Duluth's Eastern Continental Divide Marker Unveiled

Connie Weathers, founder of Sustainable Norcross, joined State Rep. Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth), City of Duluth officials, Duluth Downtown Development Authority members, and Duluth Fall Festival leaders in unveiling and dedicating the first permanent Eastern Continental Divide Marker in the metro Atlanta area Thursday (Sept. 22) on the edge of the next to West Lawrenceville Street.

The ECD runs through Atlanta, downtown Duluth, Norcross and other cities on its way from Pennsylvania to Florida. Weathers, a friend of ECD enthusiast Elliott Brack and the keynote speaker at the event, said there are plans to erect a marker where the ECD crosses Norcross. Brack, the founder of the Eastern Continental Divide Association, was unable to attend the ceremony.

The ECD demarcates the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico watersheds. If water falls on the east side of the divide it eventually runs into the Atlantic Ocean, whereas water falling on the west side flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The base of Duluth’s marker shows which sides the water will flow toward. The marker was designed by Duluth DDA Vice Chairman Rob Ponder with input from his wife Carmen and paid for by the Duluth Fall Festival Committee.

Standing next to the marker are 2011 Duluth Fall Festival Chairman Wayne Herman, l-r, Duluth Fall Festival Co-chairman Kathryn Willis, DDA Secretary Shelly Howard, DDA Chairman Ken Odum, DDA Member Ron Osterloh, Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee, DDA Vice Chairman Rob Ponder, Carmen Ponder, Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris, and Connie Weathers.