FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eagle Scout Project Set to Save the Daffodils.

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP , PA — A beloved North Hills landmark will soon have a new home. In existence for as long as anyone in the neighborhood can remember, and doomed to destruction as farmland is developed into new neighborhoods - a brightly colored daffodil display is about to be saved.

Jeremy Corll, a Boy Scout with Troop 81, Wexford, has received approval from both the Greater Pittsburgh Council of Boy Scouts and Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church to move forward on his Eagle Scout project. His plan is to save the daffodil cross and the words “Welcome Spring” that bloom every year on the hillside at the Frey farm along the side of Warrendale Bayne Road in Marshall Township . Next spring, when the daffodils begin to bloom, their splash of color will once again be enjoyed but in their new home on the hill in front of Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, one mile down the road from the Frey farm.

His task will not be simple. The cross is 53 feet tall and 30 feet across, the “WELCOME SPRING” sign is 10 feet tall and almost 90 feet long. And then there is a matter of the bulbs – more than 15,000 of them. Marking out the spacing for the cross and the letters will be a project in itself. Each letter is about 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The Celtic cross consists of white daffodils, while the rest of the cross is comprised of yellow daffodils. Each bulb must be hand dug, sorted, divided and then replanted after the ground at the church is cleared, roto-tilled and prepared. An estimated two-hundred volunteer hours are needed to accomplish this mission.

But Corll thinks this backbreaking task will be well worth the effort. “ The cross and “WELCOME SPRING” sign have been an important part of the neighborhood’s history,” he said. “Many of the adults who live nearby have told me that they can remember seeing the sign and cross ever since they were little kids. It would be a shame to see it lost because it is a wonderful way to welcome the coming of the spring time season.”

Jeremy will not be alone in his work. He is recruiting help from Boy Scouts (and their families), the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church congregation, family and friends, and the Marshall Township community, to ensure that the beloved tradition of the daffodils continues in the township for years to come. Community service is an important part of Boy Scouting. Based on a Scout-planned and Scout-managed community service project, the Eagle Scout Award is the highest award a Boy Scout can earn. Last spring, as Corll thought about developing his own Eagle Scout project, the daffodils caught his attention. He contacted the family of the late John Frey, who lived on the Frey farm until his death two years ago, and his proposal was met with great enthusiasm. Many long-time Marshall Township residents remember Frey and how much he delighted in his daffodils.

Corll explains, “Several groups will benefit from this project. The family selling the farm to a developer will benefit because it will continue their tradition of the “WELCOME SPRING” sign and cross reappearing each year at springtime. Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church will benefit because they will have a beautiful arrangement of daffodils on the hillside to brighten it up and continue the message of the cross each spring. The community in general will benefit because they will no longer have to worry about this wonderful tradition going to waste.”

Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church seems a perfect resting place for this quiet memorial. The church has deep roots in the Marshall Township community. Designated as an historical site in the township, the structure itself dates to 1867 when it was called Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church. The congregation’s commitment to the community includes support for ten regional mission agencies, home of the Family Development Center Preschool since 1985 and the T-Ball field for Brad-Mar-Pine Athletic Association where hundreds of area youngsters have learned the basics of baseball. Other community events include a community-wide Vacation Bible School and the annual Homemade Cherry Pie Sale.

The church sits high on a hill, reputed to be one of the highest spots in Allegheny County . Today, Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church serves the tri-county area with an active membership equally distributed from throughout Allegheny, Butler and Beaver Counties . Rev. Dr. Daniel Corll, the congregation’s pastor since 1991 says, “I’ve seen much change in the church and community over the past 13 years. Mt. Pleasant ’s roots are firmly planted for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. The congregation is thrilled to have this wonderful opportunity to be the new home of this annual daffodil message of hope and growth.”

Learn more about the daffodil project, the church and opportunities to worship at www.mtpleasantchurch.org .

The work commenced on August 4 with a survey of the land and is scheduled to be finalized at the end of August with the final planting at Mt. Pleasant Church . There will be plenty of work for everyone. To volunteer for this enormous project, loan equipment, including roto-tillers and shovels, donate food or towards the costs involved, or for more information, contact Jeremy Corll at heyguys@one-online.com, or phone 724-934-3635.

Contact Information:

For more information, work schedule, or to arrange an interview, contact Jeremy Corll at 724-934-3635 or Rev. Dr. Daniel Corll at 412-334-3733.

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