Pumpy volunteers tell council they ‘aim to bring dam back to the source of joy that it always was’
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The Pumping Station Dam in East Union Township is seen from the spillway on April 4, 2023.
SHENANDOAH – The group of volunteers working to revive the Pumping Station Dam told borough council Monday of their “aim to bring the dam back to the source of joy that it always was.”
Lou Truskowsky, Dave Sarno, and Rick Grabosky — three of the volunteers leading the effort — were at the council meeting seeking support from the borough.
“We fully recognize that the Shenandoah borough owns the property,” Truskowsky said. “We’re just outsiders trying to do something good. You guys have the control.”
The borough has owned the dam, located along Pole Road between Brandonville and Girard Manor in East Union Township and affectionately known as the “Pumpy” by locals, since the early 20th century.
Originally a source of water for the then-bustling borough, the creation of the Municipal Authority and the addition of water sources near Raven Run and Pattersonville rendered the dam redundant and it became a popular recreation area and trout-fishing hub.
Truskowsky said the volunteer group, entitled The Pumpy Association, has removed a dumpster full of trash from the property, along with littered beer bottles, tires, and more.
“The building that’s there is in pretty good shape,” Truskowsky said, adding that they secured the building and restored the furnace.
He added that the group has cleared overgrowth from the dam, done a walking survey of the property as well as an evaluation of the spillway and plumbing.
Sarno said he envisions a “Pumpy 2.0.”
“Not only the water and the fishing, but there are such beautiful trails there,” Sarno said. “People go to Bushkill Falls on buses just to walk up a little path and look at a little bit of water, we have all that.”
He said he wants to put pavilions in and hopes to have events over at the dam, but sees parking as a potential challenge.
Sarno also said he hoped to have a trout stream from the hatchery to the Catawissa Creek.
The dam’s spillway needs work, Sarno said, and the group is seeking grant funding.
The group is not seeking any funding from Shenandoah borough.
“We’re going to go as far as we can go with the grant money we can get,” Sarno said.
Sarno’s also noted the response from community members sharing memories of visits and fishing trips to the dam.
“It’s something that I don’t think you should give up on,” Sarno said to council. “I think we should make it happen.”
Mayor Andrew J. Szczyglak said he supports the effort entirely and commended the group’s efforts, as did Councilman Leo Pietkiewicz, past president of the former Pumpy Preservation Association.
Council President Katie Catizone described the efforts as an investment in the community.
Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Pumpy Association and its efforts to restore the dam.
The association approached the Northern Schuylkill Council of Government last month seeking support, which has led to Mahanoy City and Frackville approving resolutions supporting the efforts. The group has also approached state legislators and is planning to approach the Mountain Council of Government in the Hazleton area as well.
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