E. E. Norton: His story versus history
November 11 , 2015
Civil War veteran Emery E. Norton was a legend in his own time, and the tales he told about his own service were certainly exciting. His stories, however rousing they may have been and however embellished they may have become, do not altogether match the history presented by his service record. Read More...
Happy 200th Birthday, Stroudsburg!
February 02 , 2015
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. Read More...
Stroud Theater born out of an idea of an opera house
August 08 , 2014
In 1910, several citizens of the Stroudsburg community created the Stroudsburg Industrial Club to “cultivate the social side, as well as to look after the business welfare of our town. The idea being to rent and furnish suitable quarters, where the members can meet for recreation or business.” Within a year’s time, the members of the club had come up with their first idea to help better the community. They wanted to erect an opera house within the borough limits of Stroudsburg. Read More...
30,000 gallons of beer in the creek: Stroudsburg Brewery Co.
May 05 , 2014
In 1899, a group of citizens decided that Stroudsburg needed its own brewery to craft local beer. Stockholders formed the Stroudsburg Brewery Company and met to elect officers, choose managers, select a brew-master, and organize and submit the necessary paperwork to Harrisburg to apply for a charter. Read More...
Not-so mysterious tunnels under Stroudsburg’s Main Street
April 04 , 2014
Sorting fact from fiction is common in the field of history. One legend often revived is that of the secret tunnels under Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg. Read More...
Fort Penn played important role in local history
February 02 , 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 11 , 2011
The Borough of Stroudsburg’s history began about 1730, when a diverse group of settlers started to arrive from the area of Kingston, N.Y. 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 06 , 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 07 , 2009
Founding father Benjamin Franklin 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 06 , 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 05 , 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 10 , 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?” The answer is Colonel Emery Ebenezer Norton and his wife, Jeanette Norton. Read More...
The Smith Family of Stroudsburg
July 07 , 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 11 , 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 10 , 2007
Alexander Mitchell Palmer was born May 4, 1872 in Moosehead, Luzerne County, Pa. The Palmer family was native to Monroe County, having descended from Obadiah Palmer, a Quaker and early settler who worked for the Stroud Family. Read More...
John Summerfield Staples and Abraham Lincoln
March 03 , 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 fought in the Civil War – and became a celebrity.
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Taking a trip through Stroudsburg history
October 10 , 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 10 , 2006
Sorting fact from fiction is common in the field of history. One legend often revived is that of the secret tunnels under Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg. Incorrect newspaper articles from the 1950s indicated these tunnels were used to “harbor refugees from the Wyoming Massacre in the French and Indian War.” According to popular belief, the tunnels served as a way for people to get from Fort Penn to McMichael’s Creek without being attacked by Indians. Read More...
Historic church restoration takes big step
June 06 , 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. Read More...
Stroudsburg’s ‘Sheep to Suit’ Record
February 02 , 2006
Mr. Thomas Kitson was born in England on June 7, 1840. From a young age, Kitson worked in a number of woolen mills where he gained the knowledge and skills of his trade. At 19, Kitson immigrated to America and was employed in a small mill in the Catskills of New York. Read More...
How Stroudsburg Became County Seat
October 10 , 2005
Although settled during colonization, Monroe County was not one of the earliest official counties in Pennsylvania; it was the 53rd recognized county out of 67 statewide. It was formed from pieces of Northampton and Pike Counties on April 1, 1836. Read More...