June 12, 2014
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP
June 12, 2014
Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, Pa.
Speaker: Melody Remillard, U.S. Forest Service, Grey Towers National Historic Site
Attendance: 44
President Rick Bodenschatz called the meeting to order and Frank McDevitt led the Pledge of Allegiance. Rick welcomed the attendees and encouraged visitors to come again and join HATT.
Announcements: Rick announced that on June 28 at 7:30 p.m. the 28th Division Army band will give a free concert at the Pocono Mountain West High School. The instrumental and vocal concert will include a special surprise presentation.
Rick said the 28th Division bass been a fighting unit since the Revolutionary War. One-half of the band members were lost at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
July 12 is Tobyhanna Township Community Day, from 2 p.m. to dusk. HATT will have a table where we will be displaying postcards depicting local history. Postcards will be available for sale or swap.
Programs: Fred Lehrer talked about the upcoming programs.
On July 10 at 5:30 p.m., John Layton will talk about the history of the railroads in this area and how they and the resorts were in synergy.
On July 17 and July 22 at 5:30 p.m., Bruce Denlinger will present a program on the “Travels of Benjamin Franklin.”
Fred also reported that there are many pictures etc in the archives that need to be tagged with keywords to help with retrieval. Volunteers are needed to help with this project, which can be done in your own home.
Rick reminded the audience that we have a local history section in the library containing about 50 books. Volunteers are needed to help with selecting items and expanding this section. Rick also reminded members that 2014 dues are to be paid now.
Upcoming projects include reviewing and updating the HATT by-laws — contact Rick or any member of the board of directors with suggestions. It is hoped that the by-laws will be revised and reviewed by the officers and then presented at the September meeting for approval.
The by-laws may be read online or downloaded and printed from the website.
Rick said the nominating committee is in need of new blood. Any interested person should contact Rick.
Presentation: Fred Lehrer introduced Melody Remillard with the U.S. Forest Service, who gave a presentation on Grey Towers, the ancestral home of former Pennsylvania Gov. Gifford Pinchot in Milford, which now a national historic site.
The Pinchot family came to the United States in the early 19th century from France. They settled in New York City and then came to the Milford area about three years later. Their first business was in the mercantile industry and then they went into lumbering.
Grey Towers, the summer home for the family, had 44 rooms with 19 bedrooms, plus extensive flower and vegetable gardens.
Son Gifford studied biology at Yale and then focused on forestry, thinking that some trees should be cut and others should be preserved. He began a School of Forestry at Yale and had the students practice their skills at Grey Towers in the summer months.
Gifford was a friend of Theodore Roosevelt, and one of his speech writers. Gifford’s wife Cornelia, an avid gardener, is responsible for redesigning the home and gardens.
In 1963 the family gave the mansion to the U.S. Forestry Service, and the property is now open for tours and programs in the summer.
Following a short question and answer period, Fred Lehrer presented Melody a plaque of appreciation.
Rick mentioned that the Clymer Library is having a fundraiser selling pavers. Flyers are in the library and more information can be seen on the library website. The money will be used to continue programs.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Dyer, HATT Secretary
