Lucille “Leni” Piasky is devoted to lending a helping hand and spreading historical knowledge about her local community for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Piasky, of South Abington Township, volunteers her time at the Lackawanna Historical Society, where she serves as a tour guide and special programs assistant. She is responsible for providing frequent group tours of the Society’s headquarters in the Catlin House, 232 Monroe Ave., in Scranton, and also leads the summer walking tours of the downtown. She has also recently assumed the role of giving special group tours, such as “Museums as a classroom,” which targets area teachers interested in learning about the resources offered by area museums.

According to the Historical Society’s executive director Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, Piasky is one of the most active and thorough tour guides she has had, and is always willing, and more than able, to help out in a variety of ways.

“Besides giving tours, Leni has helped with our annual yard sale, our holiday open house, and isn’t afraid of doing tedious work such as spring cleaning,” Savakinus said.

Piasky said she first became involved with the Historical Society because of her love for and interest in history. She became a member of the Historical Society about 18 years ago, and has been volunteering for six of those years, she said. “I honestly feel that it is equally important to know national and world history, as well as our own local history. The reason I took on the job is because I love to share such significant information with others,” Piasky said.

In addition, she has been a volunteer with the United Way for about 10 years and is a member of the Century Club, serving as its president from 2007 to 2009. She has worked on numerous projects for both organizations and speaks passionately about the importance of them and the good that they, along with the Historical Society, bring to the community.

“I really enjoy working with the community and spreading the knowledge of history, and it is the reason I want to be involved. I am excited for many of the upcoming events that the Historical Society will be having, such as “The Ghost Tour,” along with “The Church Tour.”

The Ghost Tour will be offered in October. For this, the Historical Society will pair up for the second year with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Paranormal Investigators. “On this particular tour, we take a look at a few historical buildings in the area that have paranormal activity. With the Church Tour, May 15, we have an architect and a member from the church come along and speak of the historical and religious background of a few churches within the Scranton area,” Piasky explained. “Both tours are great learning experiences in terms of getting to know the buildings and history that surround us.”

It’s not only the tasks she performs but also the people with which she performs them, she said, acknowledging the dedication of the staff and other volunteers. She added, “working at the Historical Society is not only wonderful because of the historical value being given, but also because it’s a wonderful group of people to work with.”

Lucille ‘Leni’ Piasky