Hays Woods

History

James Harden Hays established an early farm on what is now known as Hays Woods.  The Hays family lived on a farm that was located in the western portion of the site.  When his daughter, Mary, married Joseph Glass, the Glass Farm was built on the eastern area of the site.  Portions on the property had rich coal deposits and prior to 1930, Samuel Hays’ mining company did extensive mining using drift and room and pillar methods of underground mining.  Today, in some areas of the site there is evidence of mine subsidence and acid mine drainage

Hays Woods was purchased by US Steel Corporation.  Later, LTV Steel purchased the site  and developed a research facility on a small portion of the land.  In 1988, DGD Realty of Putnam County, NY bought the property from bankrupt LTV Steel.  Pittsburgh Development Group II, owned by Charles Betters, now jointly owns this property with DGD Realty.   (read an article from 1998 about the project)

Hays woods has served as a de-facto recreational green space for the residents of the surrounding communities for more than 40 years. Locally, the forest has been known as “40 Acres”, although the site actually contains 635 acres.  It is also known as ”The Old LTV Site”, referencing the LTV Steel research facility, which is now a private school and is no longer a part of the property.  The name “Hays Woods” reflects the current status of the site.  The forest has recovered from the damage done by the air pollution of Pittsburgh’s steel era.  It contains 6 unnamed streams, areas of mature cherry and walnut trees and rolling meadows which honor the legacy of the Hays Farm.  A network of trails have developed due to the forest’s constant use by visitors and resident wild life.  The forest supports year round activities including hiking, bird watching, trail biking, cross-country skiing and hunting.