Scranton Stories is an oral history video series featuring 33 individuals who have lived or worked in the city of Scranton. These videos are part of the larger project, Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story, which is a community-wide exploration of themes such as history, belonging, and identity. DiscoverNEPA will share these unique, personal “Scranton Stories” in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Restoring the Lackawanna River and Preserving a Local Legacy
Now in the fifth generation of his family living in the United States since they immigrated from Ireland before the Potato Famine, Bernie McGurl fondly recalls swimming in Roaring Brook as a child. An early memory of the putrid odor coming off of the Lackawanna River ended up informing his life’s work.
Bernie has, since his 20’s, dedicated himself to cleaning the river and restoring health to the ecosystem his family has long called home. Growing up exploring the Lackawanna Historical Society’s collections on Saturday afternoons with his dad, Bernie sees Scranton as a culturally rich part of the world, “a place to be from.” His involvement with the Lackawanna River Corridor Association has led him to understand that the love for the river extends far beyond himself, and is hopeful that such community cohesiveness can bode well in overcoming the challenges we face as a nation – to retain our freedom, with all the rights and responsibilities that come with it.
