Covington Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
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Covington Township is a township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,994 at the 2000 census.
[edit] Background of Paper
The History of Daleville in Covington Township and the Surrounding Villages
By John R Croom III
Written for Dr. Michael DeMichele
Chairman of the History Department
The University of Scranton
Published June 25, 2003
[edit] The Beginning
Covington Township and Daleville have a history that dates back well before 1600. In this time the Native American nations swarmed the hills and valleys of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Native American’s history can never be written, because traditions running back through the centuries perished with the Native Americans. The history we have dates back to March 11, 1681 when King Charles II granted William Penn the charter for the land we know today as Pennsylvania. Penn arrived in the new colony in 1682 and began planning for the city of Philadelphia. From the beginning, Penn attempted to maintain good relations with the Native Americans and governed the colony effectively for two years. The growth and well-being of the Pennsylvania colony was based on a tradition of religious toleration and freedom, and were the fundamental principles of American civil life. All that remained of the Native Americans by the middle of the 19th century was the remains of an ancient Indian mound or encampment, found in Covington, near the line of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. This location is believed to be northwest of the Clifton Beech Road along Meadow Brook Creek near the current Covington and Clifton Township line. Because there are such a small number of artifacts found in this area, it is believed that most of this land was used primarily as hunting grounds. (Pennsylvania), (William Penn), (Interview) (At Drinker Beech, 1/15/1976) and (History of the Lackawanna Valley)
The first white visitors in Covington Township were 'Jersey Hunters' and explorers who followed the Lehigh River, from the Delaware River through the heavy virgin timber, which provided good hunting and fishing. Lehigh in the Native American language means Dark Waters. Also among the first visitors were some members of a religious order trying to spread Christianity to the Natives. (Along Main St.)
The beliefs in fundamental principles of American civil life in Pennsylvania led to an attempt to respect the rights of the Native Americans that occupied Covington and surrounding areas. Under British law, all lands claimed by the English in America, and chartered by the king, still need to be purchased by the settlers from the Native Americans. The land that is today called Covington Township was not purchased from the Native Americans until July 11, 1754. At this time John and Richard Penn, Isaac Norris, and Benjamin Franklin, who were appointed by Pennsylvania as commissioners to represent the interests of the province, met with the heads of the five nations of Indians, called the Iroquois. The Iroquois were the native proprietors of the tract of land between the Delaware River and Susquehanna River. At this meeting the Delaware Company, which was representing Pennsylvania, purchased all the land between the two rivers except for that within the first 10 miles east of the Susquehanna, for two thousand pounds, New York currency. This land encompassed Covington, Springbrook, Madison, Jefferson, Scott, and Blakeley, and the neighboring counties of Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, and a portion of Monroe. (History of the Lackawanna Valley)
[edit] The Drinker Era
The land originally owned by the state, from the Pennsylvania Charter, remained dormant until late in the year of 1787 when, Henry Drinker Sr. of Philadelphia, uncle of the Henry W. and Richard Drinker, purchased from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania about 25,000 acres of the roughest land of the Pocono’s. This area was located in Luzerne County, which was formed in September 25, 1786 out of Northumberland County. At this time Luzerne County encompassed the current Lackawanna, Bradford, and Susquehanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Monroe Counties. (At Drinker Beech, 1/15/1976) and (Along main St.)
This area became known as Drinker's Beech because of the large number of beech trees found there. Settlement in that district had been retarded because of the natural barriers presented by the Pocono and Moosic Mountains. Not only did the area contain beech trees, but this heavily forested region contained vast numbers of oak and hemlock as well as maple, ash, cherry, and pine trees. Wildlife abounded with deer, elk, bear, bobcats, fox, mink, weasels, turkey, and grouse. (U.S. National Park Service) An effort was made in 1788 to turn this purchase to some practical account by opening a highway through the lands. It failed for want of means. Drinker then employed John Delong, of Stroudsburg, to mark or cut a road through his new beech covered land to what is today Dunmore. The road was to start near the “the twenty-one mile tree” on the north and south road, also know as Drinker Road because it was primarily financed by Henry Drinker Sr. This road connects Philadelphia with the north. The “the twenty-one mile tree”, is equivalent to today’s mile markers and was located on the northern portion of the road. The westerly work started in the spring of 1792. Delong hired lumbermen and sawyers to carve out a road thirty two feet in width, wide enough for a 'turnpike'. Work was only stopped when the cold weather closed in. The road extended in an easterly direction, crossed the line of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, then passed Lake Henry, which today is sometimes referred to as Eagle Lake. The road then taking a southerly course terminated on the Bell Meadow Brook, a tributary of the Lehigh. The road did not travel through today’s Daleville. (Along Main St.) and (History of the Lackawanna Valley)
Ebenezer Bowman, Esq., of Wilkes-Barre, was employed to pay taxes upon these lands as late as 1813, after which time Henry W. Drinker, as the agent, offered them for sale and settlement. (History of the Lackawanna Valley) In the summer of 1814, H.W. Drinker, A nephew of Henry Drinker, had his land resurveyed by Jackson Torrey, of Bethany, Wayne County, into lots averaging one hundred acres each. Lots were sold at $5 per acre on five years credit, the first two years without interest; payment to be made in lumber, shingles, labor, stock, produce, or anything the farmer had to spare. In these days, the land known as Covington Township was considered part of Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County. The first permanent encampment was made by Henry Drinker, Sr., with, Henry W. and his brother Richard Drinker in the spring of 1815 near the mouth of Wild Meadow, now known as Mill Creek, on the Lehigh River. This was not far from the end of the Drinker Road at that time. At this encampment they built a bark shelter and slept rolled in their blankets on a bed of boughs, while a large fire blazed in front of the shelter. Now and then they were annoyed by the serenade of a school of owls attracted to the camp by the strange glare of the fire. They were also annoyed by the piercing screams of the sleepless panther, and in damp weather by the bite of gnats. Trout and venison fed them abundantly, but they needed other provisions. Supplies needed to be brought up the Lehigh 18 miles from Stoddardsville in a large batteau, towed by horse power and pushed with a setting pole. Other provisions were hauled in 13 miles by horses from Slocum Hollow. The first clearing was made in Drinker’s settlement in 1815 by H. W. Drinker on a ridge of land about a quarter of a mile south of the encampment. At this clearing he built a log house. Dimion DeLong of Clifton, son of John DeLong, built a homestead near the 'Buck Horn Inn,' on lands which his father acquired from Drinker. (Along main St.), (At Drinker Beech, 3/11/1976) and (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna…)
It wasn’t until 1818 that Covington Township was official created out of Wilkes-Barre Township at the Court of Quarter Sessions. It included 90,000 acres and embraced the whole of Drinker’s possessions in the south part of old Luzerne County. It was named Covington at the suggestion of H. W. Drinker, in honor of Brigadier General Covington, who fell at the battle of Williamsburg, in Upper Canada. Other landowners whose land was incorporated into this new township included David Hayfield (who owned 432 acres near Lake Henry), John Dunwoody, Benjamin Horne, John M. Nesbitt, Thomas Mifflin, and Samuel Carpenter, just to name a few. Most of these men were from the Philadelphia area and never settled in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The territory embraced in the new township at that time covered the present townships of Covington, Lehigh, Clifton, Spring Brook, Madison, and Buck (Now Lehigh, Lackawanna County) Township and Moscow Borough. (A Brief History of Lackawanna County), (At Drinker Beech, 1/22/1976), (At Drinker Beech, 2/5/1976) and (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna…)
In 1819 the Drinker Turnpike charter was extended to include over sixty miles of vast inland frontier and connected Philadelphia with Great Bend, Susquehanna County and 'the west'. The Drinker Turnpike was an entirely separate road from the Drinker Road. The only connection they had was in the area of the current Arthur Hughes Blvd, where the Drinker Road ended when it made a ‘T’ with the Drinker Turnpike. The state of Pennsylvania had so little faith in the civilizing advantages of the Drinker Turnpike it allotted only $12,000 for its construction. The Messrs. Drinkers, Clymer, Meredith, and other wealthy landholders paid for the balance of the road. Drinker, because of his personal contributions, located the road, superintended its general construction, and was elected president of the turnpike company. Because of his power, Drinker personally surveyed this road to transverse the newly formed Covington Township. Due to the lack of interest by others and the limited financial backing, the turnpike was not started until 1822, and the entire road would not officially open until 1828. The course of the road was due north and south through the new community. The turnpike extended from Belmont and Easton Road, some three miles above Stanhope to Great Bend connecting Philadelphia with the far north. (A Brief History of Lackawanna County), (Headlines), and (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna…)
In recutting the original Drinker Road in 1821 to get to where the Drinker Turnpike would be built, inspectors found “Henry Drinker, 1792” rudely carved upon a tree. This may have been the first true sign for a Drinker Highway. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna…)
[edit] Turnersville
The next road created was from near J. Kitson’s to Turnersville opening up a connection to this village. This village was located about 1.5 miles from the Drinker Turnpike on the Jubilee Road. The village was settled in 1826 by William Copeland, John Simpson, Owen Simpson, John Holgate and Godfrey Janes. Four of these men were turners by occupation, which is a lathe operator, hence the name. There being a large quantity of the right kind of timber in this vicinity, inducements were offered by Henry W. Drinker, the owner of the land, mills were built, and manufacture of all kinds of brush handles was soon begun. George Frazee one of the former residents of Turnersville, worked for H. W. Drinker on the first saw-mill built there. He was the oldest resident of the village in 1880. He was born in New Jersey, September 15th, 1792; was a private in Captain Coon’s Company, 16th U.S. infantry, during the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Cook’s Mills. The first frame house in this place was built in 1827 by John Simpson. In 1830 Rev. George Evans, of the Oneida Methodist Episcopal Conference, made Turnersville one of his appointments. A class was formed and a church built, which stood to the northeast beyond the current Hollister Dam on the Jubilee Road. This church then was occupied by the Methodists, with Rev. Mr. Stanley as pastor. A schoolhouse was also built around the same area. By 1880, Turnersville became a farming community, as the timber was all gone, and nothing remained of the extensive turning business except some of the foundations upon which the mills stood. None of these buildings exist today. (History of Lackawanna County) and (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna…)
Turnersville 1874 Map
[edit] Daleville 1819-1880
Daleville, the principal village of the township, lies directly on the Drinker Turnpike. The first settler here was Edward Wardell, a native of Yorkshire, England. He located here in September, 1819, having bought 250 acres of land from H. W. Drinker, at $5 per acre as designated in the 1814 survey of the land. His house was of hewn logs, and stood north of what was then Springbrook Road and is now SR 502 or the Daleville Highway. The entrance to Bill’s Plaza is on Drinker Turnpike. E. Wardell then built a permanent house in 1826 between his first house and the same road. This was the first frame house in Daleville. The next settler, coming in 1819 a week after E. Wardell, was David Dale, also from England. His log cabin stood in the rear of the apartment building north of the Daleville Methodist Church Parsonage. He bought from H. W. Drinker the land on which most of the village is situated. These men decided to name the village Yorktown, after their home in England. Among the other early settlers were Robert Roseman, Frederick Raish. Esby and William Holmes, George Frazee, John Genther, Henry Ospuck, Jacob Gress, Owen and John Simpson, Thomas and George White, William and John Copeland, Daniel Staples, John Wragg, Michael Mitchell, Lawrence Dershermer, Ebenezer Covey, John and William Ross, John and George Fox, John and Lewis Stull, Samuel Wilohick, Archippus Childs, John Lafrance, John Genthu, Henry Ospuck, John Fish, David Dale, Edward Wardell, John Thompson, Mathew Hodson, Peter Rupert, Wesley Hollister, John Besecker, Jacob Swartz, Nathaniel Carter, Samuel Buck, Richard Edwards, John Koons, and Barnabas Carey. These settlers were primarily English, but some were Scotch, German and North Irish. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.), (History of Lackawanna County), and (interviews)
The first wheat crop in this part of the township was raised by Edward Wardell and David Dale, in 1820. It was sown in the fall of 1819. In the winter of 1821, wolves and panthers threatened the new settlement. To make the area safer, hunting parties were formed to remove these prey. In 1827, David Dale built a hotel in Daleville where the empty field is currently north of where the Methodist church is located. The hotel was kept by Lewis Jones around the years of 1880. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.) and (At Drinker Beech, 4/1/1976)
The pioneer merchant in this village was D. Dale. His first store was south of the cemetery on the Drinker Turnpike near where the War Memorial is located. His next store which was built in 1831 was located next to the current Daleville Methodist Parsonage where the apartment building is located. William Dale, son of David Dale ran the business from his father’s death in 1848 until his death in 1882. Sometime after building the store, Dale built a more permanent house where the current parsonage stands. Levi Lillibridge opened the next store in the town the same year, in the front room of E. Wardell’s house. David Dale opened the first tavern in Covington in 1827. This tavern was located in the building that would become Lewis Jones’s hotel. The next tavern was the one kept for a few years by E. Wardell in his residence. Amasa Hollister also kept a tavern in his home. This is located about a 1.2 miles north of the center of Daleville on the Drinker Turnpike. This is the current residence of John and Doris Hollister. This home also served as a stagecoach stop for many years. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.), (At Drinker Beech, 5/6/1976) and (Interview)
The pioneer blacksmith in Daleville was Thomas White. His shop stood where William Dale’s store would be built in 1831. M.W. Hurley had become the blacksmith by 1880, and he located his shop near where Rite Aid is located today. The first shoemaker was George White. His shop stood directly opposite Dale’s Store. This would be on the north side of the cemetery. Mrs. Sarah Raish was the pioneer weaver. Mr. Miller’s house stood on the site of Mrs. Raish’s log cabin. Her log cabin, located near the site of the current Baptist church, was about .5 miles north of the center of town on the Drinker Turnpike. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.)
One of the greatest changes to occur to Covington at this time was the addition of the Railroad. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad was put through the town in 1853. Before this time the only way to ship goods was by wagons. Using trains, goods that use to take 10 days to travel by wagons to Philadelphia, now could now be shipped in one day. (History of Lackawanna County)
In 1856 E. Wardell built a store opposite his residence where he was engaged in the mercantile business for several years. This was located near where the current baseball bat factory now stands. The pioneer physician was Dr. C. Frieschkorn. The first couple married in Daleville was Mr. John Dale and Miss Ellen Yates, of Philadelphia in 1823. The next were E. Wardell, Jr. and his Wife. In 1827, no one was yet living in the current Springbrook Township. The first death in this township was that of Henry Raish in 1828. He was a son of Frederick Raish, one of the pioneer settlers, and was about eight years of age. The oldest cemetery in the township is next to the Township Building. The land for this cemetery was donated E. Wardell. The cemetery was officially blessed and opened on April 10, 1829. (At Drinker Beech, 4/29/1976), (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.), and (History of Lackawanna County)
Daleville 1874 Map
John Fish, in his own house, taught the pioneer school in 1824. Some of the first pupils were David, William, Franklin and Mark Dale, and Allen, Susan and Harriet Hodgson. Seeing the need for a school, D. Dale donated land for a schoolhouse that was built in 1829. This school was located where the township parking lot now resides. This schoolhouse was also used as a church for many years. Another schoolhouse was built in Turnersville in the same year. A second school was built where the township building is currently located a few years later. At this time the first school house was only used as a church. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.), (History of Lackawanna County)
The first carrier of mail from Stroudsburg to Great Bend was William Cottrell. The route was over the Drinker Turnpike. William Dale was the first Postmaster of Yorktown. David Dale became the Postmaster of Covington in 1849. One of his first official duties was to rename the Yorktown, Daleville, in honor of his father who died in 1848. Some time after Cottrell, but by 1880, David Dale became the currier of the entire route. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.), (History of Lackawanna County), (At Drinker Beech 5/6/1976) and (Headlines)
At the outbreak of the Civil War, 77 men from the original Covington Township went off to war. By 1865 at the end of the war, 312 men from this area had gone off to war. Of these men, 48 were killed, 144 were wounded, and 20 died shortly after returning. With the reconstruction era in the country, Covington township was about to go through many changes. One change came when Covington joined Lackawanna County. Lackawanna County was formed from parts of Luzerne County August 13, 1878, and was the last county to be created. It was named for the Lackawanna River. (At Drinker Beech, 7/15/1976) and (Lackawanna County Geology) Mr. Wardell was the first Justice of the Peace for Covington Township and served 25 years. He was 75 years of age in July, 1880. Other early Justices of the Peace were Richard Drinker, 1840; Jacob Beesecker, 1840, 1845; Charles A. Havenstrite, 1845; Mahlon R. Risler, 1848; Edward Wardell, 1850, 1858, 1863, 1868, 1873; Nathaniel Whitmore, 1850; John P. Havenstrite, 1853; Allen Hodgson, 1856, 1865; David Dale, 1876. (History of Lackawanna County) and (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna…) The Methodist movement began in England in the early 1700s, under Anglican priest John Wesley. But it was not until around Christmas, 1784, some 60 ministers gathered in Baltimore and organized the Methodist Episcopal Church, with the word "Episcopal" referring to the church's administration by bishops. This church was a break-off of the Anglican Church in England. This new religion came early to the Daleville settlement. Starting in 1826, church was held in homes until the school was complete in 1829. After that, church was held in the schoolhouse. With rapid growth, philosophical differences and division nationwide was inevitable. In 1828 a group of people, largely moved by an insistence on lay representation, separated and became The Methodist Protestant Church in America. This philosophy soon moved to Daleville. When a Methodist Church was finally built in 1847, it was a Methodist Protestant Church. This new church was located at the site of the current Daleville Church. Members of this church that wanted to remain with the Methodist Episcopal Church, formed churches in Moscow and Staplesville. The Daleville church was taken down in 1876 and shipped to Gouldsboro to erect the Methodist Church there. That same year the current Daleville Methodist church was started. Much of the material and labor was donated for this church. The Van Brunt Lumber Company of Moscow preformed the construction. The Methodist Episcopal society of Daleville was organized in 1877, and consisted of members of both Methodists Episcopal and the Methodist Protestants. H.F. Wardell, a Methodist Protestants, was appointed pastor of the new organization. In 1878 this new organization united with Moscow in pastoral relations. In 1878 the new church edifice was dedicated. Rev. Dr. Charles H. Fowler, former editor of The Christian Advocate, and Rev. L. W. Peck, presiding elder, officiated at the dedication of the church. This church became the Methodist Protestant and was lead by Rev. J. J. Smith D.D. until 1880. The Methodist Episcopal Ministers of this time were G. M. Colville, who became pastor in the year 1878 and, W. B. Westlake, who became pastor in 1879 (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.), (Daleville Church Notes), (History of the United Methodist Church), and (Interviews) The first grist-mill was built in 1864, by Nicholas Marcy, in the northeast corner of the township, on Roaring Brook. Today this would be near the Roaring Brook behind A.J. Chevrolet and the Covington Township Sewer Authority. By 1880, Mr. Poston owned this mill and hired A. Hinds of Moscow to operate it. The pioneer sawmill was built in 1821, by Espy and William Holmes, and was subsequently burned. Albert Hollister then built a mill on the same site, commencing business in 1865. In 1868, William Beck, son-in-law of Albert Hollister joined in the business. By 1874, Beck had bought out the business and moved it to Moscow. These mills were located about a mile down the Fox and Hound Road near Hollister’s Crossing. In 1970 it was know as Hollister’s and Beck’s Mill. David Dale built the first steam sawmill in 1855. Daniel Staples soon after built another. David Dale & Sons, on the Springbrook Road, built a third mill. This mill was located a little west of Daleville. This mill, four houses and two barns were burned in May 1880 by forest fires. (At Drinker Beech, 7/29/1976) and (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.) To make Daleville Mills more profitable, a spur of the railroad was built into the village. This branch of the railroad ran from the D.L. & W at Beck’s Mills to Daleville. The tracks would have ended by the pond about a tenth of a mile west of the Methodist Church along the Dorantown Road. The grade of this train run was such that the cars loaded at the mills in Daleville ran down to the main line by gravity, and on their return from the main line to Daleville mules were use as a means of power. This spur was officially closed in the 1920s removing Hollister’s Crossing as a stop on the D.L. & W. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.) and (At Drinker Beech, 7/29/1976)
On April 23, 1866, the “Union Horse Company of Madison, Covington and Springbrook Township” was established. This company was designed as a united effort to track down and capture horse thieves and recover stolen animals. Members of the community who paid into the company would be insured for the loss of their animals, and if animals were not recovered, they would be paid for their losses. Luther C. Bortree became the president of this organization. Isaac Swartz was the treasure. B. Franklin Hollister, George Swartz, Irvin Ives, Andson Swingle, Joseph Loveland, Peter Fredrick, and William Yeager were members of the committee. Frank W. Wombacker and Charles Swartz were the accountants. (At Drinker Beech, 5/5/1976)
H. W. Drinker died on October 13, 1866 at 79 and was buried in Clifton Township. (At Drinker Beech, 8/12/1976)
[edit] Madison Township, Roaring Brook Township, and Moscow
As the township continued to grow some geographical changes took place. Madison Township was formed August 7, 1849 from parts of Covington and Jefferson, and was named in honor of James Madison. At this time Madison Township encompassed what is today Madison Township, a portion of Roaring Brook Township and also Moscow Borough. The pioneer settlers, Thomas Biesecker and Richard Edwards, located in the northwest part of the township, in the fall of 1824, where they built log cabins, moving their families into them in January, 1825. (A Brief History of Lackawanna County)
[edit] Springbrook Township
On Nov. 22, 1853 Springbrook Township broke away from Covington. Dr. Hoosie originally owned the north half of Springbrook while Mr. Fisher owned the south half of the township, except for 800 acres at Yostville. The land Yostville was owned by H. W. Drinker. In 1832 Abraham Turner made the fist settlement in Springbrook near the center of the township. The pioneer schoolhouse was also built in 1832. It was a framed building, and the first teacher was Miss Emeline Griffin. (A Brief History of Lackawanna County)
[edit] Clifton Township
On December 14, 1875, Clifton Township was formed from Covington. Jacob Gress, the first settler, located here in 1840. He opened the first tavern in the log-house in the most primitive style. He was a brave hunter, and was the proud owner of seventy-three bear skins. He also killed over seven hundred deer and a large number of panthers and wolves, and much small game. The first store was built in 1863 or 1864 by Herbine, Baum & Co., at Clifton. These secession from Covington brought forth approximately the current size and shape of our township. (A Brief History of Lackawanna County)
Clifton 1874 Map
[edit] The villages of Covington Township
With all these changes, Covington Township was still growing and by 1880, Daleville had a Methodist Protestant Church, a steam saw-mill, a school house, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a store, and about 150 inhabitants. Turnersville had become a farming community by this time as well. There were also two other predominant villages in the township: Holgate’s Mill and Staplesville. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa.)
[edit] Holgate’s Mill
The first settler at what is now Holgate’s mill was Mathew Hodgson, who came from London, England and built a log house at the intersection of the Arthur M. Hughes Blvd. (This has also been know as Drinker Road, Eagle Lake Road, Lake Henry Road or Arthur M. Hughes, Sr. Boulevard) and the Drinker Turnpike. This is located near the entrance of Eagle Lake, but at that time was where the Drinker Road met the Drinker Turnpike. Both roads and teams were rather scarce at this time, so to receive boards for a floor and door Mr. Hodgson carried the lumber on his back from the Lehigh River, six miles. His first log cabin gave way to a frame house, close to the turnpike. Soon after Mr. Hodgson other settlers came, including the family for which the area was named. Cornelius Holgate, Grandfather of the mill’s namesake, commenced the turning business in Roxbury, a suburb of Philadelphia, in 1775. In 1805 he transferred the business to his son, John Holgate, who in 1818 moved his brush block factory to Laurel Run, Luzerne County, and again in 1826 to Turnersville. This is the same John Holgate mentioned earlier as a founder of Turnersville. In 1841 J. Holgate transferred the business to his son, Silas G. Holgate, who moved the business to Holgate’s Mills. In 1873, S.G. Holgate’s two sons received the business. The Holgate Brothers, made a variety of brush blocks and handles. The enterprise and thrift of the establishment was seen in the continual increase of facilities, and the extent of their orders, which far exceed the increased capacities of their mills; however, the mill was closed some time after 1880. A great deal of the timber in this vicinity was sugar maple and sugar making was the principal business in the spring. At the end of the sugar making season, the pioneers would strap a portion of the maple sugar on their backs and start for the store at Nobletown, in Wayne County, a distance of ten miles; there they exchanged their sugar for a few necessaries. The pioneer, who, more fortunate than his neighbor, owned a cow and ox, would hitch them together to do logging, farming and milling. The nearest mills were at Stoddardsville, on the Lehigh, and at Slocum Hollow, now Scranton. Prior to the advent of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad the product of the Holgate Mills had to be carted to Philadelphia on wagons, which took ten days to travel.
Holgate’s Mill
[edit] Staplesville
Staplesville was settled in November, 1866, by J. W. Brock and Daniel Staples, who built a steam sawmill. This was located near the Storm’s residence, somewhere near where I-380 crosses Dorantown Road. In July 1867, Mr. Brock retired from the firm, leaving Mr. Staples as the sole proprietor. In 1873 Mr. Staples introduced improved machinery for making clothes-pins, and in 1874 he associated J. S. Brown with him in business. A church and a school were also formed in this area to help the families of the workers. The Dorantown School still stands about 1.5 miles south of PA 307 on the Dorantown Road (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna…) and (Interviews) By 1880, Daleville and Turnersville, diversifying the agricultural centers, were increasing in population and importance. The size of Covington had grown to 881 people. (History of the Lackawanna Valley)
[edit] Wilderness Experiences
Some early stories about the pioneers of Covington Township include some of the following: In the winter of 1819 and 1820, which was severe, family supplies had to be brought from Stoddardsville (18 miles), Wilkes-Barre (30 miles), or Slocum Hollow (13 miles); either on hand-sleds or on men’s shoulders, as it was very rarely that a team came from either of those places, and the settlers were not able to hire any conveyance. David Dale, father of Mark Dale, nearly lost his life on one of those trips to Stoddardsville. Having gone for flour he was drawing a bag or barrel of it on a hand-sled; but not getting home when he was expected, the family, became alarmed and went to meet him. They found him about 2 miles from home almost overcome by fatigue, and he would have perished with the cold before morning. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa) Another incident looks very much like a “providence.” It was the morning that the first log building was to be put up by Mr. Dale. They had no food but as they were preparing the timbers a fawn came into the area. Not wanting to kill it they drove it away, but in an hour or so it came back and would not leave them; and at the suggestion that it must have been sent to supply the lack of meat it was killed and dressed. So remarkably timid and wild are young deer that Mark Dale, after sixty year’s experience with wild animals, can not account for the actions of the fawn. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa) About the middle of October, 1855, a little girl named Elizabeth Pembridge got lost in the woods. “Uncle Mark” Dale, of Markhampton, near Daleville, known to be familiar with the wilderness, was appealed to help in the search. Shouldering his trusty rifle (“Old Precision” he called it) he set out. The child was traced to the lower end of Cabin Hollow, but here all traces disappeared. It was only after most of the searchers had gone home, tired out, that one of the few men remaining, impelled by an influence he could not understand, and disregarding repeated calls from the others, walked directly to a spot in the neighborhood of where the most thorough search had been made, and found the missing child. Mr. Dale fired his rifle three times to announce the discovery to all interested. The long and anxious search ended with great rejoicing. (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa) Two or three years after this Uncle Mark led a search for a man who had wandered into the forest in a fit of insanity, and again had the pleasure of being with the successful party and announcing the glad tidings to the others through the medium of “Old Precision.” (History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa)
[edit] Modern Daleville (1900-Present)
Throughout the twentieth century many changes occurred in the township. Much of this information has not been fully documented into a formal history, but some major events that I have read about or have heard about during my interviews will be mentioned below. Hopefully, over time I will be able to add more to this history.
With the turn of the century, many changes began to occur in Covington Township. New technology and innovations led to small hometown businesses gradually being replaced with national chains. With improvements in transportations, new roads and modes of transportation came to the area. This can be seen most recently where Keystone Mini Mart is currently located. This field, at one time, was an airport serving the area from 1929-1952. Construction began on the airfield in 1928 by Gilbert Newman and his Father-in-Law Bert J. Beiseker. It was the first Airport in Lackawanna County. The hangar was located near where the current baseball bat factory is located. This building was turned into a night club on the weekends, providing entertainment for young and old alike throughout the community. From 1946-1952, the airport was run and operated by the Davis Brothers. Other people involved in the airport operations were Frank Reising, Clif Leuthold, Mike Noone, Bob Ives, Archie Hawk, and Laverne Lewis. The late Col. Leo T. Foley, Daleville, a well respected U.S. Air Force pilot, said he first learned how to solo from the Daleville airfield. There was one accident at the airport. The accident was minor, and it occurred when a visiting pilot misjudged a distance and hit a fence as he was taking off. When the hangar was not being used as a hangar or a night club, it was turned into a skating rink. After the airport permanently closed, this field remained empty, except for the baseball bat factory that was created there. In 1970’s Ray James built and operated a grocery store in the current building. In the early 1980’s the Blumer’s bought and operate the store. At this time part of the north side of the building was sectioned off for use of another small business. After a few years the self-service gas station was added. The store was down-sized to add room for another small business in the mid 1990’s. At this time the store was sold to other local business people. In 2001, the current owners of the store took over and the store took its current name Keystone Mini Mart. In 2003, The Villager, a weekly newspaper, moved from its former location in Roaring Brook, to its new location in one of the stores in this building (At Drinker Beech, 8/31/1977) and (Interview)
The Pennsylvania State Police had a highway patrol barracks in Daleville for many years as well. They were located about half a mile west of the Drinker Turnpike on the Daleville Highway. This building is still on that site. (Interview)
After his death, the store owned by William Dale was passed to his son David Dale in 1882. David was the Grandson of David Dale, co-founder of Daleville. After David Dale’s death in 1819 E. Cobley and son owned the store. The store finally was closed sometime during the 1930’s. (At Drinker Beech, 5/6/1976)
Lewis Jones’s Hotel became the Mt. Ash Hotel, around the turn of the century. This Hotel burned to the ground around 1933. At this time Pius Raymond built his home on the property. A few years later he built a second house on this property which he made into an apartment building. After Mr. Raymond’s death, the property was left to his daughter, Ann Raymond Tanfield, wife of Richard Tanfield. For many years after Mr. Raymond’s death the house was left vacant. In the mid 1980’s the house on this land was destroyed during a fire school for the Covington Fire Company. The land is still owned by the Tanfield’s. (Interview) The changes in the Daleville Methodist Church that took place in the 1900’s included the following additions: the Bell tower in 1912, the present entrance, new pews, electric lighting, the a basement to house the coal furnace, and the current chimney. This church changed from a Methodist Protestant Church to a Methodist Church in 1939, after the North Methodist Episcopal, South Methodist Episcopal, and the Methodist Protestants reunited. In 1952, an electric organ was added to the church. In 1968 the church joined the United Methodist Church after the merger of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren Churches. In 1969 the Fellowship Hall was added. A new organ was purchased to replace the former organ during the 1960’s. With emphasis on music in the church, it was necessary to replace the organ purchased in the 1960’s with an even grander organ. (Daleville Church Notes) (At Drinker Beech, 10/28/1976), (History of the United Methodist Church) and (Interview) The current Daleville Parsonage was owned by the Dale Family for many years, until they sold their house to the church in 1946. Before this the parsonage was located across from where the current Rite Aid site and south of the current Wardell/Dagger’s residence. The Wardell house, south of the A.M. Hughes’s garage, was built around 1900. During the 1920’s the Wardell’s used their front parlor as a luncheonette and ice cream shop. Today the house is occupied by Hazel Wardell Daggers and Alice Wardell. The Laurel Hill Cemetery located 3/10ths of a mile southwest of the Drinker Turnpike on the Dorantown Road was created in 1908. The first person buried in this cemetery was Joshua Doran. (The Villager, 4/28/1999) and (Interviews) In 1948, the Covington Fire Company was formed.The first firehouse was located where the current township building is located. To build this garage, the second Covington school had to be torn down. There was also some excavation to level the ground to its current level. Before this time the school sat on a small hill. The fire company existed in this location until December 30, 1971, when the firehouse was destroyed in a fire. All of the equipment of the fire company was also destroyed in this fire. The new firehouse was built at its current location on the Daleville Highway. Arthur M Hughes Sr. served as Fire Chief from the company’s inception until the end of 1974. At this time Arthur M Hughes Jr. took over as chief. Peter DeSandis was chief in 1976 with Marshall Peirce and Arthur Hughes Jr. as assistant chiefs. A few years later, John Hollister became fire chief. John Croom Jr. was one of his assistant chiefs. During the 1990’s the firehouse went through many renovations including an expansion to its current size. (Covington Fire), (Meet Your Fire Chief), (Installation of Covington…), (Daleville Fire Co. Installs) and (Interviews) In 1911, Fred Andrews open an restaurant near Lake Henry. This building does not exist today. Around this same time, Staplesville was renamed Dorantown. During prohibition, (1920-1933) many stills were created in Covington Township to brew liquor from the berries, saps, and starch crops of the area. In 1923, electricity came to Moscow, and by 1925 it had spread to most of the surrounding communities including most of Daleville. (At Drinker Beech, 5/19/1977) (At Drinker Beech, 7/14/1977), (At Drinker Beech, 7/29/1977) and (At Drinker Beech, 8/4/1977) During the 1920’s Lake Daleville, which was created by damning up the creek behind the Methodist Church near the back of A.M. Hughes Garage, was drained. The reason for the removal of this lake by its owner was that a boy had drowned in it. This removed one of the only recreational areas from downtown Covington. (The Villager, 4/28/99) and (Interview) The Drinker Turnpike became US 611 in 1927, PA 611 in 1972, and finally PA 435 in 1976 after I-380 was opened. In 1929 the road was paved for the first time. PA 307 was constructed in 1933-1936 in its current location connecting Scranton with the Pocono’s. PA 502 was built in 1931-1933 connecting Moosic with Springbrook and Daleville. After a contest in December of 1998, it was decided that 435, would be renamed Drinker Turnpike. But it was not until May 27, 2003 when the first stoplight in the township was installed in the center of Daleville that the name Drinker Turnpike returned officially to the township. At this same time PA 307 was renamed the Pocono-Scranton Highway after its original name and PA 502 was named the Daleville Highway. Its former name was the Springbrook Road. At the junction of the Daleville Highway and the Drinker Turnpike there use to be a grassy island. This can be seen in pictures of this area.This island was removed in April of 1996, in an effort to reduce traffic problems in this area. (Interview), (At Drinker Beech, 8/11/1977), (The Villager, 5/1/1996) and (End of historic US highway 611) The school located where the township building in Daleville is located and all the other schools in Covington were closed in 1936 when the new Covington School, next to the Covington Fire Company, was opened. In 1954, the East of the Mountain Jointure was created linking Covington with 8 other townships in the area for educational purposes. In 1959 the East of the Mountain Jointure became the North Pocono Jointure. Finally in 1963 after the current North Pocono High School was opened the district became the North Pocono School District. In 1994, the Moscow Elementary Center opened, and the Covington School was closed. (Interview), (At Drinker Beech, 11/10/1977) and (At Drinker Beech, 2/2/1978) With the close of the Turnersville and Dorantown (Stapplesville) Schools, and the closing of Holgate’s Mill the small villages that bore these names vanished. Today, all that is left of these villages are names on a map and homes which dot the landscape. Daleville is the only village that remains both a residential and commercial part of the township. (Interview) A.M. Hughes Garage was opened in 1928. It originally was a garage, a gas station, and a Dodge and Plymouth Dealership. It was owned by A.M. Hughes Sr. who died in 1984. A.M. Hughes Jr. took over the family business January 1, 1975 and still runs the business today. Today it is the oldest service business in town, the oldest AAA station in Lackawanna County, the 5th oldest towing company in the state and the 36th oldest towing service in the country. (Villager 4/28/1999) and (Interview) Stanley Brostoski opened a store 3 buildings south of the township building. It was located directly next to his house. This store was opened in 1957 and remained open until 1982, after his death. Today the building has been turned into a house. (Interview) A Grange Hall existed in Daleville in the field south of Rite Aid. This building was destroyed by fire in the early 1960’s. For about the last five years of its existence it was a dress factory. After the fire, the factory moved to the corner of Lincoln and Brooke St. in Moscow where it still resides. Where Rite Aid is located today, the Daleville Diner once stood. The first diner was located in the middle of the current Rite Aid Parking lot. It was a green trolley diner. It was owned by Jim Fiskee. At this same time a duplex house of Raymond Daggers and Axel Larson stood at the south end of the parking lot. Larson owned the house. In the late 1950’s or early 1960’s the old diner was torn down and the duplex turned into the new diner, still run by Fiskee. The building was still owned by Larson. The diner remained in this spot until late 1998 when it was torn down to make room for Rite Aid. From the 1958 through 1997 the diner was run by the Genovese Family. When Rite Aid was built, the Genovese’s moved their business to Elmhurst, then Springbrook, then finally in 2001 back to Covington at the corner of the Fox and Hound Road and the Drinker Turnpike. (Interview) South of the Grange Hall and North of the Cemetery, a small gas station existed for about 10 years in the 1950’s. During this same time there was a small building, possibly the one still standing next to Rite Aid, which served as a restaurant and pool hall. The location of A&B Automotives, north of Rite Aid in Daleville, has been a garage since the late 40’s or early 50’s. This garage at one time was owned by Henry Thompson. At this time Axel Larson owned the land and built various apartment buildings and small stores around his property. Some of these buildings are still on this site. There is an Ice Cream Store owned by Armand Fioroni, and the Daleville Equipment Company owned by Clyde Jones and Dan Burke. In this store they sell Nextel cell phones and pneumatic parts. Sometime after Thompson sold the garage business, Ronald and Doug Boyer owned and operated the garage. They also purchased all the land, store space, and apartments from Larson. Some of the stores that occupied these spaces were a Dollar Store, a balloon shop, a florist, a telescope store, a baseball card shop, a beautician, a movie rental store, and 2 small grocery stores to name a few. Most of the buildings were torn down in 1998 to make room for Rite Aid. All of the structures that remain sit on the north end of the Rite Aid Lot. A & B Automotives purchased the garage in the early 90’s and still run it today. (Interview) During the mid 1970’s William Bracey Sr. moved his store out of the building north of Rite Aid to its current location. At this time the store was much smaller then its current size. Through the 1980’s and 1990’s the store increased in size until it reached its current size. After Mr. Bracey’s death his son, Bill Bracey Jr., took over as manager of the store. Mr. Bracey Sr.’s other son, Timothy ran a beverage center in the same building as the current store for many years. In the mid to late 1980’s he took over as manager of the newly formed Bill’s True Value located at its current location. The original doors to this store can be seen as the outcrop on the front right of the current building. During the 1990’s additions were made to this building until it reached its current size by the mid 1990’s. The new additions also had room for North Pocono Video, and Mendicino’s Pizza. Before the addition both of these stores were located in a strip mall next to the grocery store. NAPA Auto parts was also located in this building at one time before it moved into its new building in the late 1990’s. The beverage center also moved into its new location at this time. Where the Bill’s Deli is currently located was the State Store for many years, and where the State Store now is located was formerly Rite Aid. When the Bracey’s expanded their store in late 1990’s, the State Store moved into its current location and a new Rite Aid store was built at the corners of the Drinker Turnpike and the Daleville Highway. During the spring of 2003, the new Bill’s strip mall and gas station were built behind the location of the former strip mall at the north end of the plaza. At this time a road was added from the parking lot to the Drinker Turnpike. The old strip mall is to be demolished in the near future. (Interview) One of the most prominent activities in the township happened in the middle of the 1980’s when the Woehrle Family, the owners of Kay’s Restaurant, moved their house from the north side of Kay’s Parking lot to it’s currently location about 3/10 of a mile west of the Drinker Turnpike on the Daleville Highway. This is now the third house west of Bill’s Plaza. Power wires had to be removed and the road shut down in order to make the move. (Interview) The Covington Township Sewer Authority broke ground for the sewers to be constructed in the township on January 7, 1994. This project took 10 years to begin. For the citizens of the township, it would cost $2,500 to tap into this system and $190 per quarter. In April 1999, the price was dropped to $160 per quarter. (The Villager, 1/5/1994) and (Interviews) In March of 1996, there was a ground breaking ceremony for McDonalds Restaurant in Daleville. This restaurant opened its doors officially on July 24, 1996. Also during 1996, the Lehigh Railroad Bridge was removed in the township. This bridge was for cars and was located where the Lehigh Road crosses the D.L. & W. Railroad. Today railroad tracks are designed to run over the road so cars and trains use the same ground. (The Villager, 4/10/96), (The Villager 4/17/96) (Interview) and (The Villager 7/31/96) One of the major events to happen in Daleville in the 1990’s was when Bill’s True Value caught on fire. This structure fire drew Fire Companies from as far away as Dickson City and Clarks Summit, Moosic, Tobyhanna and Hamlin. People sat in the parking lot of Kay’s Restaurant and Bloomer’s store (Now Keystone Mini Mart) to watch the event. This fire took place around 7:00 pm on February 7, 1998. The cause of this fire was due to a welding torch igniting some motor oil in the repair shop of the store. The shell of the store remained standing, but the inside was gutted. The store was rebuilt and reopened later that year. (The Villager, 2/11/1998) and (Interview) In spring of 2000 the township demolished the township garage that was located next to the current township building. The cinder shed, which was formerly the school house and was located behind the behind the garage, was also leveled. These demolitions, with the purchase of additional lands, made room for the new township garage, the recycling building, and the Senior Citizen Center. These buildings were all constructed in late 2000. In 2002, the township building was resided, sidewalks were put in around the building, and the driveway was paved for the first time. Also in 2002, the township inherited the Moffet estate located across from AJ Chevrolet, along 435 in the northern portion of the township. This home was decorated and opened to the public in December of 2002. At this time, the Covington Police department is storing their vehicles in garages on the Moffet property, and the township is in the process of determining the future of the mansion. (Interview) Other major changes include the addition of many more modern restaurants and stores around the center of Daleville. These include, Subway Hoagies, Curves for Women, Pocono Stoves, 3 Gas Stations, 2 Garages, and 3 strip malls.
One of the most recent changes happened on May 26, 2003 when the War Memorial in Covington was dedicated. This stands on the township property southeast of the cemetery. (Interview)
According to the 2000 census, the township has also changed in diversity. The township now has 1,994 residents. Of these residents, 24% report to be German, 19.1% Irish, 18.1% Italian, and 16.5% Polish. 98.8% of the community is of Caucasian descent. The township per capita is $19,132 which is well below Pennsylvania’s per capita of $30,617, and a little below the county per capita of $20,880. The average age of our population is 39.2 years. (Personal Income Per Capita), (Lackawanna County QuickFacts), and (Snap Shot…)
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 61.2 km² (23.6 mi²). 60.9 km² (23.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.55%) is water.
[edit] Additional Pictures
The three organs of the Daleville Methodist church in order from oldest to newest
The North Pocono Schools that now Service Covington Township
The Airfiled
[edit] Additional Maps
[edit] Daleville Church Pictures
The pictures above are of the Daleville Methodist Parsonages
[edit] Bibliography
A Brief History of Lackawanna County. From History and Directory of Newton and Ransom Townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, 1754 - 1912, compiled by J. B. Stephens, 1912. Pages 74 – 79. Accessed June 3, 2003. http://www.rootsweb.com/~palackaw/news/township.html
Along Main Street. The Shopper's Guide and News. (Originally printed between Thursday, August 2, 1962 and Thursday, August 23, 1962). Accessed June 3, 2003. http://www.geocities.com/genealogyinfo/moscow/shophist.html
At Drinker Beech. G. Ellis Miller. The Villager. A Series run weekly from 1976-1978. A Copy Currently located at the Lackawanna Historical Society.
Covington Fire. The Villager January 2, 1972
Daleville Church Notes. Credit given to the library of Atty, M. J. Martin. As remembered by Mairiam Hughes.
Daleville Fire Co. Installs. The Villager, December, 1975 End of historic US highway 611, Accessed June 11, 2003. http://www.geocities.com/mapguy_annex/HwyEnds/End611/end611.htm
Headlines. G. Ellis Miller. The Villager, June 7, 1984.
History of Lackawanna County, Located in Covington File at the Lackawanna Historical Society.
History of the Lackawanna Valley, Luzerne County, PA; Lackawanna County, PA; Wyoming County, PA. Accessed June 3, 2003 http://www.rootsweb.com/~paluzern/towns/lacka1.htm
History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties Pa. Published by W. W. Munsell & Co. New York in 1880. Found in the East Stroudsburg University Kemp Library rare book section. Accessed June 3, 2003 http://www.covingtontwp.org/Ctpast1.pdf
History of the United Methodist Church. Accessed June 17, 2003. http://www.umc.org/genconf/history.html
Installation of Covington Fire Company Officers. The Villager, January, 1975 Lackawanna County. Accesses June 21, 2003. http://www.lackawannacounty.org/minerva/showsection.asp?id=17
Lackawanna County Geology Resources. Accessed June 20, 2003. http://www.rootsweb.com/~palackaw/
Lackawanna County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. Accessed June 12, 2003. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42069.html
Meet Your Fire Chief. By Jane Thomas. The Villager, Thursday July 12, 1974.
Pennsylvania, William Penn 1644-1718. Accessed June 4, 2003. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h596.html
Pennsylvania Census and County Formation. Accessed June 19, 2003. http://www.negenealogy.com/pa/pa_maps.htm
Personal Income Per Capita: Pennsylvania Accessed June 12, 2003. http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/data.exe/beapi/a42200
Snapshot of Covington Township. Scranton Time, July 7, 2002
William Penn, Accessed June 4, 2003, http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/penn/page1.asp?secid=31
U.S. National Park Service. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Line. Scranton to Slateford Junction. Historic Resource Study. Accessed June 3, 2003. http://gelwood.railfan.net/el/before/nps-int.html
The Villager, A local Newspaper, Published Weekly.
[edit] Thanks
Thanks to the following people who I interviewed for help on this paper
Ted Baird
John Brostoski
Alma Croom
John Croom Jr.
Diane Croom
Hazel Wardell Daggers
David Genovese
Jackie Brostoski Genovese
Nick Genovese
Chester Havenstrite
John Hollister
Doris Hollister
Arthur Hughes Jr.
Donna Newman
John Newman
Alice Lee Wardell
Special thanks to Diane Croom for her editing skills on this history.
Appendix 1 Photo Album
==Appendix 2 Daleville’s Ministers==
Pastors and Time of Service Daleville Methodist Church
Rev. William Lutz 1847—1857
Rev. Simon Lutz 1847—1857
Rev. William N.H. Smith 1847—1857
Rev. J. Mclntire
Rev. G.W. Sterigere 1857—1858
Rev. Samuel Homan 1858—1859
Rev. George Harris
Rev. N.E. Rude 1859—1860
Rev. Joseph Watrous 1860—1864
Rev. Samuel Homan 1864—1865
Rev. J.C. Jones 1865—1868
Rev. Samuel Homan 1868—1876
Rev. H.F. Wardell 1876—1878
Rev. J.J. Smith, D.D. 1878—1880
Rev. ZD. Baird 1880—1882
Rev. Ruel Hanks, D.D. 1882—1887
Rev. William Smith 1887—1888
Rev. Ruel Hanks, D.D. 1888—1890
Rev. Lemuel Fisher 1890—1891
Rev. T.E. Davis 1891—1893
Rev. J.F. Garrat 1893—1897
Rev. S.F. Ackley 1897—1900
Rev. R. Clayton Burch 1900—1903
Rev. T.E. Davis 1903—1907
Rev. R. Clayton Burch 1907—1910
Rev. S.F. Ackley 1910—1919
Rev. Harry Brigirt 1919—1924
Rev. William Tees 1924—1927
Rev. Charles Anderson 1927—1929
Rev. Alfred N. Freer 1929—1932
Rev. John Huizer 1932—1937
Rev. Roy DuVal 1937—1942
Rev. J. Harold Davies 1942—1943
Rev. Robert E. Gibby 1943—1948
Rev. William H. Swope 1948—1953
Rev. C. Gerald Blake, Jr. 1953—1956
Rev. Edgar L. Brill 1956—1962
Rev. A. Clay Sicher 1962—1964
Rev. Donald J. Schalk 1964—1967
Rev. William A. Noble 1967—1969
Rev. Virgil Selix 1969—1970
Rev. William Dearin, Jr. 1970—1972
Rev. Irwin L. Brand 1972—1974
Rev. David P. Sicher 1974—1980
Rev. Phillip T. Wanck 1980—1986
Rev. Raymond T. Keene 1986—1988
Rev. David Miller 1988—1989
Rev. Edgar Brill 1989
Rev. Gene Wilkins 1989—1995
Rev. Doug Posegate 1995—2003
Rev. Gladys Fortuna-Blake 2003-present
 |
Municipalities and Communities of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania (County Seat: Scranton) |
|---|---|
| Cities | Carbondale | Scranton |
| Boroughs | Archbald | Blakely | Clarks Green | Clarks Summit | Dalton | Dickson City | Dunmore | Jermyn | Jessup | Mayfield | Moosic | Moscow | Old Forge | Olyphant | Taylor | Throop | Vandling |
| Townships | Abington | Benton | Carbondale | Clifton | Covington | Elmhurst | Fell | Glenburn | Greenfield | Jefferson | La Plume | Madison | Newton | North Abington | Ransom | Roaring Brook | Scott | South Abington | Spring Brook | Thornhurst | West Abington |
| Communities and CDPs | Glenburn | Mount Cobb |
