The community rallied to support the efforts of Lucille Donohue Richmond and Rose M. Arieta to have the Grotto at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church in New Columbus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Letters of support to the Pennsylvania Preservation Historic Board were sent by U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta; state Sen. John T. Yudichak; former House Speaker Keith McCall; Nesquehoning Mayor Tony Walck; Carbon County Commissioners' Chairman William J. O'Gurek; county Veterans Affairs Director Henry M. Desrosiers; Ms. A. J. AuRuchon, vice president Mauch Chunk Historical Society; Sharon Markunas, director of Northumberland County Historical Society; Stephen Hluska, president of Mauch Chunk Historical Society; Craig A. Zurn, CEO/President of Jim Thorpe National Bank; Anthony Marconi, vice president of the Italian Mutual Beneficial Society; Nesquehoning Borough Council president Mark Stromelo, and members Frank Jacobs, David A. Hawk, Rose Walck, and Michael T. Sniscak Jr.; Joseph G. Greco Jr; attorneys Michael S. Greek and Robert T. Yurchak; the Rev. John G. Hilferty, director Pastoral Care, Sacred Heart Hospital; Joseph F. Arieta, True Value Hardware; Mary and Joseph F. Arieta, Frank Arieta Plumbing, Heating and Fuel Oil; veteran and former councilman Donato DeMarco; veteran Wilbur M. Cox; Gina and Scott Samoleski, SNG Service Center; Joseph Blazosky, Blazosky Funeral Home; veteran Bruce A. Nalesnik, Nalesnik Funeral Home; William Breiner, president of VFW Post 8008; Amanda Breiner, president of the Woman's Auxiliary VFW Post 8008; members of VFW Post 8008; James Nardozzi, president of New Columbus Fire Company; Tony Marie Macaluso, The Lantern; Dennis Creitz, Creitz Service Center; Michael Cerimele, Cerimeles Catering Service; Thomas Ferrence, Ferrence Flooring; and Linda Henry Adiletto, daughter of a World War II veteran.