Editorials / Opinions

In 2023 the The Daily American reported that Stump Pond was in the planning stages for a replacement dam with 3.4 million dollars allotted to the project. The information for the article was provided by the Fish and Boat Commission. However, in 2024 the Fish and Boat Commission submitted a permit to remove the dam and not replace it. This decision was made with no public input. After the commission began to remove the top part of the dam, public outcry caused them to put the project on pause. This begs the question, why did the plans change and more importantly what happened to the funding designated for the project? At present, the top of the dam is still off. That is why the area has taken on the appearance of a swamp.

Several months ago I inquired as to the status of the Dam at Stump Pond via State Representative Jonathan Fritz’s office in New Milford. The Fish and Boat Commission responded that they have been unable to find a partner to assist in construction of a new dam. They then went on to describe how the removal of Stump Pond would result in the creation of a beautiful, natural area. It has recently been observed that the commission has set beaver traps. Most likely so the beaver will not build on top of what’s left of the dam and/or will not be around to build anything after the man-made dam is removed. While the commission would not provide a yes or no answer to the inquiry, based on the information above it appears that the dam is going to be removed.

The following is a brief history of Stump Pond mostly taken from the New Milford Township “Blue Book” printed in 1959. Stump Pond has been known by various names over the years to include; Rice Pond and Walworth Pond. Rufus Walworth, the largest lumber operator in New Milford Township, built the first dam in the early 1850’s in order to operate a saw mill. The dam has stood since, with the exception of the great flood of 1855. That year the dam at Corse Pond (Page Lake) collapsed. The large volume of water rushed down Salt Lick Creek and destroyed the dam at Stump Pond and another dam further downstream. New Milford was inundated with water, however there was no loss of life. Walworth lived in the house that used to be across the street from the parking area at Stump Pond. That house burned down in the 1970’s. In 1866 Walworth sold the land to Leonard Corse. Corse had previously built the dam at Corse Pond (Page Lake). He was the first permanent settler in the Lakeside area and he also lived in the house that Walworth had occupied.

Corse sold the property in 1869. Over the next 50 years ownership changed hands several times. In addition to a saw mill, the site served as a furniture factory as well as a feed and grist mill. In 1914 George E. Purdy bought the property and ran it as a saw mill up until his death in 1927. At the time it was the last water-powered saw mill operating in New Milford Township. The dam is still referred to today in formal documents as Purdy dam. In 1942 another owner, Riley Jennings, sold the property to The Pennsylvania Game Commission. The purchase was facilitated by the Blue Ridge Sportsman Club of New Milford. The sportsman club put forth much effort in repairing the dam. Their efforts ensured that Stump Pond would serve as the only public reservoir in Susquehanna County where residents could fish for the generations that followed.

As of January, 2026 the state has received $274,200 in gas royalty payments for the Stump Pond property. Obviously, that number will continue to grow until the gas wells are depleted. If the commission no longer has the money for a dam replacement perhaps they can use the money already generated from the gas lease to repair the existing dam. This compromise would allow for revenue generated in Susquehanna County to benefit its own citizens.

Purdy dam does not look like much in its current, dilapidated state. However it has served its purpose well. The dam has stood for an astounding 176 years. If the dam is eliminated, not only will the county lose a prime fishing spot, hundreds of years of local history will be erased. When the dam is gone we will never get it back. The only way to prevent that is to protest the project now. Below are several local officials that can be contacted in regards to this matter.

Please call your Representative: Dan Meuser, 570-665-3083 (Tunkannock office); Jonathan Fritz, 570-782-2264 (New Milford office); or Elizabeth Baker, 570-226-5960 (Hawley office).

Sincerely,

Edward Taylor, New Milford, PA