<Caption>Terry Date/Staff photo
Eagle Scout Jonathan Tomer is shown with his Eagle project at the Windham Rail Trail near Roulston Road. </Caption>
WINDHAM, N.H. — At least one local man is starting to call the Windham Rail Trail "Eagle Scout Alley."
The nickname refers to the many Eagle Scout service projects accenting the trail. The latest project came at the hands of Jonathan Tomer of Troop 266, a sturdy bridge railing to protect bicyclists and walkers from a sharp drop-off.
Tomer designed and built railings on both sides of the bridge, which spans a former cattle crossing some three miles from the Depot Road end of the trail.
He spent almost 156 hours on the project, digging holes in rocky earth, setting and tamping the wooden posts, and bolting the wooden rails in place.
Tomer, who is a freshman studying computer science at the University of New Hampshire, said he got the idea for the bridge railing from Mark Samsel of the rail alliance, which recognized the need to protect people from falling and injuring themselves.
Another alliance member, John Mangan, said the barrier not only fulfills the safety need, but its wooden appearance looks like it belongs on the forest trail, skirted by maples and other shade trees.
"It's very aesthetically pleasing," he said.
Tomer did most of the work between May and June.
While digging the post holes, he uncovered a few rusty artifacts, including a railroad spike, and gave them to the alliance.
The 2008 Salem High graduate recruited about 70 hours of volunteer work for the project.
Earlier Eagle Scout projects that have benefited the trail include a rest area about a mile from Depot Road, mile markers and Windham Rail Trail signs, and a kiosk sign at Depot Road that maps out the trail.
Wayne Morrison of the Rail Trail Alliance said the Scout projects have left a lasting mark on the trail for the better, even as they forge greater ties between the Scouts and the alliance.
"So we are going to call this Eagle Scout Alley," Morrison joked.
