Wheres the Crucible Ferry?

Alright...settle down....You know, the boat...took ya across the river...that one.I remember it being sunk in the river just off the ramp.You could swim out and stand on it.I heard it was removed.Where is it? I wanna see it! Anyone?

wrapping up...for now...

Today is October 7th.The day Debbie Makel's body was discovered near the old foundation near Pumpkin Run in Rices Landing,Pa.Are we any closer to knowing the truth 36 years later?Is the person who did this still alive...still around? Are they reading this...?

I'm gonna move on,but send some messages....The stories I heard about the way the people of Rice's Landing (and nearby towns) came together during this tragedy were awesome. I hope it doesn't take another event like this for the town to come back together...

The only member of the Makel family I knew was Vaughn,who once defended me while being picked on in a school bathroom (true story).I hope they are well and hope to meet them someday..

To everyone who was there and remembers....I'm gonna keep this online,as there is little info about the case available on the internet.If I left something out...was misinformed or flat out wrong...drop me a line and I'll fix it...

To the best of my knowledge,the case,although cold,is still open.Talking to folks,I did hear tidbits I don't feel comfortable sharing on here...so it's time to move on for now.I leave you with one last photo.The sign at the end of Debbie's road....

Debbie Makel ......continued. Rices Landing, PA

Today I went back to the site where Debbie was found.I also talked to some folks who were directly involved in her search.Something I've noticed is that everyone who tells their story of that weekend has the same look on their face.A combination of sadness and frustration...no matter who it is,its the same look.They all say"How long has it been?"Thirty six years hasn't faded the vivid memories of the residents of my home town.Not one bit.

People may wonder why I'm so involved in this as of late....my response is...I don't know...I was in kindergarten at the time.My memories are vague at best.I'm not trying to solve the case...or re-open old wounds...I guess I'm just telling a story.Send your memories of this my way....I wanna hear your story. More here..

More...

A few pix.I plan on going back to the site tomorrow.... continued here...

Debbie Makel...

This subject seems to have fallen together.My posts about Rices Landing...Pumpkin Run...have kind of lead me here.Its weird I visited a place today that I have never been to in my life.A couple hundred yards from everything I knew as safe and good.I walked down the path and took a left in exactly the right spot...weird.

more..

Who Killed Debbie Makel?

36 years ago tonight,8 year old Debbie Makel rode the bus home from Dry Tavern school on a Friday evening.Her books were found at the house but Debbie was gone.After phoning friends and neighbors,an announcement was made at the Jefferson-Morgan football game and the search began for Debbie.The Rices Landing Fire Department,PA State Police,the local Boy Scout troop...everyone searched for Debbie....

I'm stretching this post over the next few days to collect more photographs and talk to people involved with the search.This happened about one month before my sixth birthday...so my memory of the event is faint.But everyone else in Rices Landing knows where they were when the search was on until she was found.

A article on the 30th anniversary of the murder:

http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20031012unsolved1012p1.asp

Click here for more...

Random Rice's Landing

A few cool pix from around town.The garage was the first fire department.I think it was behind the bank building. The foundry and jail are popular spots.The old Pumpkin Run entrance.I've got a reborn interest in the park and am planning to map and explore the old foundations from the mills and homes.A visit to Murray Kline will clear some fog,for sure...stay tuned!

The Monongahela...

Just a few river shots.The one boat launch is the upper (northern) end of the lockwall.If you look closely...you can still see the "Rices Landing" logo on the wall.I'm not sure if this is private property or not,so if you stop down in person..be cool and don't litter.The folks down there are really nice...