History of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA

1808 - February 11 - Anthracite coal 1st burned as fuel, experimentally, Wilkes-Barre, Pa

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1836 - October 6 - A second early season snowstorm produced eleven inches at Wilkes Barre PA

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1854 - Wilkesbarre
Wilkesbabrk, a post-township of Luzerne co., Pennsylvania, contains Wilkesbarre, the county sent. Population, 6751.

Wilkesbarre, a thriving post-borough in the above township, capital of Luzerne co., Pennsylvania, on the left bank of the North branch of the Susquehanna, 110 miles N. E. from Harrisburg. It is situated in the beautiful and fertile valley of Wyoming, and commands a fine view of river and mountain scenery. It contains, besides the county buildings, several churches and academies, a bank, and 2 or 8 newspaper offices ; also a large iron furnace, and other factories. A bridge across the river connects the borough with Kingston. The Lehigh and Susquehanna railroad extends southward 20 miles to Whitehaven. The North Pennsylvania railroad, now in progress, will connect Wilkesbarre directly with Philadelphia and Western New York. Another railroad is projected to the Delaware Water-Gap. The trade of the borough is facilitated by the North Branch canal, and by a plank-road... Read MORE...

1895 - Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, a thriving city of Pennsylvania, the capital of Luzerne co, and one of the most progressive and important of the inland cities of the state, is on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, at the convergence of not less than 6 railroads, 174 miles from New York by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and Wilkes-Barre & Eastern systems. It is 154 miles by rail N. by W. of Philadelphia. It is situated in the beautiful Wyoming Valley and is surrounded by the most magnificent mountain scenery. Wilkes-Barre contains 36 churches, 3 theatres, 3 national banks and 4 state banks, a trust company, a female semi nary, an academy, a superior public school system (with 19 school-buildings), while at the suburban village of Kingston, on the opposite bank of the river, is the Wyoming Seminary for both sexes, with an average attendance of about 400 students. There are 4 daily and 12 weekly periodicals. As a manufacturing town Wilkes... Read MORE...

1895 - ELECTRIC CARS COLLIDE. THE DEATH OF TWO PERSONS, AT LEAST, BEYOND A DOUBT.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Jan. 26. - Two men were fatally and five other persons seriously injured in a collision between two electric cars near this city today. The collision occurred on a sharp curve, and the motormen did not see each other until the cars were close together. WILLIAM ROOK, the motorman of the Nanticoke car, was pinned down on the wreck, and both his legs were broken. He will die. JOHN S. CHAPPERI, of Nanticoke, a passenger, had both legs and an arm broken and died tonight. MRS. T. RUPPERT, of Shickshinny, sustained a fracture of the leg. RALPH SCHWARTZ, of Nanticoke, was badly cut about the head. CHARLES THOMAS had his right leg crushed, necessitating amputation, and WILLIAM BENNETT and WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS were injured by flying glass.
St. Paul Globe
St. Paul, Minnesota
January 27, 1895

1896 - GRIEF TURNED TO JOY. Mine Disaster Not So Serious as First Supposed MANY OF THE VICTIMS RESCUED
A Score or More of the Miners Entombed by an Explosion of Gas near Wilkes-Barre, but Fourteen Are Found to be Alive

Wilkes-Barre, PA., Dec 22-Fully a score of miners have perished by an explosion of gas in Baltimore No. 2 Shaft of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company. Fifty or 60 others barely escaped with their lives.

The mine, when in full operation, employs in the neighborhood of 350 men and boys. About one third of this force was at work, and the number of workers was further reduced after 3 o'clock , when the day shift men came out. When the explosion occurred an hour later, there were probably 60 men in the mine. Of this number, 40 or thereabouts succeeded in getting safely to the surface.

Those who perished were at work on a plane fully a mile from the foot of the shaft. They were driving a tunnel and so far as known were in what was considered a safe place.

The fire boss had inspected the plane in the morning and declared it free from gas. The cause of the... Read MORE...

1906
Wilkesbarre, a city, capital of Luzerne co., Pa., on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River and on the Central R. of New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley and other railroads, 100 miles (direct) NNW. of Philadelphia. It is situated in the Wyoming Valley and is surrounded by most picturesque mountain scenery. Wilkesbarre is one of the most progressive cities of the interior of the state, and owes its prosperity largely to its location in the heart of one of the richest anthracite coal-fields in the world. It is the seat of Beveral academic and charitable institutions, of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society (whose library contains upward of 35,000 volumes), the Wyoming Historical Museum (likewise with a large library), the Osterhaut Free Library, etc. The city has large iron-, axle- and wire-rope works, railroad- and machine-shops, foundries, silk-mills, and manufactures of lace, tin-ware, cutlery, lumber, flour, powder, underwear, malted liquors, ... Read MORE...

1953 - January 1 - WBRE TV channel 28 in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, PA (NBC) 1st broadcast

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1972 - June 22 - Hurricane Agnes deluged Pennsylvania and New York State with torrential rains resulting in the most costly flood in U.S. history.
In the Middle Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania, 24 hour rainfall amounts were generally 8 to 12 inches, with up to 19 inches in extreme southwestern Schuylkill County. At Wilkes-Barre, PA, the dike was breached destroying much of the town. Flooding resulted in 117 deaths and 3.1 billion dollars damage.
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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in and around Wilkes-Barre:
Mohegan Sun Pocono: If you're feeling lucky, head to this casino for a night of gambling and entertainment. They have slot machines, table games, and live music events.

Luzerne County Historical Society: Delve into the history of the area at this museum. It houses artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County.

The Frederick Stegmaier Mansion: This stunning historic mansion offers tours, giving you a glimpse into the grandeur of the past. It's also a popular spot for special events and weddings.

River Common: Take a leisurely walk along the Susquehanna River at River Common. It's a great place for a picnic, biking, or simply enjoying the scenic views.

FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts: This venue hosts a wide range of performances, from concerts to Broadway shows. Check their schedule for upcoming events.

Seven Tubs Nature Area: If you're into hiking and nature, Seven Tubs is a fantastic place. It offers several trails with... Read MORE...