2013 Visitor & Relocation Guide For Print.indd - Asoundstrategy

House, including a new pattern made for President
Benjamin Harrison.
Dorfl inger began construction in White Mills
in 1862. The Dorfl inger factory blew more glass
than its cutters could cut so Dorfl inger had a
large business in selling “blanks” or uncut forms
to other factories. Dozens of cutting shops moved
to—or opened in—Wayne County to be near the
Dorfl inger factory
Dorfl inger specialized in making high quality
lead crystal. The lead oxide makes the glass refract
and refl ect light, giving the crystal its characteristic
“sparkle.” Since the glass is blown, shaped,
cut and decorated by hand by highly skilled workers,
it is very expensive to produce. This high cost
of production, coupled with the effects of World
War I, Prohibition, and competition for cheaply
produced pressed glass led to the factory closing
in 1921. Most of the other Wayne County cutting
shops had closed by the early 1930s.
Today Wayne County’s cut glass legacy is
preserved in collections at the Dorfl inger Glass
Museum, Wayne County Historical Society, and
the PP&L Environmental Education Center.
Up North—Equinunk
The Hill Sawmill was built just after the Civil
War, one of many water-powered sawmills in the
area. Joel Hill purchased the Mill in 1898, along
with 1500 acres of timberlands and the 205-acre
body of water known as Duck Harbor. The Mill
remained in operation until 1974.
Originally, a water wheel was used to power
the mill. When it came time to fi re up the saw,
workers would raise the wooden gate in the
sawmill dam and water would rush into the 28-inch
pipe leading to the turbine. Sadly, the water wheel
was washed away in the Pumpkin Flood of 1903.
The Mill is now maintained and operated by the
Equinunk Historical Society, which offers several
demonstrations throughout the summer. The Mill
is located off Route 191 on Duck Harbor Road in
Equinunk, PA. For schedule and further information,
call 570-224-6722 or email ehs@ezaccess.net.
Wonderful Wallenpaupack
Did you know there are rumors of a buried village
beneath Lake Wallenpaupack? Although this
sounds very intriguing, all that remains under the
water are the scattered ruined foundations of a few
isolated buildings.
Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL) began construction
of Lake Wallenpaupack in 1924 in an effort
to provide electric power to its customers. Over
Area History
two years, more than 2,700 individuals worked to
complete the project. Farms, barns, houses and
other buildings had to be razed or dismantled.
A cemetery was moved. Roads, telephone and
telegraph poles were rerouted.
A 1,280-foot concrete dam was constructed at
the top of the lake, close to Hawley. A power plant
was constructed 3.5 miles away. At the time of
construction, a giant wooden fl ow line constructed
of Washington State Douglas fi r carried water from
the lake to the power plant. The wooden fl ow line
was replaced with a 14’ diameter steel pipe in the
1950s. This pipe can be seen as one looks at the
dam from the bridge on Route 6.
The meandering shoreline of Lake Wallenpaupack
totals 52 miles. At 33 miles long and 2 miles
wide at its widest, it’s no wonder that Lake Wallenpaupack
is the summer destination for fi shing,
boating, swimming and relaxing.
In Southern Wayne
The Lacawac Sanctuary on Lake Wallenpaupack,
outside the town of Lake Ariel, offers free
guided tours of its historic estate complex. The fi rst
of the “second homes” in the Wallenpaupack basin,
Coal Baron William Connell’s elaborate summer
estate featured every luxury available to a wealthy
family when the buildings were constructed a
century ago.
The main house is located on the shore of pristine
Lake Lacawac, a 52-acre natural glacial lake
which is the centerpiece of the estate. Large and
smallmouth bass were a game species introduced
to the Poconos in the 19th century. By the time
Connell acquired it, Lacawac had a reputation as
one of the best bass lakes in Wayne County.
After Connell’s death in 1909, the estate
was aquired by Col. Louis A. Watres, a local
industrialist, as part of the huge land assemblage
he needed to build Lake Wallenpaupack as a
power-generating facility. The tract of land needed
for the power project was deeded in 1923 to the
Pennsylvania Power & Light Co., which built the
dam and power plant. The excess land constituting
“Connell Park” was used by the Watres family as
a summer residence until 1966 when they formed
the Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation, dedicated to
scientifi c research and education.
The tours of Lake Lacawac, Historic Buildings,
and Tower Chimes begin at the Carriage House
every Saturday at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at
2 p.m., through August. Tours can also be
scheduled by appointment by calling the offi ce
at 570-689-9494 or email director@lacawac.org.
(570) 253-1960
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