Luzerne schools and Luzerne’s history began almost together. The pioneer residents no sooner built themselves homes and established working places than they began building schools. The Island School House, the first school in Luzerne, was built in 1818 and razed in 1924 after standing for 106 years. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the Luzerne High School History and more trivia.

It was a one-room schoolhouse located on Main Street where Luzerne Motors once stood. Its first teacher was Ester Dean. She had fifteen pupils. Charles Hosbranch, another teacher, taught in the winter of 1839 for $15 a month and board.

Now back to the early high school days. In the beginning, there was no school system and no school tax, but communities established their own schools, each paying his “rate” according to the number of children he had in school; the teacher “boarding round,” i.e., from house to house. The Luzerne High School offered a three-year general course until 1918 when the State Department of Education recognized it as a first-class high school.

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From The Steel Capital To The Nation’s Capital

A grand dream has become a reality! The Allegheny Trail Alliance, a unique group of trail organizations, has joined together to help make the dream of a motor-free connection between Pittsburgh, PA, and Washington, D.C. come true.

The Great Allegheny Passage is a combination of a series of trails that form a continuous 200-mile recreational path from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD (and there even is an additional 52-mile branch, the Montour Trail that will take you right to the Pittsburgh International Airport).

The Allegheny Trail Alliance (the ATA) was formed so that the several separate area trails could be linked together into one whole. Now the entire trail system is completed, you’ll be able to begin your adventure trek at Station Square in downtown Pittsburgh (the official trailhead), and you’ll then travel south on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and the Steel Valley Trail to McKeesport. Sure, the trail goes way south of Luzerne County, but it gives you a perfect idea of Pennsylvania’s beauty.

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In a few months, we will be able to enjoy Pennsylvania’s beautiful scenery again, and in particular the beautiful nature of Luzerne County. Winter activities are also possible. Here are a few suggestions for making an enjoyable day and enjoy outdoor activities in Luzerne County.

Hickory Run State Park

Hickory Run is a great Pennsylvania State Park that offers many camping options. The park provides a lot of camping space for tents, cabins, and RV’s. It has several hiking trails and a nice swimming area that includes bathrooms, changing rooms, and a snack shop.

You should also check out the park’s Boulder Field when you visit this very family-friendly place to escape your usual business life and enjoy this awesome outdoor area.

After a short walk, you can discover the wonderful Hawk Falls, and if you take some time to go a little further down the beautiful trail, you can discover a wonderfully secluded river passing.

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A New Year brings not only new challenges but also lots of opportunities. All across Luzerne County, business is booming. Throughout the county, we can see companies are emerging rapidly, which is offering great options and opportunities for both residents and visitors. If you want to start a business, Luzerne County is among the best places to do so. To get an impression on how things are addressed in Luzerne County, take a look at this 2015 video of the Luzerne County District Attorney Forum:

In Luzerne County, you will find no obstacles whatsoever if you want to protect or grow your business like in the other regions of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Regardless of whether you want to start up a large corporation, a small business, or a non-profit organization, the area of Luzerne County is the right place for all your plans.

If you want to start a new business, you will have a daunting task. You will have a lot of planning to do, and before you have answers to all of your questions and have cut through all red tape, you are sure to be glad there is some extra help available. Luzerne County is offering you all the help you want and then some.

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Canton Co-Op Farmers Market

Visit the Cooperative Farmers Market in Scranton (900 Barring Avenue). The successful Scranton farmers market has been around for more than 75 years. This is strictly a grow-your-own produce market where fresh foods are brought directly from the farms to the people! When you buy something here, you get it directly from the farmers. The produce at the Scranton Farmers Market is always homegrown and freshly picked.

September 2: Noon – 6:00 pm
September 24: Noon – 6:00 pm
September 26: Noon – 6:00 pm
September 28: Noon – 6:00 pm
October 1: Noon – 6:00 pm
Phone: (570) 961-8251

Dallas Parent’s Night Out – Kid-Approved!

This is a safe and fun party for your kids and that’meaning a great night out for (the two of) you! Camp Orchard’s professionally trained staff will take care of your kids (ages 3-13) from 5 to 8 pm. The children will enjoy a pizza dinner, indoor climbing, bounce houses, game room activities, and a lot more! The cost is $15 per child or $10 per child for 3 and up siblings. Reservations are required at Camp Orchard Hill, 640 Orange Rd, Dallas, PA 18612. Phone: (570) 333-4098
September 21: 5 – 8 pm
October 19: 5 – 8 pm
November 16: 5 – 8 pm
December 21: 5 – 8 pm

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Would you like to enjoy a little slice of paradise? You can find it in Pennsylvania…Seven Tubs Natural Preserve

If you want to get away from it all, you don’t need to book a flight, pack your suitcase, find a hotel, and head out to another state. Wouldn’t it be fine to get away from all your daily hassle for only a few hours to connect with nature’s pristine beauty and get back home with new inspiration and totally refreshed? Well, you can do exactly that right here in Pennsylvania’s little slice of paradise, the Seven Tubs Natural Preserve.

The Seven Tubs Natural Preserve area is one of the natural wonders that can be found in Pennsylvania. The preserve is located in Wilkes-Barre and draws in countless visitors with its impressive natural beauty. The beautiful seven tubs were shaped by glacial waters that caused the mountain’s bedrock to erode and they are, in fact, gorgeous potholes.

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The Frederick and Mary Stegmaier Mansion

This fantastic Victorian Mansion also serves as a great B7B and a one-of-a-kind banquet and meeting facility for weddings and other occasions. The mansion includes four distinct Historic Suites and the stunning mansion is one of the most elegant historic and architecturally unique mansions in the Wilkes-Barre region. The mansion was host to many foreign visitors and dignitaries and even one of America’s Presidents stayed here!
304 S Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Phone: (570) 823-9372

Nathan Denison House

Nathan Denison Home was built by early Connecticut settlers in 1790. The house is open to visitors on Sundays from end-May through end-September. Nathan Denison was born in Windham, Connecticut, and was one of the first settlers in the Wyoming Valley. Denison was a respected leader of the Connecticut pioneer settlers and served for quite a while as the area’s Justice of the Peace. In those days, he was second in command after Col. Zebulon Butler. Forty Fort was named after the forty Connecticut settlers that came to settle in this area.
35 Denison Street
Kingston (Forty Fort), PA 18704
Phone: (570) 823-6244

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Historical Brainerd Church & Cemetery

This brick church was constructed in 1851 (some say 1841) and is a significant example of Greek Revival architecture.
Twice a year, a service is held at the Historical Brainerd Church and the church is also available for tours but only by appointment. Adjacent to the pretty church is also a refurbished 1-room schoolhouse. The church is located just off Route 93 in Sybertsville, PA 18251, Phone: (570) 788-3244

Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

The Lackawanna tour takes you some 300 feet beneath the Pennsylvania earth where you can explore the abandoned mine. Here you can learn how the miners had to work hard to harvest coal. These “black diamonds” were actually fueling the American Industrial Revolution. The Lackawanna Coal Mine (a retired coal mine) is an interesting museum located in Scranton’s McDade Park. Visitors will board a mine car to descend into the Clark Coal Vein. Visiting the Lackawanna Coal Mine is a highly interesting learning experience. You cam first hand how hard the miners had to work in order to be able to support and feed their families.
McDade Park, Scranton, PA 18504, Phone: (800) 238-7245

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Some More Historical Attractions in Luzerne County

Forty Fort Meeting House

Forty Fort dates back to 1807 was named after a fort in the Revolutionary War Era that was built by the town’s original forty settlers built. You can have a guided tour of the Forty Fort Meeting House with the originally boxed pews, hand-craved column, and elevated pulpit, and also visit the cemetery on Sundays from 1:00 t0 3:00 pm. Forty Fort is open to visitors from Sundays Memorial Day until the last Sunday in September (and also on the 4th of July and Labor Day). For tours on other days than Sundays, please make an advance arrangement.
Forty Fort Meeting House,20 River Street, Forty Fort, PA 18704, Phone: (570) 287-5214

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Historical Attractions & Sightseeing

Delaware and Lehigh Canal National and State Heritage Corridor

It’s a great experience to navigate the Delaware and Lehigh Trail (D&L), 165 miles (265 km) of America’s history.  The Lehigh Canal and the Delaware Canal lead you from Bristol, just a little northeast of Philadelphia, to Wilkes-Barre (in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania). The Heritage Corridor is set up for the preservation of the historic pathway where coal and iron were carried from Wilkes-Barre to Philadelphia. The organization celebrates the region’s rich heritage and aims to conserve as much as possible green space in the region for public use. The organization additionally runs Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums (including the National Canal Museum in Easton). The D&L Trail is committed to connecting people to the area’s industrial heritage, to promote health and wellness, to preserve nature and the environment, and to stimulate economic development.

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
2750 Hugh Moore Park Road, Easton, PA 18042, Phone: (610) 923-3548

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