Restoring the historic Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad line might be a priority for many county residents, but some Elizabeth Township homeowners are concerned the project might impact their homes.

Monday, June 26, 2000

Restoring the historic Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad line might be a priority for many county residents, but some Elizabeth Township homeowners are concerned the project might impact their homes.

The primary purpose of the project is historic preservation, said Joe Unger, president of the local Rails to Trails committee.

"The Iron Furnace Rail Trail goal is to preserve the legacy of iron in the founding and development of Ironton and Lawrence County and to restore the very historic DT&I trestle and tunnel," Unger said.

The project also will provide recreation and tourism possibilies.

"We want to bring recognition to the LaGrange Iron Furnace, highlight the origins of the Hanging Rock iron region and establish a recreational trail along the abandoned DT&I corridor through the Wayne National Forest for walking, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding," Unger said.

But for some, the work to preserve the county’s past might cause some worries about their future.

Resident Jesse Boles, unofficial spokesperson for several township landowners whose homes are along the rail bed, questions the economic benefit of the project.

Bowles’ uncles own property that requires the use of the railroad bed and will be affected if the committee or county decides to buy the land, which is claimed as DT&I right-of-way, he said.

"There’s nothing in black and white that says we don’t own this land," Boles said. "My uncles depend on this railroad to get to their house. They drive a semi-tractor and trailer that requires regular maintenance when they come home. Where are they going to do that if the project takes the land away from them? These people don’t understand that this truck provides meals for two families. It helps keep a roof over our head."

Boles said attending the rail trail committee meetings doesn’t answer questions that have been raised from residents who live along the old railroad bed including what to do about the tourists who would come with the new trails.

"They don’t understand, this is not going to bring any development to this town," Boles said. "All they’re doing is creating a headache they aren’t going to deal with. The irony is that the same people that don’t want cruising in town want the same the problem to come to us. They’re making a headache we don’t want and refuse to deal with. I’ve pleaded and begged and they just don’t seem to listen."

Boles’ uncle has been forced to use the railroad as a driveway to his house and questions his future at his home.

"They are looking to use my driveway – the old railroad bed – as part of this trail," Andy Hogsten said. "How am I going to get to my house if I have no driveway to it? Not to mention the fact that this trail will go right by my living room and bedroom windows. People walking by can peak in my windows. You know they’re going to get tired and they’re going to stop. The first thing they’re going to do is start looking."

Hogsten also said he believes the trails will create more crime and trash problems for residents.

James Allen has made his home in Elizabeth Township and he fears his land could be taken away from him, forcing him to relocate his house.

"My house is sitting right on the railroad," Allen said. "My land is paid for and my deed doesn’t make mention of this property being owned by the railroad. It wouldn’t be so bad if they would have come and talked to us first. We’ve owned this land for 10 years and we just placed this new mobile home two years ago."

Allen is two years away from retirement and said he has to halt any future land development until he finds out for sure about the project’s outcome.

Although he acknowledges the residents’ concerns and expressed his desire to work to make the project beneficial for all, Unger said there are many benefits that would go along with the Rails to Trails project.

Railroad trails typically lower crime rates, trash problems and increase adjacent property values, Unger said.

He also said that the committee has not made a definite trail plan yet.

"We would like for the trail to end somewhere around the tunnel, however, nothing is etched in stone yet," Unger said.

And the committee doesn’t want to make enemies, he said.

"If we have to, we’ll just stop the trail at the township line," Unger said. "We’ll work something out. Our goal is to do a nice trail and do something positive for the community. We want to create a clean, safe park. Everybody wins with this project."