Monongahela River ( #AtoZChallenge & #BOTB )

        Mysterious and foreboding was how the Monongahela River looked to be when I was a child.  My mother reminded me not to go too close to the river bank, but my own fear was the greatest deterrent to my getting near that water.  No way I wanted to fall into the murk and maybe disappear forever...

         

 

 

  

Monongahela River 

Edith Barill Bridge (Star City Bridge) Near Granville WV  (Wikipedia)

         With a name that sounds like it could be a monster from a Japanese science fiction horror film, the Monongahela River crawls 130 miles across the Allegheny Plateau through West Virginia and Pennsylvania until it joins the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh to become the Ohio River.  It's a navigable river upon which one can often see barges loaded with coal.

         The Monongahela is not one of the big M rivers like the Mississippi River or the Missouri River  which are far more known to most people, but it is an important river for commerce and for the ecosystem.  It is a river that is more comparable in size to the Maumee River of Indiana and Ohio or the Maury River in Virginia. 

         When my mother started high school my grandparents moved to one of the older nice neighborhoods in Morgantown WV, but my mother had grown up  on the banks of the Monongahela River in nearby Granville where her father owned a general store and gas station. Several relatives still lived in Granville when I was a child and we would sometimes go to visit them.  My Aunt Kitty and Uncle Billy lived in a house with a back yard that ended up at the river bank.  My mother cautioned me about getting too near to the river for fear that I might fall in and drown.  I took her warnings seriously.

        Nevertheless, I loved watching the river and seeing the occasional coal laden barge floating downriver.  From my vantage point I could see the coal tipples climbing the hillsides on either side of the river as well as other crumbling old structures.  In his younger days, my grandfather had been an engineer on the railroad hauling coal down the Monongahela Valley.  The tracks still followed along the river when I was young though I can't say if I saw any trains running on them.  Maybe those tracks are still there. I haven't been there in many years.

         That old slow Monongahela River just plodded downstream and I would look at it wondering what was in the water.  How deep was it?   According to my research the river is at least 9 feet deep and maybe as deep as 20 feet.  Those big barges had to be able to get down the river to deliver the coal to the waiting customers.  I watched from my vantage point down by the river--but not too close.  The barges floated, but I wouldn't if I fell in.     

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this                                                                                 post for more Battle action.

Down By The River (Not a Neil Young Song)

          Like my first BOTB installment at the beginning of this month, this Battle of the Bands is again dedicated to my friend from East Tennessee Marvin Lowe and also to another friend from high school, Vernon Clouse.   I'll have more to say about why in my results post next week.

          When most of us hear the title "Down By The River" we probably think of the Neil Young song by that name.  But there are other songs with this title and the Battle at hand features two different songs with a title that might be confused with other songs with the same phrase in their titles.  One is an obscure older tune while the other is from about 50 years later.  See which one you like best...  

 Beast "(Floating) Down By the River" (1969)

           This short-lived group was formed in Colorado Springs in 1968.  They are categorized as psychedelic jazz rock--in other words they were an eclectic group that dabbled in all sorts of styles and their debut album reflects this.  The band recorded two albums and toured for a couple of years before disbanding.   Here is their "Down by the River" song...

  

Milky Chance "Down By the River" (2014)  

        Milky Chance is an alternative rock group from Germany.  They've toured North America on occasion, but their greatest success has been in Europe.  They remain active with recording and performing...

Time to Vote!
        
          Why not float down these river songs and enjoy for a while.  Then play along in this Battle of the Bands.  I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite.   Which version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 



Winner of this Battle Announced on Thursday April 22nd

           

           A to Z is still happening so you'll keep seeing daily posts on this site.  If you've voted in this Battle (which I really hope you do) then be sure to return on April 22nd to see which song recording was the crowd favorite.

          

         Is there a river from your childhood that haunts your dreams?    Did you hear any frightening river stories when you were a child?  Did you grow up with relatives around or did you have to travel to visit them?