Tocks Island: Dammed If You Do: The Homegrown Movement That Defeated the Delaware River Dam

David C. Pierce presents "Tocks Island: Dammed If You Do: The Homegrown Movement That Defeated the Delaware River Dam" as part of the Monroe County Historical Association's Third Thursday Lecture Series.
Local author and retired journalist David C. Pierce worked for over a decade compiling his book, Tocks Island: Dammed If You Do. He interviewed people who lost their homes to forced government acquisition, reviewed decades of newspaper and magazine articles, and conducted research at libraries, state and national archives, and historical societies. Pierce tracked down long-lost federal court documents and deed transfers at the National Archives that were never recorded in the counties where the property acquisitions occurred.
This presentation focuses on the local movement that defeated the federally approved but never-built Tocks Island dam and 37-mile reservoir on the Delaware River, a 13-year struggle that was convoluted, sometimes bizarre, and often heart-wrenching.
After graduating from Stroudsburg High School in 1974, David Pierce embarked on a reporting and editing career that took him to the Kodiak (Alaska) Daily Mirror, Alaska Public Radio, and the Springville (New York) Journal. He then returned to Stroudsburg to become a reporter for the Pocono Record from 2000-2016, and over the course of his long career, his work has been honored by several journalistic organizations. After leaving journalism, Pierce worked for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in 2017 and 2018 as a summer interpretive ranger.
Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in these programs are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Monroe County Historical Association. The Monroe County Historical Association values the research efforts put forth by our featured speakers but cannot guarantee the accuracy of information presented.