok, here's the reply I got when I asked about a group adopting one stone on the aqueduct:

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George Lewis here, I am the president of the Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration Fund, Inc. – many thanks for your interest in the Catoctin Aqueduct.

The norm is one adoption certificate per adoption; however, we could stretch this a bit.

Suggest you get back to me with the number of certificates you have in mind and the type (and adoption fee donation) of stone you have in mind; keeping in mind that the objective of the Adopt a Stone project is to raise funds to restore the Most Beautiful Aqueduct on the Line, and that each certificate costs $4 to print and $1 to mail.

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So, any thoughts? Janice and I don't care about getting a certificate, so who would like to have one? Do we want to go for a $200 stone or stick with $125? At this point, we've got six of us (plus dingster as a maybe), which would make for approx. $33 per person for a $200 stone, or $21 per person for a $125 stone. If anyone else wants to join in, that'd reduce it even more.

And thank you, ladies. It'll be very cool to know that we contributed to restoring history on the C&O :D

Adopt a stone? For an iron bridge? :confused: :D

I think something got lost in the thread... it is time to replace the bridge

The iron bridge was erected after the original stone aqueduct collapsed. Because the C&O Canal is a national historical park, they're trying to rebuild it. Unfortunately, the US park service just doesn't have as many $$$ as they need for this sort of thing.

This link describes the situation a bit better. I agree with Zen that the iron & wood bridge is fun to ride across, but the stone aqueduct will be more open and will have that 'historic' feel to it.

I'd be game to contribute and bring the cost/person down a bit. And I don't care about the certificate.

I will also contribute.

This is great! So, we've got the following contributors:

KD (no certificate)
DB (no certificate)
7Rider
Zen
madscot
MDHillSlug
Possegal (no certificate)
pfunk

and dingster's thinking about it. With eight of us definitely interested, I'd suggest we go with a $200 stone. How about a prism stone, since it's along the inside wall where the towpath would go? And, out of the list above, who does want a certificate and map showing the stone location?

I would dig a certificate.

I don't need a certificate...just a receipt.
Prism stone sounds great. Did you say there'd be something carved in it? How do we coordinate getting $$ to a central source (you?)? Pledging is great...but you gotta hold my feet over the fire to get any cash out of me (just ask Nicole...I'm good for it...but you gotta ding on me or I forget).
:rolleyes:

I don't care about a certificate (maybe a receipt for taxes?); just glad to know I helped.

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Did you say there'd be something carved in it?

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According to the website, the Park Service doesn't allow carving in the stones.

Nope, no carving, which is probably why they offer a map showing your stone location along with the certificate. There's also a list of donors at the website, so the Ladies of TE-DC would be added to that.

So Mad wants a certificate, how about Zen and pfunk? I'll also find out what the deal is with the receipt. I assume they only give one since there's one payment. Would it work for tax purposes if I send a copy to each of you and you note the portion of it that you paid?

I have a Paypal account, but I need to take a look at it to figure out how to collect money. Janice, you've done that before-- I assume it's pretty easy? And Regina, I won't send the money for the stone until I've collected from everyone, so we can all pester you to pay up :D

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

I'll also find out what the deal is with the receipt. I assume they only give one since there's one payment. Would it work for tax purposes if I send a copy to each of you and you note the portion of it that you paid?

I have a Paypal account, but I need to take a look at it to figure out how to collect money. Janice, you've done that before-- I assume it's pretty easy?

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I'd think that the combination of my canceled check (made out to whatever the name of the charity is) and their receipt would be enough for tax purposes.

I'd suggest not using PayPal if possible, because (1) they take a cut and (2) I'd rather make the check out to the charity directly (for tax reasons). We could all just send you a check, and you send them all in together.

Would that work?

Count me in.

I want to be certified.

A certificate would be cool if doable.

In case anyone's wondering, this idea has not died. I e-mailed the Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration Fund about individual receipts but haven't yet heard back from the guy. Update to come when all the details have been worked out.

I think I got answers to all of our questions about the Adopt-a-Stone. Hopefully you're all still interested in doing this!

If I include a list of all donors, each donor will receive a receipt for tax purposes. Certificates cost the organization $5 apiece to print and mail, so that essentially comes out of our donation.

The list is:
KD (receipt, no certificate)
DB (receipt, no certificate)
7Rider (receipt, no certificate)
MDHillSlug (receipt, no certificate)
Possegal (receipt, no certificate)

Zen (receipt and certificate)
madscot (receipt and certificate)
pfunk (receipt and certificate)

dingster (receipt, certificate?)

Since there are nine of us, there's not much difference between $200 or $250. I'd suggest either a $200 Prism stone ($22 each) or a $250 Berm Coping stone ($27 each), since those are both visible as you ride through (see the diagram here). Any preferences? Once we decide, I'll send out a pm to each of you with my address so you can send a check to me, which I'll then forward to the organization.

I don't need a receipt.
I'll send you a check when I know the amount.
We could have done this at the goose chase, guess we were thinking of other things :o

Not everyone who's involved was at the Goose Chase. Plus, I was still trying to find out how receipts would be handled, for those people who want one.

Not to mention the screaming kid at the Goose Chase dinner made it hard to think about anything...

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Not everyone who's involved was at the Goose Chase.

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I am aware. It would have winnowed it down some, though. Moot point now.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Not to mention the screaming kid at the Goose Chase dinner made it hard to think about anything...

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His first shriek was a shock but I guess I got used to it. I enjoyed my dinner.

I'm still in on the stone. How was the Goose ride?

I don't need a certificate

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

I think I got answers to all of our questions about the Adopt-a-Stone. Hopefully you're all still interested in doing this!

If I include a list of all donors, each donor will receive a receipt for tax purposes. Certificates cost the organization $5 apiece to print and mail, so that essentially comes out of our donation.

Since there are nine of us, there's not much difference between $200 or $250. I'd suggest either a $200 Prism stone ($22 each) or a $250 Berm Coping stone ($27 each), since those are both visible as you ride through (see the diagram here). Any preferences? Once we decide, I'll send out a pm to each of you with my address so you can send a check to me, which I'll then forward to the organization.

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I have no preference. Berm coping stone might be nice....
Does your cost per estimate include the certificate printing, or do those who want one need to tack and extra $5 on to the final?
PM me your address, as I don't think I have it....

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Originally Posted by 7rider

Does your cost per estimate include the certificate printing, or do those who want one need to tack and extra $5 on to the final?

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My price per person just divided the stone price by 9 people. If the folks who want certificates would like to add $5 to their checks to defray that cost, I'm sure the Catoctin Fund would probably appreciate it.

Nicole, the Goose Chase was a good ride. We babbled and posted photos about it here.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Nicole, the Goose Chase was a good ride. We babbled and posted photos about it here.

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Dang. I just realized.....I never ate my Nutella!!! It's home in the pantry....waiting....