Tymber Compher canal community story
I was partially raised by the Potomac River. Every summer, for as long as I can remember, was spent on that muddy river bank – fishing, swimming, kayaking, you name it. It’s not an unusual thing, so I have learned, that many people who visit the C&O Canal don’t often realize they are in a national park. Such was the case for me before I began working for the C&O Canal Trust.
I grew up around national parks. When I was small, my grandmother and my aunt had a job at Harpers Ferry. I have distinct memories of walking down cobblestone streets to find my grandmother transformed into a soldier’s wife, wearing Civil War era clothing – hoop skirt and all. So began my love for national parks. There is a certain level of magic you experience when visiting a historic and natural place – and as a young girl, it was intriguing to find out that adults could still play pretend.
While I attribute my interest in national parks to my grandmother, it was my grandfather that introduced me to the wonder of nature.
My grandfather – Gary Compher – practically lived on the Potomac. He and my uncles often took me out to areas of the park where we spent the day fishing. Or rather, they fished, and I splashed around in the water. When I was a little bit older, my grandfather would take me out into the field behind his house where we would practice casting out a line until I got it right.
My uncles would often plan out a fishing expedition that involved waiting until dusk to pack up the truck and hit the river in search of bluegills. The challenge of fishing in the dark was exciting to me, but mostly, I enjoyed spending time with my family.
In the 2000s, my grandfather, aunt, and two uncles bike packed the entire length of the Park, from Cumberland to Georgetown.
As they traveled the length of the canal, they stopped to take photos of their progress, including the Paw Paw Tunnel and Dam 4.
They eventually made it to Georgetown where they successfully found the infamously hidden Mile Marker 1.
It is a little surreal to be working for the C&O Canal Trust, knowing that the park is woven into the fabric of their stories. When we are all gathered together, it isn’t unusual for someone to start a conversation recounting a memory that begins with “Remember when we were kayaking on Antietam Creek..” or “Do you remember that time we caught that huge snapping turtle?” I find that I have a deep appreciation for the C&O Canal – one that I can’t always articulate.
I often return to a line from a poem by Wendell Berry that reads: “I come into the peace of wild things.” In hard moments, nature has often existed as a solace for me. When my grandfather died in October of 2022, I often found myself visiting the towpath. I still do. The C&O Canal is a place where I find comfort and feel a lot of gratitude. What a gift it is to have a place that I can turn to in difficult times.
I am grateful that my professional life has led me to such an important role in preserving and protecting the Park. It is really fascinating to hear stories about the C&O Canal before the Trust was founded. My mom and her siblings learned how to ride their bikes on the canal when the towpath was merely a dirt trail, long before the resurfacing project. It is because of the work we do through the C&O Canal Trust, that I have been able to enjoy the Park in my adult life. We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful, peaceful place that serves as the backdrop to so many incredible stories. Whether I am driving through the scenic byway or floating along the Potomac River on an inner tube, I bring this appreciation for the Park with me wherever I go and recall this piece of advice from the poet, Mary Oliver: “and never hurry through the world / but walk slowly, and bow often.”
Photo by Leigh Scott