Pocono Living Magazine Feb/Mar 2022

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

The Pocono Mountains' Magazine

Complimentary

Pocono Living M A G A Z I N E

The Art of Frank E. Schoonover History of The Delaware Valley Railroad Indian King Teedyuscung

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Pocono Magazines, LLC PUBLISHING

Pocono Living Magazine© & Pocono Family Magazine© 1929 North 5th Street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 570-424-1000 pmags@ptd.net www.poconomagazines.com PUBLISHER/EDITOR Larry R. Sebring larry@poconomagazines.com ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES larry@poconomagazines.com MAGAZINE & WEB DESIGN Smart Blonde Creative Food & Wine Editor Jamie Marra PHOTOGRAPHY & ART John Anzivino Gayle C. Brooke Ray Caswell Pat Coyle Randall FitzGerald Ashley Hall Maurice Harmon Susan Hartman Marlana Holsten Ann H. LeFevre

Barbara Lewis Marie Liu Harry Loud Regina Matarazzo Janet Mishkin John L. Moore Michael Murphy Justine Nearhood Roseanna Santaniello Tom Stone

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kimberly Blaker Roseanne Bottone Kathy Dubin-Uhler Amanda Kuhn Amy Leiser Marie Liu Jamie Marra

Suzanne McCool Janet Mishkin John L. Moore Allison Mowatt Jim Werkheiser Kim Williams Marty Wilson

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Pocono Living Magazine and Pocono Family Magazine, two regional publications filled with articles, features and photography exploring and capturing the real Pocono Mountains living experience.

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The information published in this magazine is believed to be accurate, but in some instances, may represent opinion or judgment. The publication’s providers do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information and shall not be held liable for any loss or damage, directly or indirectly, by or from the information.© 2016 Pocono Magazines. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the expressed written permission of the publisher.


St. Luke’s has been named an IBM Watson Health® 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital... for the 7th time! “On behalf of St. Luke’s, I am proud to say this is affirmation of our commitment to excellence. Our attention to clinical outcomes, patient experience and cost efficiencies have made us the heart and vascular care leader in the region.” – Raymond Durkin, MD, Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine Raymond Durkin, MD Stephen Olenchock, DO Timothy Oskin, MD

Watson Health awards are based entirely on an independent, scientific review of objective data. Hospitals do not apply for selection and winners do not pay to market this honor.

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“It is not the years in your life but the life in your years that counts.” —Adlai Stevenson

> P hoto by Marlana Holsten

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What’s Inside February/March 2022 FE ATURES 6

Teedyuscung — “Indian King of 10 Nation”

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T he Delaware Water Valley Railroad

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Ricketts Glen State Park

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The Artist Frank Earl Schoonover

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onroe County Conservation District & M Kettle Creek Environmental Center

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T he Willow Tree

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6 Tips to Keep Pets Safe and Warm This Winter

54

T he Fantastic Freezing Frogs of Northeastern PA

COVER PHOTO Frozen Sciota By Vinzon Lee

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TEEDYUSCUNG — “INDIAN KING OF 10 NATION” By John L. Moore

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ew Year’s Day started out as just another workday for 19-year-old Henry Hess in 1756. But things went wrong quickly. When the Indians attacked, Henry was working on the Smithfield Township farm of his uncle, also known as Henry Hess, in what has since become Monroe County. The French and Indian War had begun in western Pennsylvania six months earlier. Since then, the fighting had spread across the colony’s eastern region. It reached the Poconos in midmorning on Jan. 1 when 25 Indian warriors appeared at the uncle’s farm, killed several of the farm workers, took three horses as the spoils of war, and torched the stable. A while later, Henry watched as the Indians fatally stabbed his father, Peter Hess.

The warriors forced Henry to walk with them to present-day Wilkes-Barre along the Pechoquealin Path, a native trail that passed through the places known today as Stroudsburg, Tannersville, and Pocono Pines. Along the way he met another farm boy, Leonard Weeser, who on Dec. 31 had been captured on another farm. They didn’t know it, but Henry Hess and Leonard Weeser would spend more than 10 months as Indian captives, living in native towns high up the Susquehanna River’s North Branch. The leader of the war party that captured them was Teedyuscung, a Lenni Lenape Indian who had been born about 1705 near Trenton, N.J. His activities during and after the French and Indian War saw Teedyuscung become “one of the best-known Pennsylvania Indians,” according to the late Paul A. W. Wallace, author of “Indians of Pennsylvania.”

← I ndian raiders killed four settlers in the Minisinks while Teedyuscung was

meeting with Gov. Robert H. Morris in Easton in 1756. The killings occurred in the vicinity of Fort Hyndshaw. South of present-day Bushkill, the fort was along an old Indian trail that followed the Delaware River. This historical marker is along Route 209.

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↑ Indian raiders often attacked colonial farmers out working in their fields.

As a young man, Teedyuscung was called “Honest John” and made brooms, which he sold to white colonists. At some point, he left New Jersey and moved into eastern Pennsylvania. In 1750 the Moravians converted him to Christianity and baptized him as Gideon. A few years later, he left the Moravians and moved to a Native American town in the Wyoming Valley. Historians know some details of Teedyuscung’s activities during the war because he eventually took Henry Hess and Leonard Weeser back to the Pennsylvania settlements and set them free. Colonial authorities subsequently questioned them and wrote down details of their experiences. Hess, for instance, reported that “Teedyuscung was frequently in conversation with a Negro man, a runaway, whose master lived somewhere above Samuel Dupui’s (at Shawnee on Delaware), and he overheard Teedyuscung advising him to go among the inhabitants, and talk with the Negroes, and persuade them to kill their masters. … He (Teedyuscung) would be in the woods ready to receive any Negroes (who) would murder their masters, and they might live well with the Indians.” 8 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

“If the January 1756 raid on the Poconos helped Teedyuscung establish his credentials as a warrior, his activities over the next few years helped him prove his skills as a negotiator, peacemaker, and ally.” Monroe County history doesn’t report a slave revolt during this time. For his part, Leonard Weeser recalled hearing Indians say that they had once owned all of the land. “They said that all the country was theirs, and they were never paid for it.” Weeser also reported that he had heard his captors “say … they and the French would gather in a body together and come down to Pennsylvania and kill all the inhabitants, for it was their, meaning the Indians,’ country, and they would have it again.”


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↑ As he negotiated a peace with Gov. Robert H.

Hunter, Teedyuscung referred to Pennsylvania’s founder as “the good old man William Penn, who was a friend to the Indian.” If the January 1756 raid on the Poconos helped Teedyuscung establish his credentials as a warrior, his activities over the next few years helped him prove his skills as a negotiator, peacemaker, and ally. As 1756 progressed, Gov. Robert H. Morris proclaimed a 30-day ceasefire, then invited Teedyuscung to Easton to see if the two could negotiate a peace during a week-long conference. Boasting that he was “the king of 10 nations,” Teedyuscung arrived in Easton in July 1756. Shortly before this, he and some other Delawares went to Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario to visit the French. Although the French officers there turned down his request for gunpowder, they “gave Teedyuscung a fine dark brown cloth coat laced with gold which he now wears,” Bethlehem magistrate Timothy Horsfield told Morris. The residents of Easton quickly formed a poor impression of the Delawares who accompanied the chief. Teedyuscung “and his wild company were perpetually drunk, … and at times abusive to the Inhabitants, for they all spoke English more or less,” according to Major William Parsons.

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BEN FRANKLIN By John L. Moore

F

ollowing Teedyuscung’s Jan. 1, 1756 raid on the Poconos in 1756, Benjamin Franklin appointed John Van Etten of Upper Smithfield Township to serve as captain of the Pennsylvania troops being raised to defend the region.

↑ As Pennsylvania geared up to defend itself against Indian attacks during the French and Indian War, Benjamin Franklin appointed John Van Etten as a captain of a company of soldiers to protect the Poconos.

Responsible for coordinating the colony’s defense, Franklin was in Bethlehem when on Jan. 12, he gave Van Etten written orders that defined the captain’s tasks. A copy survives in the Pennsylvania Archives.

“You are to proceed immediately to raise a company of foot, consisting of 30 able men, including two sergeants, with which you are to protect the inhabitants of Upper Smithfield, assisting them while they thresh out and secure their corn, and scouting from time to time as you judge necessary, on the outside of the settlements, with such of the inhabitants as may join you to discover the enemy's approaches, and repel their attacks.” Van Etten’s rank-and-file soldiers were to be paid $6 a month. Franklin added, “Every man is to be engaged for one month, and as the province cannot at present furnish arms or blankets to your company, you are to allow every man enlisting and bringing his own arms and blanket, a dollar for the use thereof over and above his pay.” The soldiers would also be entitled to a bounty if they killed hostile natives. “You are to acquaint the men,” Franklin said, “that if in their ranging they meet with, or are at any time attacked by the enemy, and kill any of them, $40 will be allowed and paid by the government for each scalp of an Indian enemy so killed; the same being produced with proper attestations.”

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The major added, “The townspeople observed that the shirts which the Indian women had on were made of Dutch tablecloths, which, it is supposed they took from the people they murdered on our frontiers.” Parsons noted that “the King was full of himself, saying frequently that which side (French or English) … he took must stand, and the other fall.” Gov. Morris told Teedyuscung he was willing to create a lasting peace that would “renew the ancient friendship that subsisted between William Penn and the Indians.” He invited all the Susquehanna Indians to a future treaty, but “you must bring here with you also all the prisoners you have taken during these disturbances. I must insist on this as evidence of your sincerity to make a lasting peace.”

“Gov. Morris told Teedyuscung he was willing to create a lasting peace that would ‘renew the ancient friendship that subsisted between William Penn and the Indians.’” Teedyuscung emphasized that he, too, wanted to end the fighting. “I wish the same good that possessed the good old man William Penn, who was a friend to the Indian, may inspire the people of this province at this time.” At dinner that evening, the governor told Teedyuscung that he had received a letter from Capt. John Van Etten, the commander at Fort Hyndshaw along the Delaware River near present-day Bushkill. “Some Indians had killed four of our white people at the Minisinks,” Van Etten reported. “… One of them was killed in endeavoring to make his escape.” Teedyuscung said he had already heard about the episode and remarked that the raiders “must be the French Indians.” The incident wouldn’t affect his own efforts to bring about a peace. Teedyuscung remarked, “If his people were so foolish as to come in our borders at this time and were killed anyhow, they must take the reward of their folly.”


↑ P ocono Creek flows through Stroudsburg. Its name comes from a Lenni Lenape word that means “a stream between mountains.” 11 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

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↑ 19th century artist George Catlin came upon these Delaware Indians living west of the Mississippi River in 1831. He identified them as, from left, Ahwee, a Delaware woman; Nonondáygon, a warrior; and Bodasín, a chief. The painting is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

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A new governor, William Denny, had taken office when Teedyuscung returned to Easton in November to continue the effort to secure peace. The governor traveled up from Philadelphia for the occasion. In his "Pennsylvania—A History,” Dr. George P. Donehoo, reported that Teedyuscung told the governor, “I have gone among my people pleading for peace.” Then the governor asked why the Delawares had gone to war. As C. Hale Sipe reported in his classic “Indian Chiefs of Pennsylvania,” Teedyuscung stamped his foot upon the ground and replied heatedly: “I have not far to go for an instance. This very ground that is under me was my land and inheritance and is taken from me by fraud.” The chief contended: “All the land extending from Tohickon (Creek in Bucks County), over the great mountain, to Wyoming, has been taken from me by fraud; for when I agreed to sell the land to the old proprietary, by the course of the (Delaware) River, the young proprietaries came and got it run by a straight course by the compass, and by that means took in double the quantity intended to be sold. I did not intend to speak thus, but I have done it at this time, at your request.”

“Teedyuscung stamped his foot upon the ground and replied heatedly: ‘I have not far to go for an instance. This very ground that is under me was my land and inheritance and is taken from me by fraud.’” Teedyuscung was referring to the Walking Purchase of 1737. The Indians intended Tohickon Creek to be the northern boundary, but terms of the sale specified that the Lenape were selling land that went up the Delaware “as far as a man can walk in a day and a half.” The Indians were outraged when they saw that colonial authorities had athletes walk as fast as they could and to cover as much territory as possible. The walkers went more than 50 miles north of the creek, so that the land included much of the Poconos. When the Lenape refused to vacate the territory, Pennsylvania’s proprietors had the Iroquois Indians evict them. The Lenape were then forced to move to the Susquehanna Valley. That’s where Teedyuscung and his people had been living when the war started. Many of the settlements attacked during the Indian raids had sprung up on land from which the Native Americans had been evicted. The Lenape became known as the Delawares after they left their homeland along the Delaware River. Teedyuscung’s negotiations with the Pennsylvania governors eventually culminated in a peace treaty during the summer of 1757. The chief and his people were then living along the North Branch near present-day Athens. When Teedyuscung requested it, the governor “agreed to build Teedyuscung a new town at Wyoming to replace the old town which had been burned,”

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↑ Tishcohan (left) and Lappanwinsoe (right) were Lenni Lenape chiefs who lived in eastern Pennsylvania. They signed their marks on documents that permitted the proprietors of Pennsylvania to conduct the infamous Walking Purchase of 1737. The walkers moved at a rapid pace that let them cover 65 miles in a day and a half. Lappanwinsoe later complained that the men should “not have kept up the run, run all day.” Lappanwinsoe’s name means “going away to gather food.” Tishcohan’s name means “he who never blackens himself.” Their portraits were painted by Gustavus Hesselius, a 18th century Swedish-American artist who spent much of his life in Philadelphia. historian William A. Hunter said in his 1972 book, “Forts on the Pennsylvania Frontier, 1753-1758.”

a party of enemy Indians about 78 in number, directing their course towards the Minisinks."

Soldiers from the Pennsylvania Regiment erected log cabins in the village in late 1757 and early 1758.

Teedyuscung’s town flourished for about four years. Then settlers from Connecticut, thinking that they had obtained ownership of land in the Susquehanna Valley, attempted to move into the region.

Not only did Teedyuscung express friendship with the colony, but, as an ally, he also provided the colony’s military officials with information about the movement of enemy Indians from western Pennsylvania. On June 6, 1758, for example, the captain at Fort Allen on the Lehigh River at Weissport reported that "two Indians … came to the fort express from Teedyuscung, at Wyoming, to let them know that on Sunday last were seen 14 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Writing in “Indians of Pennsylvania,” Wallace said that in 1762, “prospecting parties arrived at Wyoming. Teedyuscung warned them off. He was offered pay if he would join them in surveying the land. He refused. They stole his horse. He threatened to arrest them and take them to the governor in Philadelphia. They


gave him a new horse and decamped, saying, however, that they would return in the spring with thousands of armed men.” Teedyuscung got drunk one night in April 1763. His cabin caught fire, and “Teedyuscung was burned to death,” Wallace said. The cause of the fire was never determined. Some speculated that the blaze was accidental. Others theorized that enemy Indians started it because Teedyuscung was too friendly with Pennsylvania authorities. Still others suspected that the Connecticut people were somehow responsible. Whatever the cause, “two or three weeks after Teedyuscung’s death, Connecticut families took up residence in the valley,” Wallace said. “In June,” Wallace said, the Indians “abandoned their town and removed to the West Branch of Susquehanna.” The peace that Teedyuscung had helped bring about didn’t last much longer. In October 1763, one of Teedyuscung’s sons, Captain Bull, “swept through the (Wyoming) valley with a Delaware war party and left no white people alive in it. Some were tortured and killed,” Wallace said. “About 20 were led into captivity. Three or four escaped.”

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There are no Lenape villages or towns in Pennsylvania today. They moved west during the late 1700s and 1800s, passing through Ohio, Indiana, Kansas and Missouri. There are descendants of the Minsi who once lived in the Minisinks region along the Delaware River now living in Wisconsin as members of the Stockbridge–Munsee Community. In Oklahoma, the Delaware Tribe of Indians has a reservation.

John L. Moore continues to pursue his lifelong interests in Pennsylvania’s colonial history and archaeology. The Northumberland writer has published 11 non-fiction books about Pennsylvania’s 16th and 17th century. John’s latest book, 1780: Year of Revenge, is currently available in book stores or from the online bookstore Sunbury Press Inc. This book is the 3rd volume in his Revolutionary Pennsylvania Series and tells the story of Indian raids all across the Pennsylvania Frontier — including the Poconos and Minisinks — in the year following General Sullivan’s 1779 invasion of the Iroquios homeland. Over the years John has participated in archaeological excavations of Native American sites along the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. A professional storyteller, he recently took part in the Heritage Festival at Frances Slocum State Park near Wilkes-Barre. He told the true story of Frances Slocum, a 5-year-old girl who lived as a Native American after being kidnapped by Indians during the American Revolution. The park was named for her. FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 15


THE DELAWARE VALLEY RAILWAY By Kim Williams

↑ Chestnut Ridge Railway caboose on grounds of Kunkletown Post Office, Eldred Township

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o other railroad had a bigger proportion of its track in Monroe County than Delaware Valley Railway (19011937). It was a short route – only 11 miles – but more than 90% of it was southwest of Pike County, when Rt. 209 was unpaved and motorized travel was rare. The dream of a north-south rail route through the Stroudsburgs evolved over decades after an east-west route was built in 1856. Slowly – but never completely – pieces of the dream became reality. In the 1890s, some grading was done, followed by front page news August 22, 1901, when rails could be ridden to Coolbaughs, Middle Smithfield Twp. Later that year, the route

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was completed to Shoemakers. And on January 18, 1902, the terminus became Bushkill. The southeastern end of Delaware Valley Railway was on a mile of rented track belonging to Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. DVR also rented quarters in DL&W’s grandiose East Stroudsburg station. DVR’s own tracks to Bushkill stayed close to Rt. 209 (“Business 209” south of Marshalls Creek). Simpler stations were northeast of a junction with DL&W near North Courtland St. At this point was the appropriately-named Delaware Valley Junction station, where DVR’s headquarters were located.


↑ L &NE’s Ross Common Station Nearby was a small engine house – still standing along Oak St. - providing shelter for DVR’s lone steamer. Major repairs were performed at DL&W’s Gravel Place facilities, reached by staying on DL&W tracks for less than two miles west of the junction. When this happened – and if a loaner was needed – DVR would receive additional billing from DL&W. DVR never had more than one engine at a time and only 6 during its threeplus decades of activity. The railroad paid a total of between $11,000.00 and $12,000.00 to buy its right-of-way from 38 property owners. Some owners sold for as little as $1.00. Some received as much as $2,000.00

for strips of land that were between 30- and 60-feet wide. Besides cash, a couple of landowners insisted that stations be erected on their property, Delaware Valley Junction among them, as negotiated by Oscar Stemple. Instability plagued the railroad’s first two years, to the extent that it was sold at sheriff’s sale in 1903, when it was bought for $80,000.00 by Milton Yetter. He remained president of DVR until his death August 28, 1911, at the age of 62. Yetter was also president of East Stroudsburg National Bank, co-founder of East Stroudsburg Glass Co. and East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church and a long-time ESU trustee. A street at the rear of his FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 17


↓ H omemade steam engine helped with lumbering; Pocono Lake area, late 1800s

← Reminders of the major players in Pocono railroad history home within sight of the tracks was named in his honor. It has been suggested that engine #4 displayed black crepe during a period of mourning following Yetter’s death.

stops toward Bushkill. In-between was Marshall’s Creek station, which was a bit more substantial - and still existing today - near the intersection of Rts. 209 & 402.

While Yetter was in command – and until WWI – DVR enjoyed its most vibrant years: passengers going regularly to and from town; tourists going to and from their destinations; freight shipped and received by customers. Not a great deal of freight but steady amounts of incoming coal and foodstuff for resorts; and outgoing ice and lumber.

Going farther northeast past Oak Grove was Frutcheys, Delaware Valley and then Coolbaughs (at Keystone Drive) – pictures of which have not been found. Delaware Valley was named for the hotel that was close by at Rt. 209 and Hollow Road and should not be confused with Delaware Valley Junction station, mentioned earlier. Delaware Valley station existed for only part of DVR’s history and is described on 1926 highway plans as an “old (rail) car”.

According to DVR timetables, the number and location of stops over the years were quite varied. Early in the railroad’s history Eagle Valley was listed, where it is debatable that any building existed at all. Maybe a lean-to, at best. Similar situations were likely at Craig’s Meadow and Oak Grove, two of the next three 18 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Echo Lake station was financed by the Rev. Dr. C. E. van Allen, proprietor of the Echo Lake House, which was within eyesight


across a field and Route 209. Next was the Turn Villa station, built by DVR to satisfy property owner M. DePue Turn, who operated the nearby resort named Turn Villa, later known as Echo Lake Farms. The Shoemakers station along Winona Falls Road was a former shed for DL&W carpenters in East Stroudsburg. Beyond Shoemakers, DVR crossed Bushkill Creek into Pike County. Before the end-of-the line was a short-lived stop identified on some timetables as Maples, which was the name of the boarding house that the railroad passed next to. The northeastern terminus was the Bushkill station, rebuilt with cinderblocks in 1910 because a newly acquired passenger car was wider than its predecessor and could not squeeze past the original station’s wooden platform.

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“Besides cash, a couple of landowners insisted that stations be erected on their property, Delaware Valley Junction among them, as negotiated by Oscar Stemple.” 585 Main Street • Stroudsburg PA • 570-421-7950 In the early 1900s, many serious railroad accidents made headlines nationwide and two human fatalities marred DVR’s safety record. But first, on February 15, 1902, the macabreloving media seemed eager to write about “the first life lost on the new railroad”. It was Jack Kuser’s $50-bird-dog which “tried to get on a train at Bushkill”. Less than 7 months later it was reported that 67-year-old section-worker, Edward Mility, of Scranton, died after he fell from a rapidly moving handcar northeast of Marshalls Creek. Almost 16-years later – at 7:30AM, Saturday, March 9, 1918 – a horse-drawn wagon and a DVR engine collided at Eagle Valley crossing (Rt. 447), resulting in the death of teamster Amzi Strunk, who was employed as a deliveryman for the A.J. Zacharias brick and lumber supply company.

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More info about Delaware Valley Railway will appear in a later issue of Pocono Living Magazine. Kim Williams is a lifelong resident of Monroe County, an amateur photographer and president of a local historical group. “The Flood” and the County’s railroad history are of particular interest to him. Kim’s two daughters — a doctor & a teacher — are sources of pride.

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RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK By Amanda Kuhn Photos courtesy of DCNR

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hile snowy terrain and slippery conditions aren’t ideal for hiking, the winter months are the perfect time to plan your bucket-list for the upcoming season. Soon enough the trails will reemerge and you’ll be lacing up your boots to head outdoors for some fresh air (and mud!) Until then you can daydream about all the wildlife, waterfalls and remarkable scenery that can be found at Ricketts Glen State Park. Stretching across Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia counties, Ricketts Glen State Park covers 13,193 acres near central PA. There’s so much to discover in this expansive park, but its most notable features include the Glens Natural Area, a National Natural Landmark, and the 94-foot Ganoga Falls. The Glens Natural Area can be explored via the Falls Trail

System that includes more than 20 waterfalls; the highest of which is the Ganoga Falls. The Falls Trail System is long and challenging but well worth the hike. You will traverse rocky hillsides and forests that are centuries-old, visit the peak of Red Rock Mountain and witness unique rock formations. Also, don’t forget the wildlife! This park is home to at least 75 species of migratory birds in addition to many of the other animals commonly found in our area. While the park is open year round, some trails, including the Falls Trail System, closes in the winter because of ice and hazardous conditions. The trails reopen in April. Visitors are encouraged to check the DCNR website for updates. Additional activities to check out in 2022 include: picnicking, swimming, fishing, hunting, camping and boating in Lake Jean. Be sure to check out the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources list of top 10 activities to experience during your visit.

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TOP 10 ACTIVITIES TO DO AT RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK 1. H ike the Falls Trail System. Wear proper footwear. Sandals are prohibited. 2. Cool off on a hot summer day with a swim at the beach on Lake Jean. 3. Spend a winter weekend in one of the modern cabins. 4. Camp overnight in the campground. Scouts and other groups can try the rustic Organized Group Tent Campground. 5. Explore the waters of Lake Jean via boat. Boat rentals are available during the summer. 6. Enjoy fishing on Lake Jean through all seasons. Ice fishing is popular from November through March. 7. Have a picnic by Lake Jean. 8. Visit the park in winter to snowmobile, cross-country ski, and snowshoe. 9. Enjoy 10,287 acres of hunting within the state park and additional acres in the surrounding state game lands. 10. Enjoy the view from the Grand View Trail, especially in mid-June when the mountain laurel blooms. *Information provided by the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources For more information about Ricketts Glen State Park, maps, trail guides, updates and other important information, visit DCNR website at www.dcnr.pa.gov. Ricketts Glen State Park 695 State Route 487 Benton, PA 17814 570-477-5675 rickettsglensp@pa.gov www.facebook.com/rickettsglenSP

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↑ Cornshalks at Eshbach Farm Frank Earl Schoonover

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THE ARTIST FRANK EARL SCHOONOVER By Marie Liu

F

rank Earl Schoonover had a deep connection to the Pocono region, his Dutch ancestors were among the first European settlers here, migrating to the Bushkill/Minisink area after arriving in Albany NY from Holland in the mid 1600s. His great-great grandfather, Rudolphus Schoonover, was a founder of Bushkill, Pennsylvania and many Schoonovers continued to live there for generations after. Frank was born 1877 in Warren County, New Jersey where his father, John, was employed as a manager at the Oxford iron ore furnace (now an Historical Site). Colonel John Schoonover, a veteran of the Civil War, is considered the greatest military hero Monroe County has ever produced. Active throughout the entire war despite serious injuries, he was awarded for his gallantry in the battles at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. As a young boy, Frank would stay with his grandmother, Elizabeth, in Bushkill during the summers to ‘help her out’, but Frank would later chuckle, “I don’t believe I was of much help, because I spent most all of the time along the Bushkill streams looking for things.” After completing higher education at Drexel Institute, he settled in Wilmington, Delaware but in 1914 he returned to the “Up Country” (Land of His Forebearers) purchasing 12 acres along the Big Bushkill Creek, where he would once again spend his summers. By then, he had become one of America’s top-rated illustrators, and would ultimately document through his landscape paintings and photography, the Pocono community that he loved, which would sadly disappear in his lifetime.

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Growing up near the Delaware river in Trenton NJ, he played along its banks and from his boat he fished and sketched scenes, plants, and animals that he saw there. He admired the great American illustrator, Howard Pyle, and would copy his images as he was honing his own artistic skills. So, as a young man, when it was time to choose an occupation, Frank’s parents had in mind for him to become a Protestant minister, but he convinced them to allow him take some art classes with the renowned illustrator and teacher, Howard Pyle at the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in Philadelphia. Subsequently, he won scholarships to also attend several summers studying with Pyle at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, at the site of a mill alongside the Brandywine River. He, along with his fellow students and mentor came to be known as the Brandywine School.

“He had become one of America’s toprated illustrators, and would ultimately document through his landscape paintings and photography, the Pocono community that he loved, which would sadly disappear in his lifetime.” They represented an American style of art that was realistic, dynamic, strongly rooted in the emotions of the characters and mood of a story through intimate knowledge of one’s subject. Pyle and his Brandywine School gave rise to some of this country’s best-known illustrators such as N.C. Wyeth, Harvey Dunn, Jesse Wilcox Smith, Violet Oakley (known for the 43 murals she painted in the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg PA) and many others who helped ignite the imaginations of generations of readers with rich and memorable imagery during the ‘Golden Age of Illustration” from 1890 to 1940. Frank was a natural artist, a diligent worker and soon advanced himself to become a much sought-after illustrator. No doubt, many will remember the powerfully evocative images that graced the pages of magazines and books so popular at the time, many of which were created by Frank Earl Schoonover (F.E.S).

← Top: Frank Schoonover at Sandy Beach Middle: Frank Schoonover’s Buick Bottom: Frank Schoonover and Col. John C., 1910 26 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022


↑ N orthern Mist

Frank Earl Schoonover

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Commissioned by McClure’s magazine in 1903, he was sent to Scranton soon after the 1902 coalminers strike, to illustrate “Children of the Coal Shadows”, an article about the coalmining industry – in particular the child labor being used in the mines. He lived with a mining family, getting the real feeling for their life and hardships. For these illustrations he cleverly used charcoal as his medium to produce the sooty, dark drawings of what the children’s difficult lives were like, laboring for the mining companies with few rights and protections. He took many photographs of the ‘breaker boys’ life, which will be featured in a future book about Schoonover’s social documentary photography. He similarly was commissioned in 1909 by Harper’s to illustrate a story about the silk mill industry and the arduous life of a mill girl. For these drawings he chose to use graphite pencil as his medium, for its fine qualities, reflecting both the delicate nature of the young girls and their work with the silk threads – in both instances he expertly chose a medium that would directly relate to and reinforce the subject and tone of the story.

“Frank spent four months in the northern Canadian frontier of Quebec and the Hudson Bay, traveling over 1200 miles with his guides on dog sleds, setting up a portable studio, called a Wabeno, so he could capture what he saw and experienced.” Throughout his prolific career, Franks produced over 2,500 works, over 2,200 of which were used to illustrate stories in magazines such as Country Gentleman, American Boy, Harpers, Saturday Evening Post, Scribner’s and books by popular writers such as Zane Grey, Robert Louis Stevenson, George Marsh, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Nathanial Hawthorne with well-known characters such as Ivan Hoe, Blackbeard, King Arthur, Joan of Arc, Princess of Mars and Robin Hood. Heeding Pyle’s advice to ‘live what you paint’, Frank spent four months in the northern Canadian frontier of Quebec and the Hudson Bay, traveling over 1200 miles with his guides on dog sleds, setting up a portable studio, called a Wabeno, so he could capture what he saw and experienced. Likewise, he also spent time in Colorado and Montana to familiarize himself with the west and the life of a cowboy, which ultimately led to his illustrations of Hopalong Cassidy. He worked from sketches and thousands of photographs he would take for reference (archived at www.digital.hagley.org and The Delaware Art Museum) and live models which included his own children and some local Bushkill folks. One of Frank’s favorite models to use when he was ‘up-country’ was Russ Eshbach, whose family’s large farm was just up the road. Russ was young, strongly built, athletic, and a fighter (at least on the baseball field), all qualities that Frank would desire for his masculine characters. Although reluctant at first, Russ agreed, and his likeness would soon inform many of Frank’s male characters such as a Royal Canadian Mounty, the character of John Carter in ‘The Princess of Mars” and all of Frank’s paintings of WWI which were featured as souvenir prints in Ladies Home Journal from 1915 - 1920. Later when Russ ran for a seat in the PA Legislature, he credited Frank with having provided him the invaluable exposure and popularity that helped him win the election.

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↑ D ingmans Ferry

Frank Earl Schoonover

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> F rom the Rocks Frank Schoonover

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> D elaware East Branch Frank Schoonover

> A utumn Branches Frank Schoonover

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> R oundup Zane Grey

Of the many books and magazine serials that Frank illustrated, of particular interest to us would be those of another notable local resident — Zane Grey. Zane, a contemporary of Frank’s, was one of the most prolific writers of his time and an expert, record setting sport fisherman, living at the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers. Frank was also an avid fisherman and there is little doubt that they were friendly, trading fishing stories and discussing occupational topics. Schoonover illustrated three of Zane’s stories, all appearing in Country Gentleman magazine: an eleven-part series titled “The Deer Stalker” in 1925, and two serials in the 1920s titled “Open Range” and “Avalanche” and the cover of “The Last Trail”. As was mentioned earlier, Frank, his wife and children would spend summers at their home in Bushkill. At this time in his life, Frank would slow down his illustrating commissions and enjoy painting the landscape, dwellings and farms around Bushkill. Bringing his big Buick down to the river in the early mornings, he would create many beautiful paintings of the Delaware river, often from Bushkill landing, capturing the scene in its many moods and seasons. He also documented some of 33 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

“Zane, a contemporary of Frank’s, was one of the most prolific writers of his time and an expert, record setting sport fisherman, living at the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers.” the farms such as the Heller-Monroe, Eshbach, and Bensley farms. In Frank’s own words: “The Bensley farm paintings are the result of years of interpretation and many pictures. It is not only factual, but an effort to portray the farm, the hills and the buildings…an intimate knowledge of the people who live among the Pike County hills. It isn’t enough just to put up an easel and paint. One must first get acquainted with the people who get their living from the soil. For several days I lived and painted with the Bensley folk. They even put a rocker on the porch and left the horses in the barnyard for me.” On one of his paintings of the Monroe-Heller farm, titled “Pike County Homestead”, Frank wrote the following on the FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 33


backside of the painting: “Painted October 1958. The Old Homestead was located near the village of Bushkill, Pike Co. Pa. In this house lived three old people, Mary Heller, who can be seen on the porch – she is putting apples in a basket. Cushing Heller is sawing some wood and Monroe Heller is seen coming up the path, aided by two sticks – one in each hand. The lower room was filled with hay. All three lived in the kitchen in the rear. Mary slept in a rocking chair — Cushing on a lot of leaves piled up in a corner and Monroe on the half of a wire bed. They did not clean the dishes and while sitting in the kitchen one cold afternoon to warm my hands I saw a rat come out and finish the meal. All the people over 80.” Frank must have been intrigued by them, as he created five paintings of their homestead.

> B ensley Farm

Frank Schoonover

“Big changes were coming to the region and he would be the last artist to document the rural agrarian culture that would very soon and unexpectedly be erased.” Howard Pyle’s advice to his young students to ‘live what you paint’ served Frank Schoonover very well. Having drawn inspiration from his travels, as well as the environment around him, Bushkill, PA was one of those in the latter category. Documenting the region and its folk would become more important than even he would realize at the time. Big changes were coming to the region and he would be the last artist to document the rural agrarian culture that would very soon and unexpectedly be erased.

> H eller Farm

Frank Schoonover

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When back-to-back hurricanes Diane and Connie swept through the northeast in August 1955, causing the catastrophic, record breaking flood of 1955, Frank would have been 78 years old. With his house very near the Little Bushkill and Big Bushkill creeks, his property and studio were flooded. A bridge on his property was washed away and many of his paintings were damaged. But that was mild in comparison with the devastation that was wrought throughout the region, in particular the areas along the Brodhead Creek and Stroudsburg area. Loss of life and property were so bad that the Army Corp of Engineers proposed damming the Delaware river. The resulting lake would put thousands of properties under water, leading to the forced eviction of thousands of properties, including


> A rmy of Occupation — Doughboys Frank Schoonover

> M rs. Kitner’s Home in the Valley Frank Schoonover

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> S choonover House and Garden (painting, top, and photograph, bottom) Frank Schoonover

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> P rincess of Mars Frank Schoonover

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> G eorge Smith Home Frank Schoonover

Frank’s. By the time he sold his beloved property to the government in 1969 for $19,000, he was in a nursing home, having suffered several strokes. Frank’s ancestors were among the first Europeans to settle Bushkill, while Frank would, in a strange twist of fate, be among the last to reside in that once bustling little mountain town. His family still laments the loss of that part of their heritage that was taken from them despite the dam never having been built. The property that Frank loved and tended so lovingly is now indistinguishable, having been overtaken and swallowed up by nature. But his presence there will always be remembered through his paintings. Frank’s son Cortland, grandson John and granddaughter Louise have written extensively about Frank and his illustrious career. In 2009 John, Louise, and Lee Ann Dean edited and published The Frank E. Schoonover Catalogue Raisonne. This was 38 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

possible because Frank would daily record information about his work and meticulously number each illustration, painting, and drawing in five daybooks. John now owns Frank’s historic studio in Wilmington, where he spends his time researching, curating, and brokering American illustration. The Pike County Historical Society has been active in featuring the story and work of Schoonover at the Columns Museum in Milford, hosting an exhibit of Frank’s photographs. Recently, their Hiawatha stagecoach underwent a complete rehabilitation and now features one of Frank’s images on its doors, an Indian canoeing the river on a peaceful, misty morning. Soon it will proudly be driven on the streets of Milford again for special events and many will be charmed by the beautifully rendered image of one of our nation’s original peoples, on our own beautiful Delaware river, created by one of our own folks.


> C anadian Mountie Frank Schoonover

Marie Liu moved to Milford from New York State in 2009. Her work since then has been entirely focused on elements of the region that she seeks to reveal through her paintings. She was honored to be the Resident Artist of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for one year, from 2015 - 16. Focusing her creative energies on exploring and interpreting the Park through all four seasons, researching the history, and engaging with visitors was a highpoint of her professional life; culminating in exhibits at Kittatinny and Dingmans visitors centers. She not only portrayed the beauty of the Park, but was also cognizant of it’s unique history, and strove to portray that in her paintings. Her work can be seen at the ARTery Gallery in Milford, a cooperative that is owned and operated by artists. Visit her website at https://mliuart.com and view videos about her experience as Resident Artist and her affinity for Pinchot and Grey Towers on her You Tube channel: Marie Liu Art. 39 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

JOHN R. SCHOONOVER President Schoonover Studios, Ltd. 1616 N. Rodney Street Wilmington, DE 19806 Phone: (302) 656-0135 Fax: (302) 594-0890 Email: studios@dca.net

www.schoonoverstudios.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 39


MONROE COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT & KETTLE CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER By Amanda Kuhn Photos courtesy of MCCD

This is Pocono Living Magazine’s seventh article in our conservation series.

P

rotecting and preserving the integrity of our natural resources is an effort that requires all hands (and organizations) on deck. As we have learned throughout this series, protecting our land, water and wildlife while simultaneously planning for the future is an ongoing task that requires the support of an entire community. The Monroe County Conservation District with its many programs and services is another example of an organization that is vital to our area’s conservation.

“The success of Conservation Districts like MCCD is due in part to their ability to successfully work with local, state and federal agencies, as well as private organizations.” Operating on a governmental level, the Conservation District is a legal subdivision of state government, responsible under state law for conservation work within its boundaries. Governed by a board of volunteer directors appointed by their local governing bodies, the Conservation District provides the Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP), Agriculture (PDA) and Conservation, and Natural Resources (DCNR) with a way to implement a wide variety of environmental programs. These programs best serve the agricultural, suburban and urban interests in Monroe County. The success of Conservation Districts like MCCD is due in part to their ability to successfully work with local, state and federal agencies, as well as private organizations.

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The services offered by the MCCD are vast, spanning from stormwater management to erosion and sediment control. Recently, MCCD announced a new Agricultural Education Curriculum which will benefit roughly 150 Stroudsburg High School students. According to the MCCD Winter newsletter, the program, which is a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant-funded program, “will allow us to bring local, farm-fresh foods directly into the classroom in order to make students, staff, and families aware of the bounty of local food available in our area, its nutritional value, and ideas for integrating it into their home menus.” MCCD also hopes to “increase student awareness of future career opportunities in the agriculture industry, as well as increase understanding of how to support ethical and sustainable agriculture.” FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 43


Possibly MCCD’s most well-known branch is the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center. Since 1976 Kettle Creek has been offering interactive programs to help build environmental awareness and outdoor education. At the Kettle Creek Environmental Center you can study ecosystems in their outdoor laboratories, participate in educational programs or conduct ecological research. Kettle Creek also serves as a county-owned wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary itself is a 166 acre preserve that is managed by the MCCD. In 2022, Kettle Creek is looking to expand their program schedule which will include bus day trips, increased public programming, and return of their annual Earth Day Celebration on April 23rd. 44 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

For more information on the Monroe County Conservation District and the variety of programs offered at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, visit the MCCD website or sign up to receive their newsletter. Interested in donating or becoming a volunteer? Like many of our local conservation organizations, MCCD relies on the help of volunteers who care about protecting our natural resources. If you’re able to volunteer or donate reach out to find out ways to contribute.


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THE WILLOW TREE By Suzanne F. McCool

A

lthough there has been a building and various businesses for over 200 years on the site of the present day Willow Tree Restaurant, it did not become the beautiful restaurant we’ve come to know and love until the 20th century. And now it continues into this 21st century.

Photo courtesy of the Willowtree Inn

“The original structure predates the 1815 incorporation of Stroudsburg by the state legislature as a borough.” The lovely Willow Tree Restaurant in historic downtown Stroudsburg is very historic itself, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a boarding house and eating establishment. The original structure predates the 1815 incorporation of Stroudsburg by the state legislature as a borough. Stroudsburg was named for Jacob Stroud who was a self-made businessman credited as being the first merchant of Stroudsburg. He is also known as Colonel Jacob Stroud (1735-1806) having served in the Pa militia and known as a Revolutionary War patriot.

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Photo courtesy of the Willowtree Inn

In 1760 Stroud bought 300 acres of land, which encompasses downtown Stroudsburg, from Derick Van Vliet, an immigrant from Holland. Within a year Stroud built a large home, considered a mansion, at the corner of Ninth and Main Streets. Today it is known as the Stroud Mansion and houses the Monroe County Historical Association (MCHA). There are plans underway to add on to the present structure which is bursting at the seams, as it houses an enormous collection of Monroe County history and artifacts. Jacob Stroud was determined to create a planned community development which he named “Stroudsburg.” He and his son Daniel are credited with laying out the streets of Stroudsburg, some being named for his children. Today the Willow Tree Restaurant is a popular, vibrant restaurant known for fine dining in a uniquely beautiful setting overlooking the Michael’s Creek through the spreading branches of the old growth “Willow Tree” for which the restaurant is named. 48 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

For the past 30 years, the Willow Tree Restaurant has been owned and operated by George and Cat Nunn who have brought the restaurant to its present day level of fine dining and special ambiance in its beautiful serene setting. George Nunn, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, is constantly innovating and revising their menu. He and Cat are proud to support local growers and to serve farm fresh food. The restaurant is attractively appointed with lovely antiques and often hosts large gatherings in various areas. George and Cat are known for their special Halloween display each year, even tilting the window shutters to make it look extra spooky! Retiring after three terms as a Monroe County Commissioner, I know firsthand how popular the Willow Tree Inn has been with the Courthouse crowd, downtown shoppers and tourists. The changing daily specials are also a big hit with customers, and quite affordable. The choice of outdoor and indoor dining


Photo courtesy of the Willowtree Inn

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owtree Inn Will

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has been especially practical and popular with diners during the warm weather months and especially during this time of COVID concerns. Stroudsburg is a very attractive town with a rich history. After dining at the Willow Tree, one could amble over to the Stroud Mansion and pick up a brochure, designed by an historical architect years ago, which features many historic buildings and forts. Take a nice walking tour of historic Stroudsburg, and enjoy the many attractions in the borough.

Suzanne is a native of the Poconos and a former schoolteacher and former Monroe County Commissioner. She has recently published her own book, and lives with her husband Terry in Stroudsburg. Today, Suzanne enjoys writing, traveling and visiting her grandchildren.

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6 TIPS TO KEEP PETS SAFE AND WARM THIS WINTER Courtesy of Family Features

J

ust as people prepare their homes, cars and families for extreme temperatures and weather events of winter, it’s important to remember pets’ needs this time of year.

As cold weather sets in, Dr. Jennifer Freeman, DVM, resident veterinarian at PetSmart, shares these tips to prepare and ensure your pets are warm and happy throughout winter.

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TAKE CAUTION WHEN OUTDOORS

When temperatures reach levels of extreme cold, Freeman recommends limiting outdoor walks and monitoring your pet’s behavior for signs of stress or discomfort. Letting your dog outside to use the bathroom or go for a quick walk is OK, but never leave a pet outside for a long period of time, especially during a winter storm.


Photo courtesy of Getty Images

“Items like sweaters, insulated vests, paw booties, pet-safe ice melt and a heated bed or pad can help avoid risks associated with freezing temperatures.”

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“Don’t let your dog off its leash after snowfall, as snow can mask familiar scents,” Freeman said. “This can cause your pet to become disoriented or lost if they get too far away.”

ADD EXTRA LAYERS

Despite efforts to limit time outdoors, your pet needs to go outside for bathroom breaks and exercise. Pets who are small, short-haired, old or have any health issues or illnesses may be more sensitive to cold weather. Pet sweaters can help keep your pet warm. If your pet is shivering, that’s a sign they need extra layers. To help trap body heat and protect paws from extreme cold, consider using booties when venturing outside.

WATCH OUT FOR HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

Many people use snow-melting products like deicers, antifreeze and salt, which can cause skin irritation and be fatal if ingested by your pet. Pet parents should keep an eye on their pets when they’re outside and be mindful of hazards. After a walk, it’s

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“After a walk, it’s important to thoroughly rinse your pet’s paws and stomach, Freeman said, especially after walking in areas where these products are frequently used.”

and Pocono Family Magazine important to thoroughly rinse your pet’s paws and stomach, Freeman said, especially after walking in areas where these products are frequently used.

KEEP SKIN PROTECTED

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Just like humans, many pets get dry skin during the winter. When your pet needs a bath, try using a pet-friendly moisturizing shampoo to help keep skin healthy and hydrated. If your pet’s skin seems extra dry, supplements like fish oil can be added to your pets’ food to help the skin and coat. It’s important to keep an eye on skin health and check with your vet if issues persist as they could be signs of larger problems.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN

“While creating emergency kits in case of a storm or power outage, don’t forget about your pet’s needs,” Freeman said. “A pet’s kit should include supplies needed to keep them fed, warm and secure during emergency conditions like blizzards or extreme cold. Items like sweaters, insulated vests, paw booties, pet-safe ice melt and a heated bed or pad can help avoid risks associated with freezing temperatures.”


Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Gather any other care items your pet may require such as medications, puppy pads, waste bags, litter box supplies and calming spray. Freeman also suggests storing a one-week supply of food in a waterproof container along with bottled water and portable bowls as well as a list of feeding routines and behavioral considerations in case others need to care for your pet.

ENSURE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS CURRENT

While winter emergencies may add to the importance, it’s crucial your pet wears a tag displaying your phone number year-round. Microchip and register your pet with current contact information and tuck a copy of their vaccination and medical records, veterinary contact information and a current photo in your emergency kit.

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Find products to help protect your pet this winter at PetSmart.com.

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THE FANTASTIC FREEZING FROGS OF NORTHEASTERN PA By Kathy Dubin-Uhler, Director of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

I

love the first days of spring. The vernal equinox is a day of celebration for me overshadowed only my wedding anniversary and the last day of school. The latter part of March brings brighter sun, the rich aromas of organic decay, and the calling of our earliest spring frogs. Life, it seems, is renewed… and more than figuratively at that. There are three species of frogs in the Poconos that literally do “come back to life”. The Wood frog, Gray tree frog and Spring peeper burrow under the leaf litter in the fall and literally freeze until the ground thaws in the spring. It’s a feat of nature that we are just beginning to really understand and can reproduce in humans only in science fiction movies. Special proteins cause the water in the blood to freeze first. This ice sucks most of the water out of the frog's cells. If water inside cells were to freeze, it would break them open, killing the frog.

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WOOD FROG

At the same time the frog's liver starts making large amounts of glucose, the same sugar we burn for energy, which packs into cells preventing their collapse and freezing. This syrupy solution helps prevent any more water from being pulled out of the frog's cells, which would destroy them. Humans lack these special proteins. So when our skin freezes, we get frostbite, which sucks all the water out of our cells and causes them to collapse. Even after thawing, it's too late. All the cells are broken Spring peeper because humans haven't made all that sugar. The frogs, however, enter a state of suspended animation. Inside the cells there's thick sugary syrup, while outside the cells all the water is frozen. They may stay like this for months at temperatures down to 20°F. The heart stops and there is no brain activity. When temperatures warm and the ice melts, the frogs thaw. Water


Photo courtesy of Pixabay

“The next time you think you are so cold you are “freezing to death”, think about our little tongue-flicking, bugeating froggy friends frozen in suspended animation under the leaves.”

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slowly flows back into the cells, blood starts flowing again, and the frog revives. In less than a day, the heart begins to beat, pumping blood through the thawed “frog-cicle”, it starts to blink, then breathe, then it hops away. The next time you think you are so cold you are “freezing to death”, think about our little tongue-flicking, bug-eating froggy friends frozen in suspended animation under the leaves. Spring really is a season of “renewed life”.

GRAY TREE FROG Freezing Frog Facts: Wood Frogs are our earliest emerging frogs, sometimes calling while there is still snow on the ground and they will continue until the end of April. They sound a lot like more like ducks than frogs, with a sound very “quack-like”. They are quite

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• Black bear • White-tail Deer • Duck • Swan • Fox • Falcon • Mink • Opossum • Rabbit

ANSWERS:

Bear – boar and sow Deer – buck and doe Duck – drake and hen or just duck Swan – cob and pen Fox – dog and vixen Falcon – tercel, falcon Mink – boar and sow Opossum – jack and jill Rabbit – buck and doe

small, measuring on average around 2”, with the females larger than the males, as is typical for all frogs. Although the color varies from tan to brown or even grayish, all wood frogs have a prominent black mask which makes them among the easiest frogs to identify. There is also a white line on the upper lip. They live in moist woodlands from Georgia all the way into the Arctic Circle. Listen for them at night right now!!! Spring Peepers are one of my favorite little frogs. They are tiny( 1-1 ½”) tree frogs which are named Hyla crucifer for the X (or crucifix) mark found on their backs. These are the small frogs we hear in magnificent (although less impressive than in decades past) chorus on warm spring evenings, calling “peep, peep, peep” by the hundreds in wetland areas. In a large group they almost sound like “jingle bells”. Most people believe they are hearing some sort of insect, but these little frogs just make a tremendous volume when hundreds are seeking mates all at the same time! As all tree frogs, peepers have “toe pads” which allow them to cling to vegetation in wetlands.

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Gray treefrogs are often mistaken for peepers, but are slightly larger, have yellow on the underside of the hind legs and the belly is white. Of course, you have to pick the frog up to see that! The color of the Gray treefrog varies with its background and environmental factors such as season and humidity, but shades of gray are most common with black blotches on the back. Variations of brown, green, and gray colors have been noted. Green colors are more prominent during the breeding season and in yearling frogs. Calling begins in April and the sound is a high pitched trilling. Gray tree frogs have been seen clinging to windows on people’s houses.

Katherine Uhler is the director of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. She became a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in 1980 and has been growing the nonprofit, all-volunteer PWREC since. In addition to running the Center with her husband and co-director, Eric, she has earned a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Biology and teaches Ecology at Stroudsburg High School.

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Barrett Paradise Friendly Library Cresco, PA 570-595-7171 www.barrettlibrary.org

Pocono Mountain Public Library Tobyhanna, PA 570-894-8860 www.poconomountpl.org

Clymer Library Pocono Pines, PA 570-646-0826 www.clymerlibrary.org

Western Pocono Community Library Brodheadsville, PA 570-992-7934 www.wpcl.lib.pa.us

Eastern Monroe Public Library Branches Hughes Library (main branch) Stroudsburg, PA 570-421-0800 www.monroepl.org Pocono Township Branch Tannersville, PA 570-629-5858 Smithfield Branch Marshalls Creek, PA 570-223-1881 Bookmobile 570-421-0880 x49

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I treat complex cancer right here. CHRISTINE KIM, MD GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY

Cancer care close to home. As part of Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center offers the benefits of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance to residents of East Stroudsburg and its surrounding communities, including access to clinical trials and innovative treatments. Call 888-402-LVHN or visit LVHN.org/Kim to schedule an appointment.


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