A museum dedicated to preserving Wayne County's history and Honesdale's role as the birthplace of the American railroad will be shuttered over the winter due to a loss in critical state funding. The museum at 810 Main Street, Honesdale, PA, which houses a replica of the Stourbridge Lion, the first locomotive to run on commercial rails in the United States, is now closed. It is expected to reopen April 15.
Access to the Wayne County Historical Society's museum and its archives, which includes a substantial genealogical collection and local newspapers dating to the early 1800s, will be fairly restricted.
Widespread state budget cuts this year affected non-profits throughout the state, with county historical societies taking big hits since their operations generally run on tight budgets supported through community fundraisers and memberships.
The Wayne County Historical Society lost its generally reliable $10,000 state grant, a significant portion of its $90,000 annual operating budget.
You can read more about the museum and the Wayne County Historical Society at http://www.waynehistorypa.org.
