Museum Information
Monroe County
Local History Articles

Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg founded in the 1730s

November/2011/
The Borough of Stroudsburg’s history began in 1730 as Peter LaBar established his homestead, a log cabin, on the corner of present-day Main and Ninth Streets. Unfortunately, the log cabin is no longer standing. It was not until decades later, when Jacob Stroud purchased land in the area, that Stroudsburg emerged as a developed town. The area now known as East Stroudsburg has a rich and early history that dates back to the 18th century. East Stroudsburg was originally named Dansbury after Daniel Brodhead who settled there with his family in 1737. Read More...

The importance of Poconos history

April/2011/
Often, when we think about studying history, we think of sitting in a classroom, listening to a lecture or reading from a text, memorizing names, dates, locations, battlefield tactics, etc. But the study of history is much, much more than that — it's personal, alive and relevant. Read More...

Items of interest in Monroe County through the years

April/2011/
A timeline of interesting events over the history of Monroe County, from the mid-1700s to 1990. Read More...

History of Chestnuthill and Middle Smithfield townships

March/2011/
Chestnuthill Township, located in the western portion of Monroe County, was named for its once-abundant chestnut trees, which lined many roadsides and dotted the rolling countryside of the area. Middle Smithfield Township was parceled out of the northern area of Smithfield Township and was part of Pike County until 1814. Read More...

Our earliest townships: Smithfield and Hamilton

February/2011/
Smithfield Township was founded in 1748 and is named for John Smith, an early colonist who owned large tracts of land in the area. Hamilton Township was created on Dec. 24, 1762 and is the second-oldest township in Monroe County. Read More...

Before Monroe County came the Lenni Lenape

January/2011/
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Long before Europeans settled in modern-day Monroe County, the Lenni Lenape called this area home. These Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the Pocono Mountains, having settled in the area over 10,000 year ago. The name Lenni Lenape translates into “the original peoples,” and the term Pocono in the native Lenape tongue means “a river between two mountains.” Because the Lenape did not have a written language, their history was passed from generation to generation by storytellers. The ancestors of the Lenape, the true “original peoples,” were said to have come from the great sea in the west thousands of years before Christopher Columbus. Read More...

Happy 175th Birthday, Monroe County!

January/2011/
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On April 1, 1836, after nine long years of debate and discussion, Monroe County was formed from pieces of land cut from Northampton County and southern Pike County. Although settled by some of the earliest-arriving European colonists, Monroe County was not one of the earliest-formed counties in Pennsylvania. It was the 53rd recognized county out of 67 statewide. Years before its official recognition as a separate entity, residents living in this developing area petitioned the legislature to create the new county. Read More...

Barrett Township celebrates its Sesquicentennial

December/2009/
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Barrett Township will celebrate its 150th birthday at the end of this month. This northern Monroe County township was officially created from parts of Price and Paradise Townships on December 31, 1859, although the area had been settled much earlier. Read More...

History of Local Temperance Movement

August/2007/
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As early as the 1830s, Monroe County citizens became concerned with the effects of alcohol on the community. Public drunkenness and disorderly conduct were becoming more prominent. Read More...

Daylight Saving Time Affected Monroe County

April/2007/
Daylight Saving Time and its enactment in Monroe County have an interesting history. In 1929, Pennsylvania decided that each county would determine if it would participate in Daylight Saving or not. Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg could not agree. Read More...

How Monroe County Got Its Name

February/2007/
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On April 1, 1836, after nine long years of debate and discussion, Monroe County was formed from pieces of land cut from northern Northampton County and southern Pike County. Read More...

Suffrage Movement has Local Ties

March/2006/
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The local Suffrage Movement was headed by Mrs. Althea Staples, wife of Judge Charles B. Staples. In 1914, Mrs. Staples and other local women formed the Stroudsburg Women’s Civic Club, which became active in the community and established committees to report on social issues of the day. Read More...

How Stroudsburg Became County Seat

October/2005/
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A heated special election in 1836 determined the county seat for the newly formed Monroe County. Three towns were suggested to serve as the new county’s seat: Dutotsburg (now Delaware Water Gap), Kellersville in Hamilton Township, and Stroudsburg. They were all considered and placed on the ballot for a vote by the men of the area. Each town had its merits. Read More...