Moscow/North Pocono Photo Tour (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: middle-class, appointed, transplants)

[ScranBarre]

Good afternoon! It's another bright, sunshiney day in NEPA! This morning I decided to initially head down to attempt a photo tour of Stroudsburg, but after only snapping around 15 photos the derelicts in that town frightened me away with their money-begging and staring, and I was also disgusted to find shattered windows and graffiti on several nearby properties, possibly indicating recent gang activity. As such, I left Stroudsburg very disappointed and discouraged by how far downhill that town has gone since I was last there several years ago and instead headed for Moscow to take a photo tour of a community that I knew was safe and sound.

Moscow is the "hub" community of the North Pocono School District, which serves as the "buffer zone" between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the northwest and the commuter-oriented parts of Monroe County to the southeast. As a buffer zone, I noticed that the town is basically a case of the "haves" and the "have-nots." It appeared as if over half the town's population now resides within the confines of Harmony Hills, a sprawling upscale subdivision with hundreds of homes that has attracted residents from both Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and NY/NJ. Meanwhile, the surrounding countryside's more rural residents who were of a lower income bracket were also tooling around town in their beat-up pick-up trucks that were adored with NRA stickers while wearing Marlboro hats. The transition from North Pocono from rural, agricultural village to upper-middle-class suburb doesn't appear to be blending together too well from what I saw. I actually had to chuckle a bit because today appeared to be a "bulk pick-up day" in which residents tossed mountains of junk in front of their homes to be picked up by the borough's trash hauler. As I walked around Harmony Hills, I saw several beat-up vehicles cruising around as people obviously not from the development rummaged through the junk piles looking for anything of value (they probably figure that "rich people junk" is like gold to most others).

I didn't attend high school in North Pocono, and I live a full 20 minutes away, so I truly don't know if the upper-crust and lower-classes of Moscow are clashing as horribly as it appears. For all I know the newcomers and old-timers could be living in perfect "harmony" (pun intended). Harmony Hills is just one of several new sprawling upscale planned communities that have been springing up in recent years, including Stonefield Estates, Windsor Hill, Independence Ridge, Beechwood Hill, etc. North Pocono is in a "squeeze-play" of sorts as newcomers from NY/NJ look for an alternative to Monroe County and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre residents seek more "elbow room." As such, I expect the population in this area, which has been growing rather slowly in recent years, to rise sharply between 2010-2020, which will likely bring such amenities to the town as a new high school (a currently heated issue which I'll discuss later) and a Wal-Mart (which has been rumored for the area for quite some time).

Moscow hosts a popular annual country fair that attracts all sorts of arts & crafts vendors, foods, games, etc. and helps to bring the community together. The town is also home to the North Pocono Community Library, several churches, an Eckerd pharmacy, a post office, a fire station, and several smaller mom-and-pop stores. It is situated approximately 20 minutes south of Downtown Scranton via I-380 making it a popular relocation option for commuters, and it is also located approximately 20 minutes from Mount Pocono in Monroe County also via I-380.

As always, I hope you enjoy my photo tour of the quaint country village (as well as transitioning Scranton suburb and NYC exurb) of Moscow, PA!

(PHOTOS TO COME BELOW)

[ScranBarre]

Welcome to Moscow!


Route 435, which runs north/south through town and connects it to both Daleville to the south and Elmhurst to the north. The roadway was recently repaved, making it an attractive, scenic route for bicyclists.


The view of Moscow as you enter town from the south along Route 435.


This recently-painted underpass links Route 435 to Route 690, which connects the town of Moscow to Hamlin.


Cafe Classico along Van Brunt Street.


The North Pocono Community Library, next-door to Cafe Classico.


The Moscow Town Hall and Police Station, next-door to the library.




Some well-kept older homes along Van Brunt Street, near town hall.


While walking along Van Brunt Street I came across this sign, which littered front lawns every here and there throughout the North Pocono School District back in 2006, when a heated debate erupted over the necessity of a new high school. The current high school along Church Street is just large enough to service current needs, but an anticipated increase in enrollments in upcoming years has the school board pondering constructing a new, larger high school outside of town. Fearing an instant spike in taxes, most residents in the school district have voiced their opposition to the project, and they recently voted against two incumbents up for re-election on the school board to voice their disdain. Personally, I feel as if this new high school should be built now, while real estate values are still affordable, instead of waiting until North Pocono starts growing much more quickly in 5-10 years and land values spike. Then again, as WeLuvPA would say, "I know nothing because I'm a kid."


The eastern side of Grove Street, which connects Van Brunt Street to Church Street.


Moscow United Methodist Church along Church Street


St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church along Church Street


Ferri's Pizza, Church Street. Also pay careful attention to that old brown pick-up truck, as it will be making another cameo appearance in an unlikely location in another part of the photo tour.







Some homes along Church Street.


Moscow Elementary School, Church Street


North Pocono Middle School, adjacent to the elementary building.



North Pocono High School, adjacent to the middle school, and a candidate for replacement in the upcoming years by a larger facility.


I also saw these signs dotting front lawns along both Church and Main Streets while in Moscow. As I noticed, there is a definite SPEEDING problem in town, and residents are showing their anger over this with signs like these all over town. Personally, I think positioning a police officer to pull over speeders and/or just a dummy police car near the most speed-prone sections of roadway would be a better deterrent, but, then again, as WeLuvPA would say "I'm just a kid and know nothing."


Twiddley Bits and Treasures Gifts, North Main Street. I always see this cute, rustic shop advertised in Happenings Magazine. I wanted to saunter on inside, but I was a little pressed for time.


A local office of Century 21 Real Estate and a small cafe next-door, North Main Street.


Jonathan's, North Main Street.


Moscow Post Office, 18444, North Main Street.


Cartelli's Restaurant, North Main Street.




Some homes along North Main Street.

(PHOTOS TO BE CONTINUED BELOW)

[ScranBarre]

Welcome to Harmony Hills, one of the few McMansion communities in NEPA that I don't totally abhor because the developer added sidewalks, curbs, streetlights, and tree lawns in an attempt to help it to conform to the neighboring older parts of Moscow. Granted, it still sticks out like a sore thumb from Church Street, as you can see from this picture...



...but at times I felt like I was walking through paradise! This massive community of a few hundred newer homes is located directly across Church Street from the North Pocono school campus, even though I suspect most kids are still driven there or drive themselves anyways (the sidewalks throughout this subdivision didn't look to be used very much).




























Just when I thought I wouldn't see that old brown pick-up truck again that was parked near the pizza shack, it made another cameo appearance as the two scruffy occupants rummaged through the "rich people trash" (They were actually only two of SEVERAL I saw doing this, furthering my belief that Moscow has become the town of "haves" and "have-nots").













A pair of images from Harmony Hills Park.









I only saw one "Desperate Housewife" sauntering around Beverly...errr...Harmony Hills, but I saw two hunky 20-ish shirtless gardeners with six-packs out and about, including one who smiled at me when I walked past him. Grrrooowwwll!


Judging by the driveway, I'd guess that two Democrats and one Republican live here.

(PHOTOS TO BE CONTINUED BELOW)

[ScranBarre]

About two miles south of town along Route 435 lies the Daleville section of Covington Township. The intersection of Routes 435 and 502 (which connects Daleville to Moosic), is home to a variety of businesses to service the day-to-day needs of those in North Pocono.



This small shopping center at the intersection is home to Bill's Shop-Rite Supermarket, Hallmark, Ace Hardware, Allstate Insurance, and a few other stores.


There's also a Rite-Aid Pharmacy here.


A.J. Chevrolet lies just a mile north of the intersection, midway between Daleville and Moscow.


Genovese's Restaurant


This is a typical country home you might expect to find on the backroads outside of Moscow.

(END)

[ScranBarre]

Here are some listings from Moscow in case this community has piqued your interest!

Harmony Hills











Address: 919 Apple Tree Road
Price: $374,900
Rooms: 9
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Square Footage: 2,600
Lot Size: 118' x 190'
Year Built: 1989
Garage: 2-Car Attached
Taxes: $3,842

Rest of Town Proper







Address: 101 Mary Street
Price: $332,900
Rooms: 14
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Square Footage: 2,784
Lot Size: 4.52 Acres
Year Built: 2000
Garage: 2-Car Attached
Taxes: $3,785







Address: 704 Beech Street
Price: $295,000
Rooms: 8
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 1 Full, 1 Half
Square Footage: 3,000
Lot Size: 100' x 180'
Year Built: 1959
Garage: 2-Car Attached
Taxes: $2,204



Address: 846 Church Street
Price: $179,900
Rooms: 6
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1 Full
Square Footage: 750
Lot Size: 200' x 200'
Year Built: 1970
Garage: 1-Car Attached
Taxes: $2,461


Address: 223 Keene Street
Price: $175,000
Rooms: 8
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1 Full
Square Footage: 1,800
Lot Size: 99' x 180'
Year Built: 1970
Garage: 1-Car Attached
Taxes: $2,942


Address: 215 Market Street
Price: $169,900
Rooms: 7
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 Full
Square Footage: 1,600
Lot Size: 7 Acres
Year Built: 1920
Garage: 2-Car Detached
Taxes: $2,006


Address: 307 North Main Street
Price: $169,000
Rooms: 8
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1 Full
Square Footage: 1,856
Lot Size: 78' x 173'
Year Built: 1940
Garage: None
Taxes: $736





Address: 107 Eleanor Street
Price: $129,000
Rooms: 6
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1 Full
Square Footage: 1,260
Lot Size: 0.18 Acres
Year Built: 1930
Garage: 1-Car Detached
Taxes: $1,196

[Ohiogirl81]

Hey, people root through my trash. Usually, they're flea market dealers. I'd be happier if they were people who actually needed the stuff.

Moscow looks like a lovely town *planning Sunday drive*. I'm in love with some of those 1920s era houses you've photographed, as well as that very modern-looking buff-and-green house in the McMansion neighborhood -- it must stick out like a sore thumb!

Thanks!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Hey, people root through my trash. Usually, they're flea market dealers. I'd be happier if they were people who actually needed the stuff.

Agreed. At least all of those rummaging through the junk looked to be needy people. I just thought it was a tad sad to see half the town's residents being forced to forage through the "leftovers" from the "other half." There's no sharper distinction between "have" and "have-not" than seeing the occupants of that rusted-out truck gleaming with pride as they picked over trash piles in front of a $750,000 McMansion.

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Moscow looks like a lovely town *planning Sunday drive*. I'm in love with some of those 1920s era houses you've photographed, as well as that very modern-looking buff-and-green house in the McMansion neighborhood -- it must stick out like a sore thumb!

Do you mean this one?



It's one of my favorites as well, and it does stick out like a sore thumb on a street lined with vinyl-clad traditional McMansions.

I actually prefer the 1920s-1930s-era homes in the town proper over any one of the ones in Harmony Hills. The only McMansion I actually fell in love with there was this one, which hinted at Victorian elegance:

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Thanks!

Thank you for checking out the tour!

[Vagus]

Intersting shoot. Where's the money coming from for all those McMansions? What's the local economy got to support all that? Or are all these people long-distance commuters from NYC and Jersey?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Vagus

Intersting shoot. Where's the money coming from for all those McMansions? What's the local economy got to support all that? Or are all these people long-distance commuters from NYC and Jersey?

I remember reading the property transfers in the Scranton Times-Tribune in the 1990s when that subdivision was still growing like a weed. If I can recall correctly, it was split pretty much 50/50 between the NYC/NJ crowd and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre crowd. My guess is that some professional couples with children were looking to move out of Scranton and wanted an alternative to Abington Heights (in which case Harmony Hills fit the bill), and some NYC/NJ transplants were looking to just "settle down" instead of power-commuting and opted for North Pocono as opposed to Monroe County. The "money" is obviously coming from somewhere; this is just one of several McMansion communities in North Pocono alone, in addition to the dozens in The Abingtons, Glenmaura, Back Mountain, Mountain Top, Bear Creek, and now even both Greater Pittston and the Mid-Valley as well. I think, in most cases, the residents are simply "living on plastic in order to keep up with the Jones's," if you catch my drift. The median household income in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre remains among the lowest in the state and nation, yet McMansions are springing up everywhere.

[new2pa]

Thank you Paul!!!!!!!!!!!
The area looks lovely!!! The real challenge is finding a house in good shape in a decent price range!