Meyersdale students restore bench in memory of Wade Beal

Sandra Lepley
·3 min read

MEYERSDALE ― What was a discarded old bench got new life breathed into it this spring by two Meyersdale Area High School students who took it upon themselves to restore it as a memorial project in time for the Fourth of July celebration in the community.

Caden Snyder, 14, and Landon Ludy, 15, both students in Doug Horne's technology education classes, used a new piece of technology called a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) router, a machine introduced at the beginning of the school year for the department and was used to make the old wooden bench look new.

Caden Snyder and Landon Ludy, both students in Doug Horne's technology education classes at Meyersdale Area High School, restored a discarded wooden bench (pictured here) using new technology. Horne is pictured to the right. The bench is in memory of the late Wade Beal of Meyersdale.
Caden Snyder and Landon Ludy, both students in Doug Horne's technology education classes at Meyersdale Area High School, restored a discarded wooden bench (pictured here) using new technology. Horne is pictured to the right. The bench is in memory of the late Wade Beal of Meyersdale.

Karen Gnagey, Meyersdale Council and borough parks and recreation committee member, first initiated the project at the school after Wade Beal's widow, Mary Schardt-Beal, visited her in the fall and talked about having a bench made to remember her husband.

Afterward and coincidentally, Gnagey was at the former borough building in Meyersdale and noticed a bench in the weeds. She pulled some of the weeds aside and believed the old bench was still in good enough condition to restore and she made a call to the school district. She asked Horne if any students would be able to restore the bench in time for the Fourth of July celebration in order to honor Beal.

Students Snyder and Ludy stepped up to the challenge. Although the initial work only took about two weeks this spring, the important part of the learning process was the hands-on ability to use a new piece of equipment – the CNC router. They tore apart the bench and then rebuilt it with new lumber and hardware donated by a community member. They first sanded everything and then put the lettering on with the new CNC router.

According to Wikipedia, numerical control (also computer numerical control, abbreviated CNC) is the automated control of machining tools (such as drills, lathes, mills, grinders, routers and 3D printers) by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material (metal, plastic, wood, ceramic or composite) to meet specifications by following coded programmed instructions and without a manual operator directly controlling the machining operation.

Horne said the students themselves had to figure out how to program the machine for this project and then they made a few test runs beforehand.

"This new machine is an application that is being used in manufacturing firms in Somerset County and all over for that matter," Horne said. "The students got to take this project and then actually program the machine and use the technology firsthand. It was a great way to learn and have real-world experience."

Snyder said the bench was in pretty rough condition and the boards were splintered to pieces, but in the end, it turned out to be a rewarding experience.

While neither student personally knew Beal, they both knew their time and energy in restoring the old bench was for a worthwhile cause.

"We did something for someone else and to show pride in our community and that\'s nice to help out like this," Snyder said.

Gnagey says that the bench turned out wonderful and has been placed at the Paul Fuller Playground to be dedicated at this year's Independence Day celebration. She said the Beal family was so pleased with the result and helped to place it.

Beal died April 6, 2021, at the age of 65 after a long illness. He enjoyed car shows and was proud to take his restored 1965 Ford Mustang there. Beal loved to sing at weddings, on the Fourth of July he sang the National Anthem at the Meyersdale fireworks and also sang with the Johnstown Symphony Chorus.

He was well-known in the community as a kind-hearted person who loved his family.

"Wade served his community by singing at several events so it seems fitting that the restoration of this bench was a community service project done by local students," Gnagey said. "It was a teaching moment to instill in them to do community service in honor of Wade Beal. This helps to instill those core values in the next generation."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Meyersdale students restore bench in memory of Wade Beal in time for Fourth