Archive for history

Architecture, Riverfront, and Walkability in Wilkes-Barre: America’s Best Community

The City of Wilkes-Barre is home to many awe-inspiring architectural masterpieces –all located within its River Street Historic District!

Over 200 buildings representing the architectural styles of Art Deco, Baroque, Beaux Arts, Chateauesque, Craftsman Style, Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, Greek Revival, Moorish Revival, Colonial Revival International, Italiante, High Victorian Gothic , Neoclassical Revival, Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Renaissance, and Romanesque, can be found throughout our downtown streets.

Private and public entities have undertaken countless rehabilitation projects throughout the district to restore and modernize the buildings of the downtown. Mixed-used projects, including the Luzerne Bank Building development and the Northampton and Main/Movies 14 project, have connected entertainment, office, and residential spaces. Additionally, many historic buildings, including the Fredrick Stegmaier Mansion, have been restored to their original splendor. Our park-like River Common space has also opened the riverfront back up to the community, and is host to many community events.

Rehabilitation and reuse strategies continue to be a focus area for our America’s Best Communities Revitalization Plan-so stay tuned!

 

Watch above to learn more about Wilkes-Barre’s architectural history, riverfront development, and restoration projects!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: 1926 Wilkes-Barre Chamber Offices

1926: Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber Offices on Market Street in the Citizens Bank BuildingCLICK ON THE PHOTO TO VIEW IT FULL SIZE!

Throwback Thursday takes to a print image we found in our archives of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and Farm & Credit Bureaus’ old offices. This image was not dated, but a few visual clues in the photo helped, especially the calendar on the wall… it’s 1926!
2wideJanuary of the year in the photo started on a Friday on that calendar and a historical calendar confirmed it. So now we know it is 1926 for sure.

Now where is this office located? In the same zoom, if you look out the windows you can see “National Bank.” There are only a few places this could of been, but this made our work easy as well!

Go HERE to google street view and you can make out that the current PNC Bank as this same building. So now we know we’re on market street. These windows are in the 2nd floor of the Citizens Bank Building along Market Street.

Click to zoom in on the photo. Let us know what OTHER great things you find in this photo in the comments!