The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum dedicated the Senator J. Barry Stout Park on Friday, June 14, 2024.

The park is dedicated to the late J. Barry Stout, Pennsylvania Senate (46^th District) to honor his many years of service to Washington County. Sen. Stout was a long-time friend, supporter, and advocate of PTM and helped secure federal and state grants for many projects, most notably the recent East Campus expansion that includes our new Welcome & Education Center, Volunteer Boulevard, and Wexford Station.

The park includes the Christopher Golofski Memorial Gazebo (dedicated in April 2023), custom-built playground equipment by Jeffrey & Associates, a mural of Cascade Trolley Park by Warren & Associates, sitting areas for relaxing as well as a substantial brick wall embedded with authentic Harmony Freight Station stones that came from Beaver Falls. The project was funded with support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Statewide Local Share Account, Bill & Sandy Stout, other Stout family members as well as grants and other private donations.

Speakers at the event included members of the Stout family, Sen. Camera Bartolotta, Rep. Jason Ortitay, Rep. Tim O’Neal, and Chartiers Township Supervisor Bronwyn Maggi-Kolovich.

Scott Becker said that “this project is a major piece of our effort to have a family friendly venue and appropriately is named in memory of Senator J. Barry Stout, who worked tirelessly to make our community a better place for all to live.”

Senator Stout (November 7, 1936 – October 29, 2016) was a Democratic politician and former member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who represented the 46th District after winning a special election in May 1977. He represented his district from June 7, 1977, through 2010. Previously he was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1970 through 1976. Stout graduated from Washington & Jefferson College and was a resident of Bentleyville.

Throughout his tenure, Stout was a great friend to PTM going back to the 1950s when his father brought him down as a teenager to help build our standard gauge siding. He was reintroduced to the Museum by longtime member & volunteer, Bruce Wells, to help PTM preserve historic Red Arrow (Philadelphia) streetcars that were in danger of being scrapped. Stout would assist PTM many times, never more notably than in the East Campus development. He and his capable staff helped secure federal and state grants for earthwork and construction. The project became a family affair, with Stout as a partner with his brother Philip in Marta Track Constructors, who also donated materials and services over the years. Barry’s brother Bill Stout ran Atlas Railroad Construction, who also helped in building the track construction east, and tracks up to and inside the Trolley Display Building. Barry’s oldest daughter, Lisa, worked as PTM’s Visitor Services Manager and still volunteers at the Museum.

Always good natured and larger than life, Stout was the subject of the Museum’s first “Roast” in 2007. Even after his retirement, Stout remained connected to PTM. He was particularly excited about our receiving the Wexford Station, and was on hand at 8:00 AM on June 6, 2015, when it arrived.