Bear Creek Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bear Creek Village Historic District
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Former store on White Haven Road
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | PA 115 at Bear Creek Dam, Bear Creek Village, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 222 acres (90 ha) |
| Built | 1881 |
| Architect | Raife, Phillip R.; et al. |
| Architectural style | Stick/eastlake, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001287 |
| Added to NRHP | October 28, 1999 |
The Bear Creek Village Historic District is a special area in Bear Creek Village, Pennsylvania. It's like a time capsule that helps us understand how people lived long ago. This district is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
It's called a "historic district" because it has many old buildings and places that are important to history. These places show us what life was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The district was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site in the United States.
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Exploring Bear Creek Village's History
Imagine a place where you can see buildings from over a hundred years ago! That's what the Bear Creek Village Historic District offers. It covers about 222 acres, which is like 168 football fields. This area includes 55 buildings, 4 sites, and 2 structures that are all part of its history.
The district tells the story of early industries like lumbering and ice harvesting. People worked hard here, cutting down trees and collecting ice from the lake. The buildings and structures that remain help us picture their daily lives.
What Makes it Historic?
The district is a mix of different types of buildings. You can find houses where families lived, and smaller cottages where workers stayed. There are also summer cottages, which were probably used for vacations.
Other important places include old churches, like Grace Chapel, built in 1884. There's also the former St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church from 1911. You can also see the Lewis Family Cemetery, which is a burial ground for an important local family.
Important Buildings to See
Some of the most interesting parts of the district include:
- The Bear Creek Dam: This dam helped create a lake, which was important for the ice industry.
- The Albert Lewis Residence: This large house was built around 1895 and expanded later. It shows how wealthy families lived.
- The Pines: Another old home, dating back to about 1875.
- The old store and post office: Built around 1885, this was a central spot where people bought supplies and sent mail.
- The Bear Creek Association clubhouse: From about 1920, this was likely a place for community gatherings.
- The former Lehigh Valley Railroad Station: Built around 1895, this was where trains would stop, connecting the village to other places.
These buildings and sites help us understand the past of Bear Creek Village. They show us how communities grew around industries and how people lived their lives in a different time.
Images for kids
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Front of Lewis Mansion
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Lewis Mansion
