photo by: Warren Scott

Students in Jack Minger’s carpentry class at Brooke High School built 10 benches and two picnic tables for the Brooke County Pioneer Trail using materials purchased with a donation by Luke Mester, a long-time Brooke County School employee, in memory of his late wife, Earla. After delivering them to the trail, some of the students involved gathered with Mester for a photo. From left are Minger, Ryan Edgar, Ashton Blair, Lindsey Kettler, an engineering student who lettered the benches and tables with the trail’s name; Hunter Darling, Gavyn Moore and Mester.

WELLSBURG — People who use the Brooke County Pioneer Trail will be able to stop for a rest or a bite to eat thanks to the efforts of Brooke High School vocational students and a donation by a long-time Brooke County Schools employee.

Students in Jack Minger’s carpentry class built 10 benches and two picnic tables for the trail, which extends from the Wheeling Heritage Trail at the Brooke County-Ohio County border to the Buffalo Creek Bridge at the south end of Wellsburg.

Materials were purchased with a donation made in memory of Earla Mester by her husband, Luke.

Luke noted his late wife of 20 years had been active in the Brooke High School marching band, reflecting often on the good times she had with fellow band members and a trip the group took to Niagara Falls.

He also aided the project by mapping out points along the trail at which the benches and tables could be placed.

Employed for 39 years by Brooke County Schools, usually in positions involving information technology, Mester was well aware of projects vocational students at the high school have done through the years.

“They’ve done a lot of projects over the years,” said Mester, who himself was in the electricity program as a Brooke High School student.

“They get the kids out there to do real world work,” he said.

Minger said boards stained and treated to resist the elements were cut by the students and assembled into the outdoor furniture.

Carpentry students involved with the project included Kayleigh Hill, Andrew Adams, Brayden Austin, Justin Duke, Ryan Edgar, Mitchell Keith, Gavyn Moore, Masen Schulte, Ashton Blair, Raegan Langley, David McCarty, Hunter Darling, Brady Dennis, Aiden Hendrickson, Gavin Kuchinski and Hayden Swickard.

Lindsey Kettler, a student in Tom Bane’s engineering class, used equipment at the school operated by computer numerical control, to letter the words “Brooke County Pioneer Trail” onto the furniture.

Asked what led him to enroll in the course, Edgar said, “I always wanted to work with wood.”

Moore said, “I like seeing the end product.”

Blair and Edgar said they have used the trail and enjoyed the view it offers of the Ohio River.

Bob Fowler, who has volunteered for many hours on the trail, said of the students’ involvement, “This is an absolutely great thing.”

“We’re doing everything we can to improve the trail,” he said, adding there are plans to establish a storage building and restrooms along it.