January 3 – Individuals with an interest in local history find camaraderie in a group dedicated to preserving the Abington family’s past.
The Abington Historical Society, operated under the auspices of the Lackawanna Historical Society, meets every three months on the third Saturday of the month at the Gathering Place at Clarks Summit. The members have been meeting since 2019 and are focused on researching and preserving the history of the Abington Heights School District community, as well as informing the public about it.
One of their goals this year is to place a State Historic Marker on Onacuga Pass on Leggetts Creek in South Abington Park. It marked a trail built by Native Americans through most of the town, starting where the Lackawanna and Susquehanna rivers meet at Pittstone and ending just above the New York state line. According to member Damian Leone, it was used by the Muncy and Tuscarora tribes to escape European expansion and join the Iroquois in upstate New York.
They received approval from South Abington Twp. I plan to have my supervisor put up the marker and apply for the marker through the State Historical Museum Commission. Leone, who is spearheading the initiative, said the marker would be the first in the Abington community outside of Waverly Twp.
He said there is evidence of its existence but not much has been written about it. Leone said what is known comes from indirect sources such as diaries. .
They will also be presenting and speaking at the Gathering Place last year, as well as mapping land owned by all early property owners in the area. One of his presentations in July focused on the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Old Lackawanna Trail, including research, publication of the group’s work at the Abington Community Library, and automobiles by Scranton’s Fallows Car Club. A show was included.
The project began with a study of the original Abington road by members Charles Kampas and Dennis Martin and a study of trail pillars by Julie Manwarren, a founding member of South Abington Twp.
She said the opening of the trail in 1922 was one of the largest events in county history, including a parade and the attendance of three governors.
Additionally, they attended the NEPA Local History Fair at the Beaumont Mall in October.
Manwarren, a writer and historian who has lived in Abington for 27 years, said the group is united by a love of history and each has a research project.
“We want to preserve it,” she said. “It’s very exciting to be able to participate in preserving the history of a community that I love.”
Leone said each member has their own research project while exchanging ideas. Through it, Leggetz discovered interesting historical information, including that the Creek once had five factories.
A local history researcher since 2006, Clarks Summit’s Martin likes to see Leone and Manwarren actively engaged in local history.
“I’m glad they got involved,” he said.
Abington is a small suburban neighborhood, but Manwarren says it has a significant impact on the area. The location provided gateways to other small towns in the Northern tier, she added. .
The group, which next meets on Saturday, January 21st at 11am, is open to anyone interested in Abingtons.
Please contact the writer:
clee@timeshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, x5365;
@Cleespot on Twitter.
