Archive for August 21st, 2025
Old McDonald, and a farm
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
McDonald, Pennsylvania, where Our Lady of the Pentacle wanted to go recently, in pursuance of hugging a cow. The farm where such interspecial contact would occur is called the ‘Carter Farm’ aka ‘Hickory Hearth Highlands’ in the Washington County municipality of McDonald. Washington County is to the south and west of Allegheny County which is more or less synonymous geographically with ‘the City of Pittsburgh.’
McDonald is a very interesting place, to me at least, despite it being somewhat rural in character. I say ‘somewhat’ as it’s not terribly far from the titular center of the region at Downtown Pittsburgh (about 45-60 minutes of mostly highway driving). Also, I have nothing bad to say about rural, it’s just that most of my focus is on post industrial zones at the center of cities… so…
Last time that I mentioned McDonald here at Newtown Pentacle was in connection with walking a section of the Montour Trail, right before I broke my ankle last year. Matter of fact, I don’t even think this was McDonald we were in but that’s what came up with the address on the GPS… so…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s a whole range of hydrocarbons under the ground in McDonald. Sure, there’s coal veins, it’s Appalachia and the border of West Virginia is only about a half hour’s drive from here. There was an oil boom here, starting in 1890. According to historic signage markers, The McDonald and nearby Bradford Oil Fields were amongst the most profitable and productive in the world for a while. Just like in Oil City to the north, the industry moved on, to Texas and California in its early days before it all became ‘Standard.’
Good news is that the oil guys are back, and hydrological fracturing is now the name of their game. What could go wrong?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Tomorrow, you’ll get to see the cows. Personally, I would love to set up the tripod and do some long and loving landscape photography here. Lovely.
The Farmer Lady who was our host told me that the planted stripes of different ground cover were laid out with water conservation in mind. It seems that the State of Pennsylvania invests no small amount of time and resource into encouraging this sort of practice amongst farmers. Bigger picture watershed stuff. This is a grain farm, commercially speaking. soybeans, and the sort of corn you grow for animal feed.
The cows and other critters are extra.
Back tomorrow with the moo cows.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 