Luzerne Grove
Likely owned by the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Luzerne Grove was a popular picnic and excursion stop in the late 1800s. The park was open from the early 1880s (possibly 1882 or 1883) to the early 1890s (possibly 1892 or 1894), and may have been home to a carousel, dance pavilion, and picnic facilities.
Heading from Fairview (Mountain Top) to Wilkes-Barre, the LVRR track turned westward on the north face of Penobscot Mountain, and travelled past the Hanover Reservoir to an area near Newport, where the present day Alden Mountain Road runs. Here the track made a fairly sharp curve back to the east and passed Warrior Run and Sugar Notch before heading into Wilkes-Barre. It was along this stretch of track, near Warrior Run, where the Espy Run siding was located, and Luzerne Grove was likely located.
The earliest records found noting the existence of Luzerne Grove existed are in 1886, where an article in the New York Times mentioned the Knights of Labor picnic being held on August 23rd. A book published the same year also noted the popularity of Luzerne Grove, stating it was “convenient to Wilkes-Barre”, and “well patronized” during the summer excursion season.
A few other specific mentions of the park have also been found. On July 19th, 1887, the camp meeting of the Pennsylvania State Temperance Union opened at the park. August 24th of 1891 saw the Caledonian sports being held at Luzerne Grove.
The last contemporary account found which notes the park is from 1892. The Ancient Order of Hiberians of Pennsylvania held their picnic at Luzerne Grove on June 15th of that year. The article on the preparations for their state convention noted that additional stands were erected at the park to accommodate the expected crowds.
After the park closed, it is possible some of the equipment, stands, etc. were moved to the Lehigh Valley Railroad Picnic Grounds (later known as Hanson’s) at Harvey’s Lake, which was being developed around 1890. It is unclear if the carousel, if it existed, was moved there as well. The carousel may have ended up at Hanover Park (later called Sans Souci), which was also just being built in the early 1890s. The Truesdale Colliery began operations on May 4, 1903, on a site known as Luzerne Grove, which was referred to as “practically a wilderness.” If located where the park was, it surely wiped out any trace of the former picnic grounds.
A park known as Pine Grove was also reportedly operating in Warrior Run in the 1880s and 1890s. Located uphill from the end of the trolley line on Chestnut Street, the park was said to have a ¼ mile race track used for foot races, a dancing pavilion, swings, stands and other picnic equipment. It is unclear if this is the same park as Luzerne Grove, or another park also located in Warrior Run.
It is important to note that Luzerne Grove was separate and unrelated to Mountain Park, which was located just outside of Wilkes-Barre along the Central Railroad of New Jersey’s tracks. The two parks are sometimes confused as they were both located along rail lines, and both operated around the same time.
Sources
Last updated: 12/15/2009
- Harvey’s Lake, by F. Charles Petrillo
- A History of Sans Souci Park, by C. Charles Ciesla
- Centennial Chronology of Luzerne County, 3rd Edition, by William E. Whyte
- Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac 1892
- A Selection of Cases Under the Interstate Commerce Act, 1911
- Report of the Department of Mines of Pennsylvania, 1907
- Sunday Independent, October 2, 1983
- New York Times, August 24, 1886; July 20, 1887
- The Leader, June 12, 1892
- A History of Warrior Run Borough
- Map of the Pennsylvania Railroads, 1884, available from the Library of Congress