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

[Kalidurga]

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

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.

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

[papaver]

Adopt a stone? For an iron bridge?

[madscot13]

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

[Kalidurga]

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.

[Possegal]

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

[pfunk12]

I will also contribute.

[Kalidurga]

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?

[madscot13]

I would dig a certificate.

[7rider]

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).

[HillSlugger]

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

[divingbiker]

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

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

[Kalidurga]

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