Mayor Ben Thomas Jr.
So, how about those snow flurries on Sunday afternoon and into the evening? I just dumped the rain gauge from Saturday’s rainfall. How much did we get? More in a few minutes as I author this Mayor’s Report about “water.”
It was 37 degrees outside this afternoon with a wind chill factor reducing the real feel to 27 degrees. No doubt, I turned the heat up a few degrees in the family room and put on a sweater to take the wind-swept chill away. Grab some coffee or a spot of tea and join me for a few minutes as we talk water.
See the pictures:People enjoy pancakes and more at Greencastle Lions Pancake Day
The grandchildren just put the rain gauge out a week ago. There was 2.6 inches in the gauge from Saturday. I believe the rain brought citizens out to the Lions Club pancake breakfast in the morning as the community service fundraiser was well attended. The other rainfall nearly a week ago was half an inch of rain. Excellent for the groundwater table that supports our springs and wells that feed Greencastle’s water system and individual wells.
Water sustains life as communities were built around water. Greencastle has Moss Spring which, as the town was laid out in 1782, would have surfaced flowed in Greencastle. Troughs and dipping boxes were constructed into downtown ending on West Baltimore Street just west of Center Square. In the early years a church was built at the spring as the community’s meeting house. Citizens would worship, picnic and drink from the spring.
In 1895 the Consumer Water Company of Philadelphia brought in a modern water system with a hand-dug reservoir north-east of the borough along Reservoir Road. The private water company fell on hard financial times. In 1908 Town Council had a “new,” 13-million-gallon reservoir constructed just west of the original earthen reservoir. The larger reservoir is still in use today as water flows without pumps to the water authority’s treatment plant. Citizens came for miles around to watch steam shovels construct this reservoir. The reservoir is fed by the Eshelman-Spangler springs located on the authority’s farm just east of the reservoir.
At the time Greencastle included Center Square and four blocks in each direction. The town was expanding in the early 1900s as the Moss Spring Land Company was organized and sold building lots for new home construction along East Baltimore Street and North Allison Street. Lot owners would be provided with public water and trolly line transportation.
Today’s water system is still served by Moss Spring and the springs feeding the 13-million-gallon reservoir. Additional water is available from Ebbert’s Spring south of Greencastle along with several wells that are on reserve and used under drought conditions. The main water source remains Moss Spring. In December 2023, the system supplied an average daily flow of 588,200 gallons of water. All water is treated at a modern treatment facility that operates 24 hours a day. Upgrades are being completed at this plant.
Greencastle is taking applications for police officers. The Civil Service Commission is advertising for police candidate testing. Please … if you know anyone that may be interested in a career in law enforcement, encourage them to apply. Nearly 50 years ago, when I was taking civil service exams for law enforcement positions, classrooms would be full of candidates. That is not the case today. Public safety service was and is a rewarding career. If the successful candidate is not already a certified police officer (PA Act 120) you will be enrolled in a certified police academy for extensive training. The position offers good pay, benefits and a pension (retirement) plan after 20 years of service.
A Greencastle Police Department project:Kids and cops catch connections during Greencastle fishing outing
Greencastle residents … the annual bulk drop off days are scheduled for Friday, April 19, from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Saturday, April 20, from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the public works building at 40 Mifflin Lane across from the Jerome R. King Playground bandshell. Accepted items include household appliances, microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers, household furniture, glass, air conditioners, one vehicle battery, lawn equipment, mattresses and box springs, bulk items such as patio furniture, grills, swings, playsets, coolers, ladders and scrap metal. Sorry. No televisions or electronics. For a complete listing, visit Greencastle’s website: www.greencastlepa.gov
A special thank you to the Antrim Township Supervisors and Park Committee for reviewing and awarding the 2024 park grants to volunteer recreation organizations in G-A. This funding program has been around for over 20 years and continues to support our many outstanding recreational facilities and programs.
I’ve been writing the Mayor’s Report for the Echo Pilot for four years now. I started this venture during COVID to support you as we supported each other with phone calls and visits when appropriate. One of my first articles was about this history of “victory gardens” during the war years. I’ll write more about the importance of backyard gardens in a few weeks. Let’s continue supporting each other as springtime is just about here. Happy Easter (almost)!
Meanwhile, the snow flurries continue and the road is wet. Thank goodness the temperature is above freezing. Back to watching college basketball. After all, it’s March Madness! Thanks for reading. We are certainly blessed.
