November 13, 2014
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP
November 13, 2014
Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, Pa.
Attendance: 70
Speaker: J.R. Robbins, "History of Buck Hill Falls"
The meeting was called to order by President Jim Forcella. Frank Foy led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jim reminded the audience of the annual holiday concert scheduled for December 13, 2014. He announced the open house/member recruitment event the Lion’s Club was sponsoring at the Lake Naomi Club until 9 p.m. this evening.
Jim also mentioned there are still openings for several leadership positions in HATT and he would like volunteers for those jobs.
Presentation: The speaker for the evening, J.R. Robbins, gave an informative talk on the “History of Buck Hill Falls.”
In the early 19th century, Delaware Water Gap area resorts began to open.
The Jenkins family in Philadelphia were newspaper owners, wealthy, and Quakers. Wanting a place where they and other Quakers could leave the city in the summer for fresh air and quiet, they advertised the establishment of a “Quaker Mountain Park Settlement.”
In 1901, the Buck Hill hotel was built, followed some years later by private homes referred to as cottages. At first Buck Hill was just a summer resort offering many fun activities, but then in later years winter sports and recreation became part of the resort.
In the early years only Quakers were allowed to own property there, but then others were permitted to become part of the community. The Robbins family came to the Buck Hill Resort as renters in the early 1930s and finally in 1946 they were approved for ownership of a cottage.
The hotel had many additions and restorations over the years until its closure in 1991.
Today Buck Hill is run like a country club with golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, art collections, and many other activities available to those living in the 300 cottages.
Twenty percent of the cottages are occupied full time, the facilities are open to the public, and there is a public bar. Quakers are no longer a part of the resort.
Following a question-and-answer period, Jim Forcella presented J.R. Robbins with a certificate of appreciation for his talk.
Rick Bodenschatz showed the audience the American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol on May 13, 2014 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the burial of William Henry Christman of Tobyhanna Township, the first person buried in Arlington Cemetery.
The flag and two plaques will be kept in our display case in the Clymer Library. Rick also told the attendees to take notice to the recent display put together by Jim and Patty Forcella.
Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Dyer, HATT Secretary
