State, local leaders check out progress at Pumping Station Dam

BRANDONVILLE – State legislators, county commissioners, and municipal leaders from both sides of Locust Mountain came out to the Pumping Station Dam Tuesday to see the work volunteers have done to revitalize the “Pumpy.”

State Senator David G. Argall (R-29), Reps. Dane Watro (R-116) and Tim Twardzik (R-123), all three county commissioners — Larry Padora, Barron “Boots” Hetherington, and Gary Hess — four members of Shenandoah Borough Council and two members of the East Union Township Board of Supervisors all came out.

“We greatly appreciate your support,” Rick Grabosky, a volunteer with The Pumpy Association, said. “We need everybody’s help to get this project off the ground and get going.”

The Pumpy Association has been working for over a year to revitalize the once-legendary recreation area. It’s between Brandonville and Girard Manor in East Union Township and owned by Shenandoah borough, having previously served as part of that community’s water system.

When it was no longer needed for drinking water, it became a recreation area maintained by a volunteer group until around 2010, when the entire facility became dormant.

“I’ve been here, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been invited here,” Argall said.

Argall expressed optimism about the future of the facility and for grants, as it is owned by a municipality.

“I think if we all work together, hopefully we can all be of some help,” Watro said.

Twardzik called the grassroots effort encouraging.

“With a good base crew of people willing to put a couple dollars in and say we want to have a beautiful place, it’s wonderful,” Twardzik said. “This could be the Sweet Arrow Lake of [the north.]”

Lou Truskowsky, president of the Pumpy Association, said hearing feedback from the community has been like hearing people reading from a script — many sharing similar stories of enjoying the Pumpy years ago.

“We want to pass it along to the next generation,” Truskowsky said.

“It might not be in my lifetime that everything that they want is up and going, but for the communities that are surrounding this dam, it’s endless,” Shenandoah Councilman Michael Whitecavage said. “We’re trying to preserve what we have here and this is just downright beautiful.”

The Pumpy Association has been mustering support from across northern Schuylkill and southern Luzerne County for the past year while making significant progress rehabilitating the grounds.

Earlier this summer, a new roof was donated and installed on the former pump house.

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