The Dietrich Theater on Tioga Street (above) will be the starting point for the new Historic Tunkhannock Walking Tour, which is under development to be offered to the public and visitors in June. Nearly 30 iconic structures will be included on the tour, such as the Palen-Ervine house (top) at the corner of Susquehanna Avenue and Elm Street that was constructed in 1868. After 1902, the house was converted into apartments. In 1984, it was purchased and restored by H. Clayton Ervine.
By Rick Hiduk
The Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater and The Wyoming County Historical Society (WCHS) are pleased to announce that the Historic Tunkhannock Walking Tour will be revitalized thanks to grant awards provided by the Wyoming County Room Tax Fund and the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau (EMVB) as well as the PA Route 6 Alliance funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation with funding from the Environmental Stewardship Fund and Heritage Areas Program Fund.
The project will include the production of a new full-color booklet with a centerfold map that can be utilized for self-guided tours of a 2-mile route that takes participants past nearly 30 buildings in the borough’s Historic District, selected for their unique architecture and the lore that surrounds them. Promotional materials will also be distributed at visitors centers in and outside the area.
Structures include homes, churches, businesses, the Wyoming County Courthouse, and The Dietrich Theater, where guided tours in the summer will begin and end. The sheer spectacle of groups emerging from the iconic downtown structure and cultural hub and making their way down the street together is guaranteed to generate excitement about the tours and instill community pride.
The public roll-out of the project is planned at the Dietrich Theater during the week of Founders Day, which is Saturday, June 25. A reception and media event will be held on a weeknight prior to Founders Day to also mark the opening of an exhibit of new and old photos of all of the structures that will be featured on the tour.
On June 25, a panel of speakers at the theater will cover various facets of the history of both Tunkhannock and Wyoming County. After the presentation, tour guides will conduct the first public tours based on the new brochure, sharing many extra tidbits of history and folklore as they lead groups of preregistered guests around town.
Prior to Founders Day, volunteer tour guides will conduct “practice runs” with students, Scouts, and other groups. It is hoped that some of these tours may be recorded and edited into a video to be posted on YouTube with links provided for Wyoming County websites.
The tours will continue on Thursday evenings in July, with registration handled by the Dietrich Theater. The project partners are working with the Tunkhannock Business & Professionals Association in hopes of developing package deals that might include dinner specials and special shopping deals for tour-goers before or after their walks.
The brochures will be available at the Dietrich Theater, WCHS, The Endless Mountains Visitors Center, The Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce and other locations during their respective hours of operation so that residents and guests in Tunkhannock can guide themselves around the borough at other times.
There have been significant changes in Tunkhannock over the past two decades that will be reflected in the revamped tour route and the stories that the guides will share. One of the primary goals of the project is to catalog and acknowledge our historic resources in the face of Tunkhannock’s inevitable progress. The publicity around tours such as this have also been shown to encourage maintenance of properties on and adjacent to the tour route.
Historic Tunkhannock Walking Tour project partners will assemble for a work meeting in the Children’s Room of the Dietrich Theater at 10 am on Thursday, Jan. 28. Project coordinator Rick Hiduk and promotional materials designer Diane Turrell will demonstrate the progress of the project before soliciting advice and input as to how to “fill in the blanks,” especially as it pertains to the history of the buildings.
While the names of some local historians and potential tour guides have been provided, the committee knows that there are likely many others who have stories and old photos and a sincere interest in preserving the information and artifacts for the generations to come.
Those interested in attending the January work meeting or who would like to be involved as the project evolves are asked to contact the Dietrich Theater at 570-996-1500. More details will be made available to the public as the Historic Tunkhannock Walking Tour progresses.
Photo by Rick Hiduk
When Daniel Wright had this house at 20 West Tioga Street built in 1869, a local newspaper commented that it was a shame that such a magnificent structure was not built in a “more showy location.” Wright sold the house the next year to Frank Bunnell, who had the rought iron fence constructed. The fence was manufactured by C.D. Gearhart & Co., a local machine shop and foundry.
This is a wonderful idea I love the town of Tunkhannock Pa and it’s surrounding counties and towns My daughter and her husband recently moved to Tunkhannock Pa. And We love shopping, Dining, admiring the Older Home, Historical places etc.. But,There is one home that I feel is slipping through the cracks it is on West Harrison Street . According to what I have heard is is being torn down. It is that beautiful all Brick home with the car port isn’t there someone who would be willing to rescue that house and bring it back to life. What about Nicole Curtis she is that woman on HGTV Who restores old homes about to be demolished and brings them back to life..