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Stroudsburg
Local History Articles

Fort Penn played important role in local history

February 2013 |
In 1775, Jacob Stroud, a military veteran of the French and Indian War, was placed in charge of the Lower Smithfield Military Company. He began this post at the rank of captain and was ultimately promoted to colonel. One year later, Stroud was ordered by the executive council to build a stockade around his stone home. This fortified structure, which became part of Jacob Stroud’s command, was called Fort Penn. Read More...

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...

History of the Stroudsburg Post Office

June 2010 |
The first Post Office in Stroudsburg was created shortly after 1800, with Daniel Stroud serving as postmaster. The first returns were made to Daniel Stroud on April 1, 1803. Over the years, the Post Office was moved to various locations around Stroudsburg. In 1884, it was located at the corner of Main and 7th Streets. By 1915, the building was at 567 Main Street, and in 1928, it was located at 22 South 6th Street. Read More...

History of the Stroudsburg Library

July 2009 |
Founding father Benjamin Franklin has many credits to his name: inventor, scientist, author, diplomat, and philosopher. He is also credited with establishing the first library in America. A little over 100 years after the founding of Franklin’s library, and closely following Franklin’s model, 20 well-known Stroudsburg citizens gathered to create the Stroudsburg Library Company. Read More...

A walk on the historic side in Stroudsburg

June 2009 |
Many people are planning “‘staycations’ this year,” said Amy Leiser, executive director of Monroe County Historical Association. MCHA could have the answer to this year’s “staycation” plans with the self-guided walking tour brochure, “Stroudsburg Historical Tour.” Read More...

Stroudsburg cannons dedicated to Civil War dead

May 2009 |
For 112 years, the cannons in Courthouse Square stood without any marker or plaque to show why they were placed there. On Monday, county officials changed that by dedicating the cannons to the local veterans of the Civil War during a Memorial Day celebration before hundreds of onlookers. Read More...

E.E. Norton: Humble Beginnings, Elegant End

October 2008 |

One of the most common inquiries we receive at the Monroe County Historical Association, especially in October, is “Who is buried in that large mausoleum in the Stroudsburg Cemetery?” Read More...

The Smith Family of Stroudsburg

July 2008 |
In the archives of the Monroe County Historical Association are photographs of two African American sisters. One photograph is labeled “Laura B. Smith – 8 years old,” and the other is marked with “Florence V. Smith.” These two images have interested me for years, and through CASS’s inquiry for pictures, I was able to research who these two little girls were. Read More...

Converted Quaker Builds Faith in 1800s

November 2007 |
The Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, played an influential role in Monroe County’s history. The Quaker presence in Monroe County had its beginnings in Stroudsburg in the early 1800s. Read More...

A. Mitchell Palmer: Red Scare Infamy

October 2007 |
A. Mitchell Palmer of Stroudsburg played a role in local, state and national politics that will not be forgotten by history. He was a lawyer, a Congressman, a newspaper owner, and considered as a Democratic presidential candidate. The height of his fame – and infamy — came in his role as U.S. attorney general under President Woodrow Wilson. Read More...

John Summerfield Staples and Abraham Lincoln

March 2007 |
The Civil War affected the citizens of Monroe County as it did the nation. Men left their homes, families, and jobs to serve in the Union Army. Joining his fellow citizens, John Summerfield Staples of Stroudsburg fought in the Civil War – and became a celebrity as the official replacement recruit representing President Abraham Lincoln. Read More...

Taking a trip through Stroudsburg history

October 2006 |
If you didn't know that downtown Stroudsburg's architecture includes examples of Georgian, Federal, Second Empire, English Gothic Revival and Art Deco styles, you might want to stop by the borough Saturday. If you don't know who Daniel Brodhead, Jacob Stroud, Daniel Stroud, A. Mitchell Palmer, Thomas Kitson, Joseph Wallace or Amzi Wyckoff are, ditto. The Jacob Stroud Corporation and the Monroe County Historical Association will co-host the first Historic Stroudsburg Day beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday in Stroudsburg. Read More...

Tunnels under Stroudsburg’s Main Street

October 2006 |
One legend often revived is that of the secret tunnels under Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg. These tunnels exist and are located under the lower portion of Main Street; they were created by an act of nature and the ingenuity of a Stroudsburg business owner. Read More...

Historic church restoration takes big step

June 2006 |
STROUDSBURG — The site on Third Street looks like just another construction eyesore. But Robert Hillman, 63, of East Stroudsburg has his own vision what the ground, freshly covered in bits of broken building, looks like. "It's like flowers," Hillman said. "Just to see this going is like heaven, because, I swear, it just seemed like we'd never get it." Read More...

Stroudsburg’s ‘Sheep to Suit’ Record

February 2006 |
Thomas Kitson, owner of the Stroudsburg Woolen Mill, had his eye on an unusual prize. He felt he could lower the world-time-record for manufacturing a full suit of clothing, beginning with shearing sheep and ending with someone donning the attire. At the time, the record of 8 hours and 0 minutes was held by a mill in Scotland. On May 18, 1898, Kitson set out to break that record. Read More...

How Stroudsburg Became County Seat

October 2005 |
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...