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  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Mission
    • Membership
    • Speakers
    • Contact
  • Exhibitions
    • Permanent Exhibits
    • Past Exhibits
    • New Exhibits 2021
  • History
    • Historic Sites
    • Historic Preservation Awards
    • Movin' Energy
    • D & H Canal Park at Lock 31
    • Historical Links
  • Museums
    • Main Museum
    • Bethel School
    • D & H Canal Park at Lock 31
    • Old Stone Jail
    • J.B. Park Farm Museum
    • Adam Jubinsky Building
  • Happenings
    • Calendar
    • News
    • Archive
  • Research
    • Research Library
    • Index Search
    • Vital Records
    • Historic Topics
    • Township Histories
    • Genealogy in Wayne County
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First Wayne County Court House

First Wayne County Court HouseBethany On March 21, 1798 an Act was passed creating Wayne County from what was formerly the northern part of Northampton County. For one year, the county seat was designated as Milford. but a court house was not built. After much public protest, the county seat was changed to Bethany. On August 12, 1800 construction on the court house began using hand hewn lumber. The frame was raised on September 5th. Common laborers were paid fifty cents per day, carpenters and masons one dollar per day. Board for the men was provided in a newly constructed log house. All the inner walls and ceilings of the rooms were finished with pine boards instead of plaster, since lime was not practical to obtain. In the fall of 1801, the first court house was to be completed but court would not be held there for three years. When it was, the building was too small and it was sold to W.W. Weston & Brothers who moved it across the street to its present location and used it as a store. Over the years there have been several additions to the building.

From 1993 through 2008 the Honesdale National Bank published an annual wall calendar, each featured 13 historic sites. The sites were chosen and researched by a committee of the historical society and artwork was commissioned to Judy Hunt and William Amptman by the bank.

This page was one month of the calendar and was made possible through the Wayne County Commissioners and a Tourism Promotion Committee’s Tourism Grant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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D & H Canal Park at Lock 31
The D&H Canal Park at Lock 31 has 16 beautiful acres to explore. The site features the historic…
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Historic Preservation Awards
The Wayne County Historical Society may give recognition on an annual basis to individuals,…
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Historic Sites
About the Wayne County Historical Society
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Historical Links
Historical Links
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Movin' Energy
Movin' Energy: The History of the Delaware and Hudson Canal 1828-1898 exhibit is housed in the 1993…
News and Events
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Bethel School Open House July 10, 2022
Jul 10, 2022, 1:00 PM
All Bethel School Open Houses are from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m on Sunday, July 10, 2022. Special programs…
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Bethel School Open House August 14, 2022
Aug 14, 2022, 1:00 PM
All Bethel School Open Houses are from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m on Sunday August 14, 2022. Special programs…
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Cars Cruising at the Canal
Sep 10, 2022, 1:00 PM
Cars Cruising at the Canal will be held on September 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Historic…

About us   

Welcome to the Wayne County Historical Society, home of the full-size replica of the Stourbridge Lion, the first locomotive to run on commercial track in the United States.

Our main museum and museum shop are housed in a building built in 1860 as headquarters of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company....click here for more information.

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News and Events

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Calendar
Calendar of Events at Wayne County Historical Society
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News
News the Wayne County Historical Society

Historic Sites

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Lake Como Inn
Historic Preservation Award given in 1997 to Peggie & Jonathan Scharf for…
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The Superintendent's House
1423 East Street, Honesdale Glen Dyberry Cemetery was established in 1859…

Research Library

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Genealogy in Wayne County
Genealogical records WCHS Research Library at 810 Main Street, Honesdale…
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Historic Topics
Research materials at the WCHS Research Library, your best source for the…

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