MILLHEIM — Sometimes, saving a piece of a community’s history takes more than money. It takes determination, a shared vision and neighbors willing to come together for something bigger than themselves.
For the Millheim Pool, that community spirit has helped turn hope into progress.
The Penns Valley Penguins swim team has exceeded its $100,000 fundraising goal toward restoring the beloved community pool, marking a significant milestone in an effort to bring swimming, summer memories and a longtime gathering place back to Penns Valley.
Heather House, vice president of the Penns Valley Penguins, said the fundraising campaign received a major boost approximately three weeks ago when an anonymous donor contributed a substantial check.
While the donation helped push the campaign beyond its goal, House said she never doubted the community’s ability to deliver.
“I knew our community could do this,” House said.
For House, the fundraising effort has been about more than collecting donations. It has also been an opportunity to discover just how deeply the pool is woven into the lives of Penns Valley residents.
During one fundraising event, House and her son listened as residents recalled childhood summers spent riding bicycles to the pool, meeting friends and making memories.
Her son offered an observation that has stayed with her.
“I feel like we’re collecting as many stories as we are dollars,” he told her.
Those stories, House said, reinforced what organizers already believed. The community wanted its pool back. Residents simply needed a way to help make it happen.
Despite the fundraising success, significant work remains.
House explained that the swim team’s $100,000 goal was designed to provide matching funds and a financial cushion for unexpected expenses. The total restoration project is expected to cost closer to $300,000.
Organizers have applied for funding through the state Dept. of Community and Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, which requires a 15% local match.
A decision is expected in late November or early December.
If the grant is awarded, organizers hope to reopen the pool in summer 2027. Without it or another substantial donation, reopening could be delayed until 2028.
House said preparations are already underway with Millheim Borough to have contractor bidding documents ready should the funding come through.
“It’s really exciting to celebrate this milestone and I think we have to be pragmatic. It’s a milestone. It’s not the finish line,” House said.
The pool’s absence has been especially difficult for the Penguins.
After recording 160 swimmers in 2024, participation dropped to 60 in 2025 when the team began traveling to Lewistown. Despite the challenges, participation rebounded to more than 80 swimmers in 2026.
House said the distance has made participation difficult for working families unable to transport children approximately 30 miles each way.
The team received assistance from the Ruth E. Rishel Charitable Fund to provide transportation this summer, an initiative organizers hope to continue when the Millheim Pool reopens.
Looking ahead, House envisions more than simply restoring a place to swim. She hopes the pool will offer expanded programming, swimming lessons and additional opportunities for children throughout the valley.
She also emphasized the importance of the pool as a source of summer employment for local teenagers, particularly those seeking their first jobs as lifeguards.
Admission fees would continue helping cover operating expenses and wages for workers, keeping those dollars circulating within the community.
For now, House continues to picture the day when families return, children splash in the water and the sounds of summer once again fill the pool grounds.
“In my vision is the pool is full and there are families with their kids there,” House said.
She imagines food, laughter and a lively atmosphere celebrating everything the community accomplished together.
And she wants everyone who contributed to know their generosity mattered.
“Every donation, every well wish is momentum, you know, and it buoys the effort,” House said.
The Penns Valley Penguins are also seeking photographs of the Millheim Pool and swim teams from years past to help preserve the memories and history surrounding the community landmark.
“We want more photos,” House said.
For a community determined to bring its pool back, the fundraising milestone represents more than a financial achievement.
It is another step toward filling the water, opening the gates and welcoming generations of Penns Valley families home.
