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The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society which was originally formed to promote and preserve the history of the Wyoming Valley was founded on the 50^th anniversary of a very important event of the Valley’s and the country’s history.

On February 11, 1808, Jesse Fell successfully burned anthracite coal in his tavern in Wilkes-Barre, without a forced draft.  This would lead to Northeastern Pennsylvania’s relative dominance of the anthracite coal industry for well over 100 years.

Exactly 50 years after Judge Fell’s experiment, a group of men, including Judge Fell’s grandson, James P. Dennis, John Butler Conyngham, Stanley Woodward and Henry Hoyt, met at the Fell Tavern in 1858 to commemorate this event.  During this celebration, these men planned to organize a historical society.  A charter was granted by decree of the Court on May 10th and the following officers were elected: president,  Edmund Lovell Dana, vice president, Charles F. Ingram, MD, corresponding secretary, William Penn Miner, recording secretary, George Hollenback Butler, treasurer, John Butler Conyngham and librarian, Welding Fell Dennis, MD.

The Society began collecting various items regarding the Wyoming Valley’s history, including archaeological specimens from the area.  The collections were displayed in various buildings in Wilkes-Barre including the Odd Fellows Building.  Eventually, under the will of Isaac Smith Osterhout, the Osterhout Free Library on Franklin Street was created in 1881.  This library was to include rooms for the Historical Society.  By 1893, the Society’s collections were growing considerably.  It was decided to build a new building behind the library for the Society.  Among those present at the dedication on November 30, 1893 was the Society’s president, Calvin Parsons.  The Society’s collection of minerals, geologic specimens, archaeological artifacts and written materials was quite extensive.

The Society’s staff became more permanent as well.  The Rev'd Horace Edwin Hayden was the Society’s Corresponding Secretary from 1894 to 1917.  Christopher Wren, born in 1878, was an early Curator for the Society.  His collection of Native American artifacts was a popular part of the early exhibits.

In the 1920s, the Society, under director, Frances Dorrance, increased its Native American collection and became one of the leading organizations in Pennsylvania to promote the protection of archaeological sites in the state.

In 1925, under President, Col. Dorrance Reynolds, the Society acquired the old Wilkes-Barre Institute across the street from the Museum on South Franklin Street.  The rooms in this building were used to display daily life of late Victorian, upper class families as well as other special exhibits throughout the year.  This Society used had this building until about 1940.

In the 1950s, the Museum went through some changes.  Here, Mrs. Charles Frantz of the Junior League welcomes us into the Museum in 1956.  The Museum’s interior was renovated to include somewhat modern accommodations.  More items were displayed in new cases and on new mannequins, in painted and carpeted rooms.  Drop ceilings were installed to bring more light to the rooms.  Once again the Society’s collection grew to include china and dishes, tools, toys, military memorabilia, and textiles.

In the mid 20^th century, the Society also expanded its public programming.  In 1935 a garden party was held at the Albert Lewis estate in Bear Creek.  Those in attendance included Mrs. Harry Miller, Mrs. H. Elliott, Jean Slattery, Mrs. Todd McClintock, 4. Miss Frances Dorrance, Lena Baldwin, and Mrs. Frank Slattery, Sr.

In 1953, the Society began to hold more formal Board meetings.  Lecture series were also held.  Director Richmond Williams spoke to many groups, including the Junior League of Wilkes-Barre in 1960 after a visit to the Museum.  At this time, the research areas were becoming more accessible to patrons.  Luke Sarsfield prepared for his Ph.D. at the Society in 1967.

In 1958, the Society was given its biggest artifact to date: the Swetland Homestead.  Begun in 1803, the home was completed in 1835 by William Swetland.  The home was donated to the Society by Swetland descendant, Dorothy Dickson Darte, along with her daughter and son-in-law, Kitty and Edward Darling, Sr., and their children, Edward Darling, Jr. and Dorothy Darling in 1959.  The ribbon cutting ceremony was held July 4, 1959.  Present at this event were the burgess of Wyoming, Jack Dempsey, the Society’s president, Bruce Payne, Director Richmond Williams, and dignitaries, Gail Young and Judge Benjamin R. Jones, Jr.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the Society continued to hold its annual dinners.  Miss Frances Dorrance was a guest of honor at the 1958 dinner.  The 1960 dinner was held at the Westmoreland Club and the 1962 dinner was held in the Pickering and Pennsylvania Rooms in the Fowler, Dick and Walker store in Wilkes-Barre.

Once again, the Society’s buildings collection increased.  In the mid 1960s, the Society acquired the Denison House in Forty Fort.  Tours were given by Society staff and volunteers until the mid 1970s when the Society turned the house over the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Also, the Hancock House in Wyoming was given to the Society around 1969, through the estate of Dorothy Dickson Darte.  The Hancock House, built around 1890, was a caretaker’s home for the Swetland Homestead.  The house was recently restored through the generosity of Dorothy Darte Darling.

During this time, Mrs. Catherine Bryan was a staff member for the Society.  Mrs. Bryan wore many hats during her career with the Society.  She was the Society’s receptionist, secretary, librarian, assistant director and sometimes acting director.  She dedicated over thirty years of her life to the Historical Society before retiring in the 1980s.  Mrs. Bryan died in the late 1990s.

Throughout the years, the Museum collections kept growing and growing.  By 1971, it was decided to acquire another building to house the library and paper-based collections.  The rectory of St. Stephen’s Church was purchased through a generous donation by Elma and Bessie Bishop, two sisters from Berwick who spent most of their lives conducting genealogical research for others.  The building was built in 1876 by Mrs. Lydia Maxwell and became St. Stephen’s rectory in the early 20^th century.  Almost one year after the Society acquired the Bishop Memorial Library, a huge surprise would appear: Agnes.

The Historical Society was not spared the rage of the flood waters in the summer of 1972.  Along with most everyone else in the Wyoming Valley, clean up was one of the hardest things to do.  The basement in the Museum was inundated with water and what was left after the water receded was lots of mud.  Trying to cleanup the mess was quite difficult since most of the items stored in the basement were paper-based.  Luckily, many of the rare books and manuscripts were already transferred to the second floor of the Bishop Library.  But there was still much loss.  Approximately 4,000 volumes were lost or destroyed.

The Society bounced back.  The basement of the Museum became the home of the permanent anthracite coal exhibit and the two upper floors housed temporary exhibits and storage.

The 118^th annual dinner and meeting was held February 21, 1976 in the Hotel Sterling.  Attending the dinner during the country’s bicentennial were Edmund Dana, Mrs. William Gutman, George Strimel, Mr. and Mrs. W. Curtis Montz, Dr. Lawrence Leder, the president of the Society, Mrs. Charles Frantz and her husband.  Also attending were Rev. Charles Scherer, Atty. and Mrs. Arthur Silverblatt, and Dr. and Mrs. James Rodechko.

One of the highlights of the Society’s annual events that continues to this day is the Swetland Homestead Christmas.  Each December, the Swetland Homestead is decorated in a Victorian Christmas style and lighted by many candles.  Some years, Society staff and volunteers act out living histories during the Christmas season.  In 1981, Society director William Siener, Margaret Craft, and Ann Marconi held an authentic Victorian Christmas dinner in the home.

The Swetland Homestead is also used to educate local children on life of times past.  Craft days are held to show what children their age would do to pass the time.

As the Society progressed through the 1990s, annual dinners were held.  New board directors and staff with interest in local history offered their services to enhance the mission of the Society.

The Society acquired yet another property in 1991.  The Newry House in West Pittston was given to the Society to be used as a rental property.  One of the oldest houses in West Pittston, the Newry House was originally the home of the Jenkins family and was constructed around 1800.

In 1992, the Society undertook a project to renovate the Hancock House.  The 1890 home was somewhat modernized while keeping the historical integrity of the property.  It is now a private residence.

In the late 1990s, as the Society saw even more changes to its Board of Directors, the Society undertook an even larger project: the restoration of the Swetland Homestead.  After much research was done into the history of the house, it was found that the home was completed around 1835.  The decision was then made to restore the exterior of the home to that time period.  Windows and siding were replaced, the front porch was removed, a new roof was installed, the foundation was stabilized, and the entire house was painted.  The Society is currently in the process of securing funds to continue the project on the inside and the grounds.

In the year 2000, the Society hired its current executive director, Jesse C. Teitelbaum, and took a bold step and adopted a new name: the Luzerne County Historical Society.  Over its 140 years of service, the mission of the Society expanded from promoting the history of the Wyoming Valley to the entire county of Luzerne.

To better reflect its mission, the Society again made some changes.  The rooms of the Bishop Memorial Library were given a facelift.  The reading rooms were repainted and carpeted to make more comfortable for visitor and the collection became more accessible and user-friendly.

The Museum continues to display rotating exhibits on various aspects of local history, as well as updating permanent exhibits.  Recent exhibits include "Native Americans of Northeastern Pennsylvania," "Religious Institutions of Luzerne County," "The History of Nursing Education in Luzerne County."  In the summer of 2006, some 15 of the Society's most prized portraits were displayed in Wilkes-Barre's first portrait show in 93 years.  "Eminent Wilkes-Barreans: Early Leaders of the Wyoming Valley" displayed 45 portraits of pioneers, politicians, founders and leaders of many of our venerable institutions.

The Swetland Homestead continues to be a wonderful educational tool to children and adults.  Swetland Christmas and the Harvest Festival are just two of the various programs that occur at the Swetland Homestead throughout the year.

We’ve seen the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society from the 19^th century grow into the Luzerne County Historical Society of the 21^st century.  Over the last 150 years, the Society has done all it can to preserve and promote the local history.  This is done through programs, collaborative projects and special events.  The Society has been quite successful and is honored to be Pennsylvania's oldest county historical society but there is so much more we can do to continue our mission.  

The SesquiCentennial Committee, Board of Directors, and staff look forward to preserving, educating and promoting our region's rich and valuable history for another 150 years.