Lewisburg Photo Tour (Scranton, Harrisburg, State College: appointed, real estate market, rent)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It's another beautiful day in NEPA! You couldn't possibly ask for a better day to do some exploring, and I was blessed to have today off from work, so you bet I took advantage of it! My parents spent a romantic weekend getaway two years ago in Lewisburg and loved it, and they said I would love it as well if I ever went to visit. Man, they weren't kidding! Up until today Jim Thorpe was my favorite county seat in NEPA; Lewisburg, by far, blows it out of the water! My parents are vacationing in the wine country, so I figured today would be a great day to take the nearly 90-minute trek to this crown jewel of the Central Susquehanna Valley. During my trip I saw dozens upon dozens of out-of-state license plates from a total of fifteen different states (that I can recall anyways), and I thought to myself "Union County must have a booming real estate market." I then realized that Route 15 was the primary artery linking Harrisburg to I-80, and that much of the tourist traffic was likely associated with our state's capital instead.
As you exit off of I-80 and head onto Route 15 South into town, you are met with some rather bland, ugly-looking urban sprawl in Kelly Township, just outside of town. I saw an abandoned Wal-Mart store (this evil company thrives on leaving empty shells in its wake to open its newer Supercenters), Staples, Applebee's, Sheetz, Perkins, and other chain stores that made me think "Yuck! I thought Lewisburg was supposed to be quaint." I continued right on through Lewisburg on Route 15 until I saw a sign that said I had entered "East Buffalo Township," which I knew was another suburb of the town. Puzzled, I figured I had seen all the town had to offer, and I somewhat disappointedly turned down a nearby side street that had attractive streetlights adorning it. I soon realized that Route 15 was not the "main drag" through town---it simply bypassed the charming downtown business district that was hidden off the beaten path as I finally entered the PA version of "Bedford Falls" a few blocks away.
I hope you'll enjoy seeing all that this gorgeous community has to offer as much as I likewise enjoyed taking it all in for the first time myself! I tentatively have Stroudsburg scheduled for tomorrow, and I hope to snap Nanticoke on Wednesday morning before work.
Welcome to Lewisburg! This sign greets those who are entering the town from the north via Route 15 from I-80.
Evangelical Medical Center along Route 15 just north of the town line. There was a helicopter coming in for a landing as I was driving by, and it was totally awesome to see it so close up and personal!
Market Street, Lewisburg's "Traditional Main Street"
Here are some photos of Market Street, which is Lewisburg's main drag. This street was brimming with sidewalk sales, tasteful storefront window displays, sidewalk cafes, etc., but it was noticeably quiet for a downtown (Perhaps because all of the college students from Bucknell University just left?)
This downtown art gallery had me marveling at some of the works displayed in the front window, including one of the town itself. I was tempted to stroll on inside and strike up a conversation with the artist, but I was pressed for time (I needed to be back in the driveway before my parents returned home and realized I was gone).
Lewisburg Hotel
Featured on the right here is the Celtic Exchange Irish Store, which I also wanted to saunter into. (Maybe a return visit is in order?)
Here's living proof that a chain pharmacy can adapt to the surrounding historic flair of a downtown. There's also a aesthetically-appealing CVS store in Honesdale, and I may just have to take both images and show them to Pittston City Council to ask them why they permitted CVS to come in and build a free-standing, suburban-style store in the middle of our downtown. Freakin' morons run Pittston!
The Purple Platypus (I just love the name!)
Faustina's Art Supply Store
Even the town's liquor store looks classy!
The Magpie
Chamberlain Building
A certain sexy figure in this photo will be making a comeback later on in the photo tour...can any of you guess which one?
I won't leave you hanging in suspense any longer. PIGGY, PIGGY, PIGGY!!! OINK OINK! MARRY ME!!!
Bull Run as it flows through town (No relation to the famed Civil War battle). There were also some volunteers out and about in the adjoining park doing some spring plantings. I was tempted to tell them how beautiful the park looked, but I figured a tourist should probably keep his mouth shut in a small, close-knit town like this.
The Bull Run Inn across the street. This placed looked soooo tempting, but I didn't want to stay in town for lunch. (I had perfectly good Hamburger Helper waiting for me back at home in Pittston!) LOL!
"Susquehanna Life," a local independent newspaper.
Market Street Deli. It sure did seem tempting to purchase a meatball and provolone sub and sit at one of those outdoor tables to watch the ladies hard at work nearby as they continued their plantings at the park.
A downtown bed & breakfast inn.
Campus Theatre
(PHOTOS TO BE CONTINUED BELOW)
Last edited by SteelCityRising; 05-21-2007 at 02:12 PM..
Reason: Typo
Lewisburg houses Bucknell University, home to the Bisons. I wandered around campus now that classes were out of session and immediately fell in love with it; it's so sad to realize that I chose to attend King's College, a conservative college in a in a trashy neighborhood when here is a liberal campus in an impeccable town. Oh well! There's always graduate school to look forward to!
While walking around campus I bumped into yet another friendly town resident who said "It's a nice day to take pictures, isn't it?" I then made up a story about considering transferring to Bucknell from King's and snapping photos of the town to show my parents before they would permit me to transfer (I didn't want him to think I was another irritating NY tourist, as NY/NJ plates dominated the town). He gleamed with excitement and told me all about the best places on campus to scope out and that "We'd be happy to have you here." Here in Scranton I've grown accustomed to miserably, grouchy people (such as WeLuvPA) who do nothing but try to repel newcomers. It was so refreshing to be treated so nicely for a change by someone. Scrantonians, you could all learn a thing or two about "class" from Lewisburgers, as I can also recall a half-dozen people who smiled and said "Good Morning" to me as I passed them before I even said it first (and I'm usually the first one to blurt that one out around here!) Come to think of it, I'm beginning to now come out of my shell and realize that there are better places than Scranton after all; Lewisburg blows the Electric City out of the water!
This handsome home and accompanying historical marker on-campus caught my eye because our surnames are just about the same. Shown on the street corner in the bottom photo is that friendly older man who seemed so happy to welcome me to town, as well as the campus green across the street!
Bucknell Hall, Built in 1885
Student Center
This old home on campus and its adjoining stable were apparently the site of a stop on the Underground Railroad as Southern slaves sought refuge from Northern supporters.
An attractive monument that delineates the campus area from the rest of the town.
What a cool town! Thank you for the pictorial. You do great work in portraying the positive aspects of these towns. My Wife and I both agreed we would love to be close enough to visit this town and take a stroll to check it out.
I just did a fast search on realtor.com and the offerings under 300K are mostly dismal..... But what a neat side of town you are showing.
How far from NYC?
When ya gonna do Hamlin-Greentown-Hideout? ( where we are thinking of renting a place for a few months starting after the summer to test the waters) ( we want to be no more than 2 1/2 hours from NYC. No we don't need to commute. Only need a cable internet connection and off we go. But to have the access to "dah city" a couple times a month, while living with such nice scenery would be wonderful)(we're open to other suggestions and really appreciate these pictorials )
Here are the remaining images I shot of the areas between campus and Market Street, as well as from surrounding side streets near where I parked along Fourth Street. Once again I was totally amazed by the volume of out-of-state vehicles I saw perched along the roadways and in driveways, indicating that there is a growing interest in relocation to Lewisburg from people from as far away as Illinois and California (two of the many states I saw). Perhaps this town is no longer the best kept "secret" of the Central Susquehanna Valley? I also saw a lot of hybrid vehicles in town as well (I'm guessing most were owned by faculty members of the university).
The historic homestead of the town's founder, Ludwig Derr.
Union County Courthouse
Ohhhh...Mini Cooper....ooohhhhhh.....such a sexy little car....ooooohhhh!!!!
What a cool town! Thank you for the pictorial. You do great work in portraying the positive aspects of these towns. My Wife and I both agreed we would love to be close enough to visit this town and take a stroll to check it out.
I just did a fast search on realtor.com and the offerings under 300K are mostly dismal..... But what a neat side of town you are showing.
How far from NYC?
When ya gonna do Hamlin-Greentown-Hideout? ( where we are thinking of renting a place for a few months starting after the summer to test the waters) ( we want to be no more than 2 1/2 hours from NYC. No we don't need to commute. Only need a cable internet connection and off we go. But to have the access to "dah city" a couple times a month, while living with such nice scenery would be wonderful)(we're open to other suggestions and really appreciate these pictorials )
Thanks!
Thanks for the compliments! Lewisburg is much too far out of your driving range back to "dah city dat never sleeps," but it's certainly not too far for a weekend getaway once you arrive in the Poconos. Lewisburg is roughly 90 minutes southwest of Scranton (it was longer today due to two massive traffic jams I got stuck in on both I-80 and I-81 on the way home), which would put Lewisburg at roughly 3.5 hours away from NYC---a straight shot west on I-80 to exit 210.
It's a wonderful place to visit and would likely also be a wonderful place to live, but it's far too isolated for most tastes (although Williamsport, State College, and Harrisburg are somewhat nearby). As far as southern Wayne County is concerned, I'll do my best to get out there this week or next week, but I think "The Hideout" is gated, isn't it? I don't think they'd let some random tourist in with a camera just to snap photos of the swimming pool, tennis courts, clubhouse, etc. (Especially not since we learned that the foiled NJ terrorists were living in nearby Big Bass Lake).
Thanks for the compliments! Lewisburg is much too far out of your driving range back to "dah city dat never sleeps," but it's certainly not too far for a weekend getaway once you arrive in the Poconos. Lewisburg is roughly 90 minutes southwest of Scranton (it was longer today due to two massive traffic jams I got stuck in on both I-80 and I-81 on the way home), which would put Lewisburg at roughly 3.5 hours away from NYC---a straight shot west on I-80 to exit 210.
It's a wonderful place to visit and would likely also be a wonderful place to live, but it's far too isolated for most tastes (although Williamsport, State College, and Harrisburg are somewhat nearby). As far as southern Wayne County is concerned, I'll do my best to get out there this week or next week, but I think "The Hideout" is gated, isn't it? I don't think they'd let some random tourist in with a camera just to snap photos of the swimming pool, tennis courts, clubhouse, etc. (Especially not since we learned that the foiled NJ terrorists were living in nearby Big Bass Lake).
Heheh
Yes the Hideout is gated, but "I Love Pa" offered you a way in I think
Greentown isn't far from there right?
We were in NYC a couple weeks ago and I REALLY miss the access........soon as the summer is over we'll be looking in earnest. Wife mentioned renting our house out down here but the way taxes are going, if we lose our homestead exemption the numbers would become So we'll just keep it, rent something up there and if we bond with it all then buy a smaller place as a second home I think,
Great pix, thanks so much. I've been through Lewisburg, but didn't stray off the highway.
Thanks. The view of town from Route 15 isn't anything special. You need to stray off a few blocks to find your way to this little paradise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81
Are you one of those people who also cannot go anywhere without stopping to read all the historical markers?
Yep! I love learning as much as I can about local history, and I stop to read these little markers everywhere I can.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
You couldn't possibly ask for a better day to do some exploring, and I was blessed to have today off from work, so you bet I took advantage of it! 
My parents spent a romantic weekend getaway two years ago in Lewisburg and loved it, and they said I would love it as well if I ever went to visit. Man, they weren't kidding! 
Up until today Jim Thorpe was my favorite county seat in NEPA; Lewisburg, by far, blows it out of the water! My parents are vacationing in the wine country, so I figured today would be a great day to take the nearly 90-minute trek to this crown jewel of the Central Susquehanna Valley. During my trip I saw dozens upon dozens of out-of-state license plates from a total of fifteen different states (that I can recall anyways), and I thought to myself "Union County must have a booming real estate market." I then realized that Route 15 was the primary artery linking Harrisburg to I-80, and that much of the tourist traffic was likely associated with our state's capital instead. 
Market Street, Lewisburg's "Traditional Main Street"
Freakin' morons run Pittston!
Oh well! There's always graduate school to look forward to! 
But what a neat side of town you are showing.
