The Blue Heron Walking Trail offers a 10-kilometre trip through some of Barrhead’s most scenic landmarks.
Now it also promises a journey through some of Barrhead’s rich history, thanks to dozens of signs recently erected along the trail.
The signs – a trail map, an historical picture accompanied by a brief commentary, and an emblem of a Blue Heron in full stride – have been attached to wooden posts.
Designed in an old-fashioned style, they feature dark brown borders and a light tan backdrop suggestive of wood.
The historical signs differ from post to post. They record such events as the construction of Barrhead Hotel on the corner of Main &Railway Avenue by John Phelan in 1927, the arrival of the first train, the start of a bus service, and the building of Robertson’s Hardware, the first store in Barrhead.
One of the leading figures behind the eight-year-old trail project is Shannon Carlson, president of the Barrhead &District Agrena Society.
He helped organize and plan the trail, while his wife Carla lent a hand with the construction of the boardwalk and was a volunteer fundraiser. Members of the Town’s recreation department have been involved in the project too.
Among those behind the signs were Barrhead Historical Society’s Elsie Measures, who carried out research to provide commentaries for each historical picture, and Lyle Knitting from Barrhead picture framing and vinyl printing business You’ve Been Framed.
Last month, the Carlsons, Fred Thistle, Allan Cote and Barrhead County councillor Bill Lane were part of a crew that erected the 36 signs along the trail, which takes walkers past such places as Millennium Park, the Paddle River, Rosemary Empey Park, Lion’s Park, and Cecile Martin Park.
Shannon Carlson said he was delighted with the look of the signs, praising Measures and Knitting for their excellent work, which will inform and guide walkers.
“We are really trying to promote the walking trail,” he said.
Carlson said the trail was about community wellness and encouraging seniors, as well as other residents and visitors, to enjoy Barrhead without the constant thrum and flow of traffic.
“The trail was designed to encompass the town,” he said. “It gets used on a daily basis in the winter and summer.”
Carlson said the project, which started in about 2005, was still not complete; there were plans to get it all paved or concreted.
He added that there was still room on the posts for more pictures and historical memorabilia.
Anyone with photographs or other items they would like displayed can contact Shannon Carlson at 780-674-7150.
