July 30, 2015
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP
July 30, 2015
Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, Pa.
Attendance: 68
Speaker: Rick Bodenschatz: "Sullivan’s Expedition in Tobyhanna Township"
The meeting was called to order by Fred Lehrer. He announced that the next HATT meeting will be the annual picnic being held on August 13 at 11 a.m. The speaker will present “The Flood of 1955.”” On August 27 at 5:30 p.m., Fred Lehrer will discuss “The White House.” Wednesday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m., Dr. Brian Alnutt will lecture on the “American Presidency.”
Rick Bodenschatz introduced state Sen. Mario Scavello and historian Kenn Anderson, who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
SPEAKER: Rick Bodenschatz gave a presentation entitled “Sullivan’s Expedition in Tobyhanna Township.”
In 1779 during the Revolutionary War, the Sullivan Expedition created the first road through the Poconos. The road went through Tobyhanna Township and into New York State.
The year before, Gen. George Washington realized he needed more troops to aid the fight against the British, Tories, and six native American nations. A road had to be cleared to get troops and supplies from Easton to New York. The road building, which began in May, was an arduous task due to cold, rain, dense forest, bears, and rattlesnakes.
Hungry Hill, located nearby, is remembered as a location on the trail where the road builders were without food. Part of the old trail now goes along Old 940 to Pocono Lake Supply and on to the Arrowhead Community.
Five hundred troops were needed to complete the road, which was accomplished by June 15, 1779.
On June 18, the troops began their march from Easton. The “parade,” which took 14 hours to pass through Tobyhanna Township, was made up of 3,800 troops, cows, wagons, horses and munitions. They met the Clinton brigade in upstate New York. Along the way they destroyed 40 towns and 160,000 bushels of corn needed by the native American nations.
The Sullivan Trail led to the development of the Pocono region and the capturing of the natural resources.
Sen. Mario Scavello presented a copy of legislation, signed by the governor, naming the bridge on Route 940 at Pocono Lake, “Sullivan Bridge.” The bridge at this spot originally had this name when built by Sullivan’s army in 1779. The bridge here was still known as that as late as 1900, but through time, the name had been lost. Signs will be erected in the coming weeks.
Following questions, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Dyer, HATT Secretary
