Plymouth Historical Society, Plymouth, Pennsylvania

The Plymouth Historical Society is in the basement of a church that is no longer being used as a church. They still have the wooden pews and a velvet carpeted stage area with a curtain that is in pretty good shape. The museum’s treasures are on the same upper floor in the back part of the church behind the big curtain. It is a large room and items are displayed around the room in smaller rooms.
This society is tucked into the town (or maybe borough) of Plymouth along Gaylord Street which is one way going south. The backside is on the next street west of Gaylord and there is a small grassy driveway where you can park your car. There are other options for parking your car, so give them a call before you come. Gaylord is permit parking only during the week.

I had arranged to be there at 1:30 p.m. to do research in their library on Monday, September 15th. This is outside their regular hours. I arrived about the right time and met another lady coming in from upstate New York to do research as well.

We found the entrance on the north side of the church building in the back, through a small white door. You can see the signs in the window on the northwest corner. Remember I am may be slightly off on my directions because to me the angle of the Susquehanna River is northeasterly in this area? So get out the map of Luzerne which I obtained one at the Chamber in the Public Square of Wilkes-Barre for $3.00. The Visitors Center on the other side of the square gives them out free but they go fast.

They have a card catalog with names and subjects which I checked. They have family history files in vertical filing cabinets. Cemetery records cover mostly the Plymouth area and are heavy with the Shawnee Cemetery. They have books that cover Luzerne area history and several titles for Plymouth history. They do have church records which you would need to contact them for more information.

I had a pleasant afternoon chatting with Elizabeth who greeted us first. Mary came a little later to assist us. She remembered me from the Luzerne County Historical Society last Thursday. They are friendly, helpful and accommodating to busy researchers schedules. I joined their society.

Their information is: website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paplyhs/PHS/
115 Gaylord Ave, Plymouth, PA 18651(570) 779-5840

Are there any architect’s out there who love old churches? Remember this is a non-profit society that operates on contributions.

Do remember that the townships back when they were originally established in 1769 and onward are a lot different then the townships that are in existence today. So keep that in mind when you are researching.

Look for the Shawnee Tavern and a gas station about the middle of the long main street you see here in Plymouth. That is where Gaylord is. Remember it is one way south, so you need the street before or the street after to get to the Historical society.

Happy Hunting!