PRINTER'S NO. 2690
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
598
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MADDEN, R. BROWN, NEILSON, LONGIETTI, BOBACK,
MILLARD, MURT, KINSEY, THOMAS, WARD, PICKETT, O'NEILL,
DiGIROLAMO, PASHINSKI, HAHN, CALTAGIRONE, B. MILLER, GROVE,
SCHWEYER, KORTZ, MARSICO AND GILLEN, NOVEMBER 13, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 13, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the Township of Stroud,
Monroe County.
WHEREAS, On January 22, 1817, Stroud Township was originally
founded as part of Northampton County; and
WHEREAS, On April 1, 1836, Monroe County was founded as a
result of carving out parts of Northampton and Pike Counties to
create the landscape which bears the surname of our nation's
fifth President of the United States, and that today encompasses
Stroud Township; and
WHEREAS, Stroud Township derives its namesake from Jacob
Stroud, an earlier settler and the founder of the Borough of
Stroudsburg; and
WHEREAS, It is widely posited that the first European
settlers of Stroud Township were the Sly brothers, who emigrated
from Esophus, New York, to the township in 1750; and
WHEREAS, Education was central to the ethos of the Stroud
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Township community and John Stroud, Daniel Stroud and Mr.
Hollingshead are credited for constructing the township's first
schoolhouse; and
WHEREAS, By 1880, 12 schoolhouses had been erected throughout
the township; and
WHEREAS, The predominate religious faith of the early
European settlers in Stroud Township was that of the Methodist
faith, as three of the four earliest houses of worship in the
municipality specifically accommodated the spiritual needs of
Methodist immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Several Methodist churches had been formed,
including the Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church in 1830, the
Spragueville Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858 and the Poplar
Valley Methodist Episcopal Church in 1859; and
WHEREAS, Farming and industry were very much prevalent in
Stroud Township, as parts of the township were known to have
soil that was rich in limestone and conducive to agriculture, as
well as encompassed landscape that was ideal for tanning,
blacksmithing and grist and saw milling; and
WHEREAS, During the late 19th century, rail lines had been
introduced throughout much of Monroe County and gave way to the
erection of multiple boarding houses and resorts including the
Analomink Hotel, which offered comfortable accommodations and
provided direct access to the trout-rich Brodhead Creek, as well
as Highland Dell, the Highland Cottages and the Bleaks House
which were all located on Godfrey's Ridge; and
WHEREAS, Since the founding of Stroud Township, the
municipality has experienced significant growth and development,
as evidenced by the township's population in 1840 of 1,206
residents, to the 19,213 proud and faithful residents that today
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call Stroud Township home; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday, January 22, 2017, members from Stroud
Township's Bicentennial Committee and representatives from the
Brodhead Creek Conservation District, the Brodhead Creek
Regional Authority, the Pocono Arts Council and the Monroe
County Historical Association collectively invited residents to
an open house at the Stroud Township Municipal Building for the
purpose of recognizing the bicentennial since the founding of
Stroud Township; and
WHEREAS, This celebration was not only convened for the
purpose of commemorating Stroud Township's rich and illustrious
history, but to also illustrate the boundless potential that
exists for making the township an even more coveted place to
live, work and raise a family; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and
commemorate the 200th anniversary of Stroud Township.
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