Smithfield’s wreath raffle benefits Monroe Historical Association
Fifty people gathered in the Smithfield Township Municipal Center on Dec. 17 for a festive Silent Auction Wreath Raffle to benefit the Monroe County Historical Association. Infusing the air with the scent of fresh evergreens, more than 30 wreaths — trimmed with everything from ribbons and pinecones to holly boughs and mountain laurel — along with other holiday décor adorned the walls. Read More...
Miniature holiday villages have rich history
This is the time of year when families hold fast to holiday traditions. Setting up a Christmas tree, attending worship services, baking holiday cookies, sending cards filled with warm wishes to family and friends, and giving gifts are all part of the December scene. One tradition that stands out as having historic roots is upheld by many local families, especially those families with Pennsylvania German backgrounds.
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Wreaths auction to benefit MCHA
Wreaths of every description, Christmas carols sung to the accompaniment of the Pocono Dulcimer Club and free refreshments will be featured during a Smithfield Township fundraiser Friday for the Monroe County Historical Association. Read More...
Celebrating Cullen Yates: Fundraiser paints picture of Poconos artist
Large undertakings often have humble beginnings, and the impetus for the upcoming art show and auction at Shawnee Inn, "Cullen Yates: 99 Years at Shawnee Inn," is just such a case. It all began because folks at Monroe County Historical Association decided the upstairs of Stroud Mansion — its headquarters — needed a new coat of paint, and this has morphed into a celebration of the most lauded painter in northeastern Pennsylvania, with perhaps the largest collection of Yates paintings assembled since the artist's death in 1945. Read More...
History of lime kilns in Monroe County
October 10 , 2010 Filed in: Agriculture
Autumn marks the end of Pennsylvania’s growing season, but it does not mean that a farmer’s work is done. For over two centuries, one of the most important autumn chores for Monroe County farmers has been the spreading of lime powder on their fields. The lime enriches and buffers the soil, preparing it for the next spring’s plantings. Read More...
Graves photographs Delaware Water Gap
August 08 , 2010 Filed in: Delaware Water Gap | People
Delaware Water Gap, both as a town and a natural geological landmark, has been featured as the subject of numerous pieces of artwork, stories, poems, and photographs. For years, visitors have been drawn to this small mountain community. Jesse A. Graves was no different. Read More...
Pennsylvania’s infamous ‘Walking Purchase’
In 1681, King Charles II of England granted William Penn a charter to establish a colony in the New World. The king owed William Penn’s father ₤16,000 and to repay his debt, King Charles II granted the young Penn 45,000 square miles of land to establish a colony in “regard to the memorie and merits of his late father” on March 4, 1681. Read More...
Historical Marker dedicated in Smithfield Township
On Friday, July 2, 2010, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, together with the Smithfield Township Board of Supervisors, the Middle Smithfield Township Board of Supervisors, and the Eastern Monroe Regional Commission dedicated an official State Historical Marker commemorating the Shawnee/Minisink Archaeological Site at Rivers Edge Park in Minisink Hills. Read More...
History of the Stroudsburg Post Office
June 06 , 2010 Filed in: Stroudsburg
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...
Paradise fish hatchery oldest in state
In 1902, a Monroe County business created an industry to sell this native fish species to the public. The Paradise Brook Trout Co. was the first licensed trout hatchery in Pennsylvania. Founded by a group of businessmen from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the hatchery is still operating today on Route 191 in Paradise Township. Read More...
Monroe County’s first world record
On Easter Sunday in 1898, a special edition of the Stroudsburg Daily Times was printed, and in the process, a world record was broken. Only hours before, the paper used for the newspaper had been a living tree. It was all done to commemorate the Stroudsburg Daily Times’ fourth anniversary. Read More...
The Legend of Lover’s Leap
An old tale from Monroe County’s history recounts the legend of a love between and Indian princess and an early Dutch settler. The story, which may or may not be true, was first recorded in Luke W. Brodhead’s 1870 book, The Delaware Water Gap, Its Legends and Early History. As the story goes, Princess Winona was the beloved and only daughter of Chief Wissinoming, the noble leader of the Minisink. While the chief ruled all of the land along the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers to the Atlantic Ocean, the headquarters of the tribe was located near Shawnee Island and present-day Smithfield Township, Monroe County. Read More...
Counting America: A history of the census
January 01 , 2010 Filed in: Politics
Every 10 years, the United States government conducts a census. A census is a regularly occurring official count that collects the economic, demographic and social data of a population. The information is collected, analyzed, and used in a variety of ways, including determining how much federal funding a community is eligible to receive to realigning congressional districts. Another example includes many family historians who use older census reports to research their ancestors. Read More...