Lucky to be a river town, Morgantown has all kinds of fun flowing right alongside it. The Upper Mon River Association is celebrating that fun through a new print titled On the Mon. UMRA co-founder and power boat enthusiast Don Strimbeck commissioned the print, and lots of people in town will recognize the style of WVU grad and professional illustrator Jeff Moores. The design is also on T-shirts.
From his riverside home in Granville, Strimbeck filled us in.
Q: WHY COMMISSION THIS PRINT?
Don Strimbeck: UMRA’s goal is to stimulate interest in recreational boating and fishing on the Upper Mon in West Virginia. It is a wonderful experience to boat from Morgantown to Fairmont through the Morgantown, Hildebrand, and Opekiska locks. Or to boat north through the Point Marion and Grays Landing locks to the midpoint of the Mon at Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, dine at a Fredericktown restaurant, then return home. The Upper Mon in West Virginia is also very enjoyable for kayakers and for bass fishing tourneys.
Another major goal is to establish a full-service marina in the pool between the Morgantown and Point Marion locks. This is a vital need to facilitate Mon boating in the Morgantown area.
Q: WHAT IS THAT RIVER MONSTER IN THE PRINT?
DS: The monster is our Mon cousin of the famous Loch Ness monster in Scotland, and it occupies the Mon in addition to the Ogua, the Monongy, and the Rivesville River Monster that you may have heard of. Our monster is nicer and friendlier! We may hold a contest to name it.
Q: ANYTHING ELSE?
DS: UMRA is encouraging local businesses and organizations to use On the Mon in their own advertising to help publicize recreational activities on the Upper Mon. The front of a T-shirt could be their artwork, done by Jeff or another designer, and the back would be On the Mon. Contact UMRA to ask us about it.
Got your own boat? Then you’re all set this summer—you can launch at the bottom of Walnut Street, at Edith Barill Riverfront Park in Star City, or at the Fort Martin Boat Launch, among other spots.
If you don’t have a boat, check in with Morgantown Area Paddlers to ask about your options.