Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shawnee on Delaware
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Shawnee Inn, as seen from the banks of the Delaware River, September 2012
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 Shawnee on Delaware
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Monroe |
| Township | Smithfield |
| Founded by | Nicholas Depuy (1727) |
| ZIP |
18356
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Shawnee on Delaware is a small community located on the Delaware River. It's part of Smithfield Township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. This area is just south of the Pocono Mountains. It's about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) southwest of the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area. It's also about 75 miles (120 km) west of New York City.
The first European settler, Nicholas Depuy, arrived here in 1727. His home was even used as a fort during the French and Indian War. Shawnee is also home to the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort. This famous resort was first built as the Buckwood Inn. Its golf course was designed by the well-known A. W. Tillinghast. You can also find the largest red cedar tree in Pennsylvania here. It stands tall at the Shawnee Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
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History of Shawnee on Delaware
Native American Shawnee people from Ohio settled in this area in 1692. The first European settler was Nicholas Depuy. He came from New Amsterdam (now New York City) in 1727. He bought 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of land from the local Minsi tribe of Lenape Indians. During the French and Indian War (1754–1763), Depuy's home became a fort. It was known as Fort Depuy. A surveyor working for William Penn named the village. He thought the local Native Americans were Shawnee, which was a mistake.
Early Community Growth
In 1736, a ferry started operating across the Delaware River to New Jersey. By 1740, Aaron Depuy opened a store. In 1753, he built a stone and log church. This church was used by ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church. A part of this original church, its cornerstone, is still there today. It's now part of the Shawnee Presbyterian Church. The community grew as farmers used the river to transport their crops. A post office was built in 1843. A new brick church was built in 1853 on the old church's foundation. Some of the original wooden beams are still inside.
Around 1850, Judge J. Depue LeBar moved to Shawnee. By 1860, he opened a general store. In 1888, the River School was built near Shawnee. It was made of stone and had a special roof design.
Worthington Hall and the Shawnee Playhouse
Charles Campbell Worthington was a very successful businessman. He owned the Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation. In the late 1890s, he started spending more time at his country home in Shawnee. He retired to live there in 1900. In 1904, he built Worthington Hall. This building later became known as the Shawnee Playhouse. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Sadly, the building was damaged by a fire in 1985 and had to be taken down.
The playhouse was rebuilt with help from many people. The community of Shawnee on Delaware, the Seabees, and several foundations helped. Charles Campbell Worthington also started the Worthington Society. This group studied birds and was led by Charles W. Miller.
Geography of Shawnee
Shawnee on Delaware is located just south of the Pocono Mountains. It's about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) southwest of the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area. The village is about 75 miles (120 km) west of New York City. It is also 5.9 miles (9.5 km) northeast of Stroudsburg.
The village is separated from the main part of the Delaware River by Depuy Island. Downstream from Depuy Island is Swanee Island. This is where the Shawnee Inn golf course is now located. About 2.5 miles (4.0 km) upstream from Shawnee is Tocks Island. This island was once planned for a large dam project. The largest red cedar tree in Pennsylvania is in the Shawnee Presbyterian Church Cemetery. It is 36 feet (11 m) tall and 67 inches (1.7 m) around its trunk.
Economy and Local Businesses
Farmers in the Shawnee area used lime to make their soil better for growing crops. They burned limestone to create lime. One farmer built a special oven called a lime kiln on his property. The kiln on John Turn Farm is still well-preserved today. Hiram, the son of Judge J. Depue LeBar, farmed about 300 acres (120 ha) on Shawnee Island. This land included the area where the golf course is now. A very large barn was built there. It was 110 feet (34 m) long and 60 feet (18 m) wide. A stone mill was also built nearby. This was the first flour mill in Smithfield Township. Flour was ground there and then shipped by boat to Philadelphia.
The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Charles Campbell Worthington built the Buckwood Inn. This was a fancy resort with an 18-hole golf course. The golf course was designed by A. W. Tillinghast and finished around 1910. This resort later became the Shawnee Country Club. In 1913, golfer John McDermott won a golf tournament here. Worthington also invented a special lawnmower called the gang mower. He started the Shawnee Mower Factory to make these mowers.
During the Great Depression, the inn faced hard times. Worthington's family sold the inn in 1943 to Fred Waring. Waring was a famous music leader. He made the inn his home base. In the 1950s, his radio shows were broadcast from Worthington Hall. Waring and his group, the Pennsylvanians, had many hit songs. Some of their famous songs include "Sleep" and "White Christmas." In 1939, Waring started a music company. In 1947, he moved it to Shawnee and renamed it the Shawnee Press. This company became a major publisher of music.
Many famous people visited the inn and played golf. These included Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer, Lucille Ball, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The golf course was expanded to 27 holes. In 1974, Waring sold the inn to Karl Hope. Hope made the resort more open to everyone. He added timeshares and new activities like skiing and water sports. Hope also started the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area. This ski area helps the local economy and once had Olympic Gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy as its director.
Media and Radio
WCSD-LP (104.9 FM) is a local low-power FM radio station. It plays a variety of music. The station received its license to broadcast in November 2004. It is licensed to Shawnee-on-Delaware. The station serves the Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania area. It is currently owned by the Shawnee Presbyterian Church.
