Wilkes-Barre, One of Many Cities by the Susquehanna River

A lot has been happening since I arrived in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, September 11th. I have been to the Luzerne Historical Society several times, visited the Northeastern Pennsylvania Genealogical Society in Shavertown traveled up through Kingston and Forty Fort to view the historical sights. I will take each one individually in later blogs.

Saturday evening I toured Wilkes-Barre and here are some of the photos. I have been using the Market Street Bridge to travel to Kingston and Plymouth and it is real easy because it just means going around the Public Square in Wilkes-Barre and getting on Market and one block down is the Best Western Genetti on the right as you go west were I park as a guest. In Kingston and Plymouth Hiway 11 runs through them and it is called Wyoming Avenue. Once on that avenue you can find your way along very easily.

This Market Street Bridge is old, stately and beautiful. There was a couple walking over the bridge holding hands and later joggers. I walked the length into Kingston and then crossed over and went back to Wilkes-Barre.

I headed right after crossing the bridge along River Street and was came upon the Wilkes University which covers the block of Franklin Ave and River Street and probably a lot more. The houses are labeled with the halls name and are all very grand. You can walk the campus if you like.

Watch out some of the streets are one-way and others are two way, so you have to pay attention in the downtown area of Wilkes-Barre and other towns in the area.

Along River Street and by the South Street corner to the east are the historic markers for Fort Durkee and Fort Wyoming two very important forts in the history of the area and during the Revolution. The actual forts are long gone now but they are commemorated here.

Unfortunately they are ripping up the River Front Park and reconstructing it. So it is all blocked off at this time. There is another park on the other side of the Susquehanna which is Kirby Park and as far as I can tell it is on both sides of the bridge. A truck with a boat was getting ready to launch into the water on the east side of the Market Street Bridge

I headed down South Street for Franklin and passed by the Osterhout Free Library (71 South Franklin St.) which is undergoing renovation and then the Luzerne County Museum is tucked back behind it on a long walkway on the east side of the library. I then passed by the Bishop Memorial Library for the Luzerne County Historical Society (49 South Franklin St.). This library is east a few houses down and has a turret. There isn’t a sign out front on the street so you do have to pay attention. The sign is on the building and rather dark to read. There is a grassy area between that was filled with a big tent for they were having a wedding. There are several churches that lined the street and were interspersed along the same block which is Franklin Street between Northhampton and Market Street. My exploration was at an end.

If you want to do more exploring the Luzerne Historical Society has a brochure featuring the Walking Tour of Wilkes-Barre. It is quite detailed about the Public Square area history and architecture. I found my copy at the Luzerne Historical Society.