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Jonas, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Jonas is a small place in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community," which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.

Jonas is located along Route 534 in Polk Township. The area uses two different ZIP codes: 18330 for Effort and 18058 for Kunkletown.

Just southeast of Jonas, you'll find the Trexler Boy Scout Reservation. This is a large area where Boy Scouts can go camping and enjoy outdoor activities.

Hotel Jonas
Early photo of Hotel Jonas

What is Jonas Like?

Firefighters in Jonas

The Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company has a special sub-station right in Jonas. It's located behind the old Hotel Jonas building on Jonas Road. This station helps keep the community safe.

The fire station has a retired fire truck from 1954, which is a very old vehicle! They also have an active engine and a utility truck ready to respond to emergencies.

The Historic Hotel Jonas

The Hotel Jonas was a very important building in the village of Jonas for many years. It finally closed its doors on May 5, 2012.

The story of the hotel began in 1858 when a man named Jonas Snyder bought the original inn and the land around it. His family then built the larger hotel building that we know today in 1901.

A Rest Stop for Travelers

Before it was called Hotel Jonas, the building was a small inn known as "Sterner's." It was a popular rest stop for people traveling through northeastern Pennsylvania a long time ago.

The inn was located on a special road used by stagecoaches. These were like old-fashioned buses pulled by horses! The stagecoach road connected the southwestern part of the Pocono Mountains with towns like White Haven and cities such as Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Today, this historic road is known as State Highway 534.

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