July 10, 2013
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP
July 10, 2013
Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, Pa.
Speaker: John Layton, “History of Pocono Manor”
The meeting was called to order by President Rick Bodenschatz. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Fred Tim. Rick reminded the attendees of the HATT bus trip scheduled for Wednesday, September 25.
Fred Lehrer announced some of the HATT coming events:
- The Summer Lecture Series, “The Jennie Wade Story” by Patti Forcella and “Our Civil War Veterans of Tobyhanna Township by Rick Bodenschatz on July 23 & 25
- The annual HATT picnic on August 14
- Summer Lecture Series, “The Manhattan Project” by Fred Lehrer on August 22 and August 27.
Fred Lehrer then introduced the speaker John Layton, who was born in Monroe County and who told us about the “History of Pocono Manor,” where he lives.
In 1902 David Bowman, a dairy farmer, sold the land to the Quakers from the Philadelphia area. (Many of the people were from the Westtown School, which is still a school in Chester County, Pa.) They formed the Pocono Manor Association.
The people came by horse and buggy or train. There was no electricity and the refrigeration was only ice. Families came in the summer for swimming in the lake, golf, donkey rides, and horse riding. The winter months they enjoyed sledding, horse carriage rides, and tobogganing.
John told us the house he lives in was built in 1916.
A business meeting followed the talk.
Certificates of appreciation were given out to past officers and directors by the current officers. Rick reminded the members that the minutes from each meeting can be found on the HATT website. The treasurer’s report is available on request.
Rick said the Wills Mansion tour had 94 attendees. Rick also reminded members that HATT will have an information table at the Community Day being held on Saturday, July 13 from 2-7 p.m.
Finally, Rick announced that the Executive Committee directed that the funds donated to HATT in memory of Ted Suttmeier be used to purchase folding chairs for the meeting room, actually in use today. A plaque was present to Jean Suttmeier, Ted’s wife, and Doris Zimmerman, Ted’s sister, dedicating these chairs to Ted. It will hang permanently on the wall in this meeting room.
The meeting was adjourned and everyone was invited to enjoy the refreshments and continue with any questions for John Layton.
Respectfully Submitted:
Jeanne Dyer, HATT Secretary
