Pottsville Seven host successful park clean-up
Woody debris is dumped from the back of a UTV during a recent clean-up day at Pottsville Park near Mullan.
Courtesy photo
MULLAN — Nearly 30 volunteers spent more than 100 combined hours working on various projects at Pottsville Park earlier this month.
Under the guidance of Jim See, leader of the Pottsville Seven, the team met June 11 to ensure the park was ready for visitors during this summer.
The Pottsville Seven is a group of local residents working the past two years to restore and revitalize East Shoshone Park, commonly known as Pottsville Park.
Due to a number of factors, Pottsville has fallen into severe disrepair. See and the rest of “the Seven” coordinate efforts with Shoshone County and the U.S. Forest Service to complete small projects to bring the park back to its original glory.
Volunteers removed woody debris to a nearby burn pile, power washed picnic areas, cleaned grills and firepits, rehabilitated signs throughout the park, restored the horseshoe pits and completed basic lawn and weed maintenanc.
Seven member Tjell Truesdell remarked how incredible the turnout was — not just in manpower, but what that manpower brought with it.
“Numerous people came out with their UTVs. Some even brought dump trailers and tractors,” Truesdell said. “It was an absolutely amazing turnout. It’s getting closer to what the Pottsville group and what the public expects the park to look like.”
Ultimately, the project is far from being completed.
The group is seeking grants, including one for renovating the west kitchen area so that it mirrors the east kitchen in the park, and awaits an archaeological survey by USFS to determine how projects, including a footbridge within the park, can be handled.
Initially founded as a road camp by Captain John Mullan, who named it Camp #9, Pottsville saw its first major change when the local Masons took control of the park in 1910, when they built multiple bridges and facilities on park property.
In 1931 the Shoshone County Parks Improvement Association took control of the park and after three years they struck a deal with the U.S. Forest Service to help maintain the property. Other improvements and upgrades were made over the decades that followed and during that time the park became known as Pottsville.
Over the years, facilities within the park have been rebuilt and repaired numerous times, including a renovation of the caretaker’s cabin and the reconstruction of a pavilion.
Work will continue this summer, including student volunteers with Lutherhaven Ministry’s Idaho Servant Adventures.
“It was so awesome seeing people turnout and listen to the stories,” Truesdell said. “Everyone has a story about growing up in this area and going to this park. They were all excited to be able to participate in the cleanup project.”