Harry Denham spent his career as a conductor with the CSX Railroad. For the past eight years, he’s helped convert the former Nickel Plate Railroad bed into a walking and biking trail, from Rochester to Cassville.
Denham, 76, has been rewarded for his years working on the trail, receiving the first-ever Indiana Trails Volunteer of the Year award from the Greenways Foundation.
Foundation officials said in a press release that Denham was chosen for “demonstrating leadership, inspiring others and unselfishly giving time and resources to benefit the vision of a statewide network of trails in Indiana.”
Denham said he was surprised by the honor, and he likes working on the trail.
“I just enjoy being out there doing something for the community,” he said, adding that he’s worked on the trail since its early days. So far, about 14 miles of the trail is paved, and he anticipates completing another 6 miles in the next few months. When that work is done, trail users will be able to walk, bike or roller blade from Cassville to Denver.
Denham currently is helping frame in a bridge near Denver.
As a former railroader, he thinks reusing abandoned rail beds as trails is “the greatest thing that could ever happen to them. They’re something the public can use and enjoy free of charge. There’s nothing much left in this country that way any more.”
Mike Kuepper, president of the Friends of the Nickel Plate Trail organization, said the award is well-deserved.
“I can’t imagine anyone doing more than he does,” Kuepper said. “He’s kind of done a little bit of everything. He had been our chief engineer. He came up with the bridge designs that we do.”
He said Denham was a railroad conductor and had driven trains several times on the route that is now the trail. He later worked in construction.
Kuepper said one of the first contributions Denham made was in clearing the path. He and other volunteers were out using loppers and other hand tools to clear brush from the path, a daunting task for a trail that runs nearly 40 miles.
“When we were out with loppers, he just came out there and said ‘Let me go home and get my road raider.’ With the equipment it made all the difference. He got through in no time.”
Kokomo resident Charlie Skoog nominated Denham for the award, describing him as “a living legend, a true trailblazer, blessed with the unique skill set, desire and tenacity to physically build this special linear park many have dreamed about.”
He said Denham’s years of service are estimated to account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in value.
“I venture to say there is no trail in America being built more cost effectively than the NPT under Harry’s supervision,” said Skoog, “and he has done much of the work himself.”
Greenways Foundation President Matthew T. Klein said the board chose Denham because “he embodies the true spirit of a volunteer. Over the years, he has led a team to clear 13 miles of paved trails and seven bridges. A long-standing volunteer, we are grateful for his hard work and dedication to the Greenways Foundation.”
Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com
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