Flooding in Our Area

It is a terrible disaster in the NE area of PA and NY with so much rain that has caused flooding. We are VERY lucky this time here at the lake with some washouts for our neighbors worse than others. Cabin Tranquillity has been spared.  There is a severe washout and collapse of the bridge leading to our daughter's home and our grandson has his snowmobile trailer displaced by a cave-in of his parking place. Our son-in-law's garage is mud messy and daughter's gardens washed away with rocks and debris left as ground cover. The good thing is that we are all ok and safe compared with others in this area.

There are so many pictures on the news and internet that I'm only going to post our own. The bridge and trailer shots are by our grandson's girlfriend. The muddy shot of the interior of son-in-law's garage was taken by our granddaughter.

The rest are of the road in front of our cabin. Got my feet wet!

This is the bank behind the cabin.

Mr. Groundhog lives under the shed. He's wondering if it is over yet.

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pictures from the farm produce place

Not Just a Hardware Store

Not just a hardware store - one hundred years of sales, service and tradition! M.C. Gay began selling farm equipment from his farm in Sugar Hollow, PA in 1913. As the business began to prosper he, along with his son, moved the business into a building in Tunkhannock and then to an old opera house there. It soon expanded to a complete hardware store carrying a full line of household goods and farming needs.

He was a well known person throughout the area due to his extensive service to the county and organizations and musical groups. In 1929 a fire completely destroyed the building and the entire stock of merchandise. The business then moved across the road to the old woolen mill. It has been there until this year when it moved closer into town.

I have been there often and was always amazed at the variety of goods available. The reason it has moved again is obvious but a bit sad. You see, the business in the old woolen mill building was very susceptible to flooding. The first major flood was in 1936 with six more in 1972, 1975, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2011. They were all terrible with a huge amount of goods being destroyed. The Susquehanna River flows directly through town and underneath a large bridge. 

The hardware store was moved and the old building torn down.  *See Video.

100 years is a tremendous milestone and honor for this small town hardware store that has endured so much and has given back enormously to the community. The entire family has worked in this hardware business at sometime through the years since 1913.

We visited the new store and I was amazed at the interior. I will go again soon and take pictures to show you what I mean. Another 30 mile one way trip will happen quickly. It was a thrill to see the interior displays and also the remembrances of its history throughout.  I can't wait to go back! Now…what do I need there? They have it ALL! There is even lawn equipment and a sporting goods department. 

Confession: I was brought up with a regular hardware-store-visiting-dad and still love to run my fingers through the bins of washers, nuts and bolts! 

*   http://wnep.com/2013/04/08/gays-true-value-moving-in-tunkhannock/

http://wyomingcounty.wnep.com/news/news/62485-cleaning-flood-damage-gays

Revitalization Has Begun

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Example of Hope

Last August my nephew's home in NJ was flooded. As the water was subsiding and before the cleanup was hardly begun, September brought another flooding! The photos here don't really show the full impact, but today there is hope, even as total repairs are still being completed and cleanup is not finished.

You see, the firemen came and saved his "girls." Their coop and yard were at the back of the home and they were almost lost.

These photos of yesterday were kept only as reminders of the devastation that so many have endured when the weather ruled. Today there is light at the end of the tunnel and - RENEWAL! The girls are laying!

Example of Interior

Example of Front Yard

Example of Back Yard

Example of Hen Yard and Coop

Example of Front Yard Street

Example of Compassion

Example of Front Yard - Strike Two