What's New?

Centennial Jubilee DVD Now Available!

The Centennial Jubilee was filmed in 1906 by Wilkes-Barre resident and motion picture pioneer, Lyman Howe. The film shows two parades held in downtown Wilkes-Barre during the week-long centennial celebration. It is a silent film but during the conversion from 8mm to DVD, Wilkes University was able to add appropriate music behind the film. Included in the film are shots of Public Square (Luzerne County Court House, the Bennett Building, and other stores and offices decorated with flags and banners), Hotel Sterling, floats, military, firemen, policemen, local dignitaries, and more. The film is approximately 17 minutes long and is a wonderful addition to the Centennial Collection. The DVD is available at the Society’s gift shops for $9.40 plus $.60 tax. It can also be mailed with an additional $4.00 S&H for the first DVD and $.50 for each additional one. Please call (570) 823-6244

The Lands at Hillside Farms

The Lands at Hillside Farms is dedicated to restoring this magnificent Agricultural and Summer Estate to its original grandeur and creating an invaluable educational, cultural, and historic resource, a place with a community-driven purpose. The Lands at Hillside Farms is a nonprofit organization, which means every dollar we receive goes to promote our mission. Our staff and volunteers work to develop unique educational opportunities while we restore the buildings and grounds and create a wonderful community tourism destination. Essentially, our mission is "To preserve land, history, and promote lifestyle choices which are healthy, conservation-minded, and practical. Each mission component will be demonstrated through family-oriented educational programs, sustainable agricultural activities, and living history based on strong moral and ethical principles. We are dedicated to helping you explore our community's rich history, learn about ealthy food options and sustainable agriculture. For more information, visit www.thelandsathillsidefarms.org or call (570) 696-4500.

The Luzerne County Historical Society is proud to offer an avenue by which you can provide a lasting tribute to a cherished friend or loved one. For a limited time, the Society is offering a handsome wood bookend complete with brass-finished plate, which will be custom engraved with the name of your loved one. The bookends will be utilized at the Bishop Memorial Library, where patrons and visitors will have the opportunity to view these unique memorials.

Bookends are also available to honor living friends or family members, and can be requested in honor of an individual. To register your lasting tribute, contact the Historical Society and request a "bookend form." There is a $35.00 donation per bookend. Contact the Society at (570) 823-6244

The Luzerne County Historical Society is proud to introduce its Historical Plaque Program, being ade available for buildings within Luzerne County. This program is being introduced in response to the numerous requests of local residents that wanted to recognize their historical building. Individualized plaques are available through the Historical Society. In order to receive a plaque, the Historical Plaque Program Form must be completed and verified by Historical Society staff. Upon verification, the plaque will be produced.

This 4" x 6" antique bronze plaque comes complete with mounting hardware. Each plaque will contain the following information: the name of the building and the year it was constructed. The cost is $180 for each plaque. Payment must be received with completed form. Payment will be refunded if application is denied. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing. Historical Plaque Forms can be obtained from the Historical Society by calling (570) 823-6244.