An iconic water pump that once stood in the middle of the road on Route N in Boynton, Missouri, went missing several months back. Assumed to have been stolen for salvage, the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission, in conjunction with the Sullivan County Historical Society, offered a “no questions asked” reward of $350 for return of the pump. What is reasonably believed to be the Boynton Pump was found in front of Commission Chairman Rick Gardner’s garage. Rick sandblasted, painted and ordered original parts for the pump. Sam Cook, with the Historical Society, constructed a solid and mobile base for the pump.
The story goes that the well in Boynton was one of the very few wells in Sullivan County that never ran dry. During droughts, trucks and wagons would often line up for great distances to draw water from the well.
While, in more recent years, the pump was obsolete, it stood proudly in the middle of Route N, as a reminder of earlier times when that simple pump provided water for many families of the area.
Wells with adequate supply are very hard to find in Sullivan County and this one was located in what will be close to the deepest part of the new East Locust Creek Reservoir.
North Central Regional Water Commission Chairman Rick Gardner stated, he was thrilled to find this pump and happy to contribute to its preservation. On behalf of the Commission, Gardner thanked the Sullivan County Historical Society for housing the pump so that the public can remember the once thriving community of Boynton and the contribution made to sustaining the community during time of drought. Marlene Todd, President of the Sullivan County Historical Society said members are glad that the pump was returned and happy to provide a home for it.
The Boynton pump will be conveyed to the Sullivan County Historical Society during a ceremony tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock Wednesday, May 4.
