Tribute: Randy Cooley Remembers John Albright

John was the organizational genius behind America’s Industrial Heritage Project (AIHP)

AIHP emerged from Congressman John Murtha’s desire to diversify the economy of SW Pennsylvania with multiple economic development efforts to include tourism as one component. For generations the western Pennsylvania landscape was defined by the iron, steel, coal mining, railroads and floods in the narrow valleys of the Allegheny Plateau.

In 1984 I was Park Superintendent at Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS and Johnstown Flood National Memorial when Mr Murtha called how he could get a National Parkway like the Natchez Trace designated and built in western Pa. i immediately called my friend John at the NPS Denver Service Center and asked how that process was begun. His reply...do a reconnaissance survey of western Pa roads and sites to see if it is feasible and ask Mr. Murtha for $35,000 and we will get it done.

Out of this humble beginning was born a rewarding collaboration between John, Keith Dunbar and myself that led to the largest heritage preservation and development effort led by private citizens in the history of the NPS. John was the Project Manager and go-to-guy for anything related to DSC organizing, for guidance on historic research and preservation, tracking all project expenditures and being the historian for what became America’s Industrial Heritage Project. Keith Dunbar was Chief Planner for the project and I was exec director of the federal commission with project oversight

The DSC under John’s able direction organized project teams to accomplish the 46 multi million dollar projects that were identified by the NPS professionals and the Commission as nationally significant after 1 1/2 years of intensive study, debate and consensus building. These projects included the largest documentation of engineering and manufacturing structures done by the Historic American Building Survey/ Historic American Engineering Record since the depression era. A major folklore, culture and oral history documentation effort by the Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission. The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission documented and succeeded in having NPS designate 13 National Historic Landmark properties, over 50 National Historic building designations and dozens of major archaeological efforts. Over 200 miles of rail trails were developed including the Great Allegheny Passage trail between Pittsburgh DC. New visitor centers at four National Historic Sites and complete restoration of the Albert Gallatin residence at Friendship Hill National Historic Site. 

Early funding and admin support for the Progress Fund which evolved into a highly effective loan fund for tourism, restaurant and recreation entrepreneurs that has funded over 80 million dollars in development loans. Development of innovative acid mine drainage treatment efforts which cleaned up the rivers and streams of the region damaged by coal mining activity and opening those same waters for enhanced recreation initiatives.

John meticulously documented the work in his famous green ledger books (use only pencil, Randy. Ink fades :) ). He helped assemble project teams, guided their efforts, tracked every $ spent (over 100 million dollars in federal funds alone), and guided Keith and I through the maze of NPS research, planning, design and development guidelines.

Judith thank you for sharing John with us. We love you both. Keith’s wife Donna and my wife Judy fully appreciate the sacrifices you made in sharing him with us. We are better for having had John as our friend and partner.

Randy Cooley. 6/06/2020