New BOCC all in on Pottsville

MULLAN — The Shoshone Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recently met with the Pottsville Seven to discuss the ongoing endeavors to restore East Shoshone Park to its former glory.

‘The Seven,’ as they refer to themselves, have been meeting with the BOCC for more than two years – however, the BOCC in its current form is different than the one they had been working with and they felt that it was important to bring the current commissioners up to speed.

Led by Jim See – the group includes locals Ron Hayes, Bud Koski, Sam Davis, Mitch Alexander, Kjell Truesdell, and Nick Hogamier – all from different backgrounds, but each with the same goal.

BOCC chairman Dave Dose, along with commissioners Jeff Zimmerman and Tracy Casady, wasn’t entirely unaware of the group – but understanding how the project intersects with the county and how they can support the restoration efforts were the topics of discussion during last week’s meeting.

“This is a brand new board of county commissioners, so we have just now had our very first meeting with the Pottsville Seven to get an update on this project and find out just exactly what they hope to accomplish,” Dose explained. “It is an impressive set of goals and a fantastic project. I still remember my first field trip as a middle school kid to Pottsville with my class. It’s a wonderful location with all kinds of great local history.”

The history of the park is exceptional and rich, but possibly the most intriguing aspect is how it is managed by multiple agencies.

One of the first projects completed by the Seven was establishing a thorough and accurate historical timeline of the park.

Initially founded as a road camp by Captain John Mullan, Camp #9 saw its first major change when the local Masons took control of the park in 1910 – building multiple bridges and facilities on the 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 United States Forest Service (USFS) for help maintaining 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, the facilities within the park have been rebuilt and repaired numerous times, including a full renovation of the park’s caretaker’s cabin and reconstructing one of the park’s outdoor pavilions.

The USFS is still involved with the park and has shown great support – however, over the years the park has grown to be less and less of a priority for all of the entities who had a stake in it.

Which brings us to today.

Much like the commission before them, this board is excited to learn more about the park and what has been accomplished so far – but also understands that there is a long way to go and that their support will be a catalyst for success.

“I think we are honestly still looking at ways we can be a support to their restoration efforts,” Dose said. “I know we are exploring how we might provide help through grant writing, and possibly provide some labor in the future. It seems to me the timeline will probably be driven by the availability of finances and labor, which in turn will be driven by the continuing volunteer spirit of our citizens.”

During 2022, the Seven made significant progress in the park, repairing gates, processing numerous blowdowns, reconditioning large grills, and installing new smaller ones. The frames for the horseshoe pits were completed off-site and will be installed as soon as the weather permits. In addition, Hayes and his family spent time staining thirty picnic tables and benches around the east and west shelters of the park.

During their meeting, See was excited to share all of the progress that has been made, and hearing his passion and energy, it made the decision for the new board of commissioners to continue supporting the project an easy one.

“I was excited to hear that they are planning on posting historical signage throughout the park to help explain our local history in more detail,” Dose said. “As a former history teacher here in the valley, I think we need to do everything we can to remind our youth and the new generation of people living here about our past – where we come from. Pottsville and the Mullan area have some fantastic history, and this will be a great place to showcase some of it. I believe the entire BOCC is looking forward to working with the Pottsville seven, local volunteers, and the forest service to try and keep this project rolling for the good of the entire county. I continue to be impressed by all that these volunteers have accomplished to date. Can’t wait to see what comes next.”

The Silver Valley community has also been incredibly supportive of the project, as last year, an auction fundraiser was held and hosted by the Wallace Elks Lodge – raising over $10,000 toward the cause.

The Seven took an on-site break due to winter conditions, but as the snow melts, they will dive back into the action.

Their future plans include installing interpretive signs along the one-mile walking trail, renovating and upgrading older bathrooms that are no longer in use, and updating the kitchen areas.

The group will meet with the BOCC and USFS on May 16 at 11:30 a.m. at the Shoshone County Courthouse to discuss their progress and future plans.