Carbondale Historical Society, P.O. Box 151, Carbondale, PA 18407-0151 (570) 282-0385
Office and Galleries Open: Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 5 P.M.
The Carbondale Historical Society and Museum is an educational and historical membership organization whose mission is to record, gather, and preserve the history of the city of Carbondale and the surrounding area. Through its genealogical and local history research center and exhibition galleries on the third floor of Carbondale City hall (listed in the National Register of Historic Places on January 6, 1983, through the efforts of the Society) and through an annual series of public lectures, programs, exhibitions, and commemorative ceremonies, in the community and in the public schools, the Society, at the same time, interprets and makes accessible to the public the City's rich, diverse, and unique history and heritage. The Carbondale Historical Society and Museum is committed to the central values of (1) maintaining the highest possible standards in all its endeavors, (2) providing excellent service to the public at all times, and (3) demonstrating leadership and innovation in the field of local history. Pioneer City Miss Kane then became a member of the faculty of the Department of Defense Air Force School, and taught abroad (Newfoundland, England, Germany, Spain, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea) for many years the dependents of American servicemen, and the dependents of those engaged in the United States diplomatic service, government construction work, and other government services abroad. During her two years of teaching in Japan--at Tachikawa, 25 miles from Tokyo--Miss Kane learned the fine art of creating Japanese dolls by attending classes conducted by one of the top experts in that field. Miss Kane then made 11 exquisite Japanese dolls. They are Boy's Day doll, Farmer Girl, Koto Player, Mama-San, Bride, Lion Dancer, Flower Girl, Samurai, Geisha, Merchant's Daughter, Rain Children. Those eleven dolls, each hand-made of exquisite silks and brocades, and perfect to the minutest detail, as well as three Oshie dolls (dolls framed as pictures), were donated to the Carbondale Historical Society in April 2010. On Sunday afternoon, May 23, from 2 to 5 P.M., an exhibition featuring those 14 Japanese dolls made by Helen Kane, will open to the public at the Carbondale Historical Society, located on the third floor of Carbondale City Hall. The Guest Curator for the exhibition is Matthew Buberniak, Carbondale. Maplewood Cemetery was established in 1831. The first burial took place on October 31, 1832. If you would like to volunteer to work on this restoration project, contact S. Robert Powell at (570) 282-0385. Donations for this restoration project may be sent to The Maplewood Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 151, Carbondale, PA 18407. Photograph Display
Welcome
The Carbondale Historical Society and Museum is located on the third floor of the historic Carbondale City Hall building in Carbondale, PA. The building, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is located at One North Main Street.
The first public meeting of the Historical Society, founded in October of 1974 by a group of six Carbondale Area school teachers, was held in January of 1975. On November 6, 1982, the Historical Society and the Committee to Restore Carbondale City Hall merged to form the Carbondale Historical Society and Museum, which was incorporated on March 15, 1983.
The earliest settlers came into the area which is now Carbondale in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Originally the city was called Ragged Island, then Barrendale, and finally Carbondale.
The true founders of Carbondale were William and Maurice Wurts who arrived in the area from Philadelphia, PA. in 1814. The Wurts brothers were instrumental in the formation of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, in 1823. That company developed the anthracite resources of the area and shipped, via its Gravity Railroad from Carbondale to Honesdale and its canal from Honesdale to the Hudson River, vast quantities of anthracite coal to the New York market, throughout the Northeast, and (via the Erie Canal) the Midwest.
As early as 1822, the area developed by the Wurts brothers began to be known as Carbondale. The City of Carbondale was incorporated on March 15, 1851, making it the oldest (the "Pioneer") city in Lackawanna County, PA, and the fourth oldest city (after Philadelphia, Lancaster, and York) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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Japanese Doll Exhibition
Miss Helen Kane, now retired, is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Kane, 71 Scott Street, Carbondale. After graduating from St. Rose High School, and Marywood University (B.A., M.A.), she taught, initially, in Binghamton and in the state of Maryland.
The Japanese Doll exhibition at the Historical Society, which will be open to the public, weekdays, from 1 to 5 P.M., and by appointment, will close on August 15. The Society's telephone number is 282-0385.
Mayors' Portrait Exhibit
Many years ago the Historical Society installed an exhibition of paintings and photographs of the mayors of Carbondale in City Council Chambers. This project was initiated by Society member Joseph Pascoe. There are several mayors' portraits, some from the nineteenth century and some from the twentieth century, that we have not been able to locate.
If you have access to photographs of any Carbondale mayor, please contact the Historical Society.
Maplewood Cemetery Restoration
The Maplewood Cemetery Association has partnered with the Carbondale Historical Society, the City of Carbondale, and numerous volunteers to work on the ongoing restoration of Maplewood Cemetery in Carbondale, PA. Phase One of the project, which was the clearing of overgrown weeds, brush, grass and debris. Phase Two, which is the restoration of stones and monuments, will be started in the Summer of 2009. Phase Three will be the replacement of the Cemetery retaining wall along Cemetery Street and the restoration of the Cemetery gates. The start of Phase Three will be announced in the future.
On May 15, 2010, A highly sucessful clean-up/ maintainance project took place in the cemetery.
Volunteers from a broad range of community organizations spent the day working in the cemetery-- with astonishing results!
Here is a view in the cemetery from the Robinson Ave. entrance.
Vintage photographs of Carbondale businesses, residents, neighborhoods, firemen, school and community bands, maps, and many other interesting subjects are currently on display on the second and third floors of Carbondale City Hall.