MONROE COUNTY HISTORIC PHOTO ALBUM
Views of the County
You don’t have to be a
painter or photographer to appreciate Monroe County’s
splendor, although nature’s wonders have lured artists and
writers since the region was discovered. The Delaware Water
Gap, alone, has been the subject of painting displayed in
New York and Philadelphia art galleries, among others.
Indeed, one painting was by a Russian traveler in 1813 who
used it as an illustration for a publication called
“Picturesque Voyage in North America.”
From the Gap to the refreshing spectacles of Buck Hill
Halls and Bushkill Falls to panoramic views available from
Mount Pocono, the landscape offers a never-ending,
ever-changing show. Even today's most densely built
commercial corridors are framed by picturesque mountain
vistas.
These pages contain some views taken between 1836 and 1936
of towns and natural landmarks. Print out the pictures and
take them with you on an afternoon exploratory mission to
capture the same scenes today and compare the differences.
Even the more built-up areas are beautiful.
Walk along Fulmer Street in Stroudsburg to see the view
pictured from Crowley’s Heights. For a clearer view, you’ll
need to go when the trees are bare. Then head on down to
Route 191, through South Stroudsburg, across Route 611 and
up to where Stroudsmoor is now. That site used to be the
Highland Dell House. From there, look north – if you can
find a place to peek between the homes and trees – and
imagine how Stroudsburg looked in the 19th century.