Sullivan County was created on March 15, 1847 from part of Lycoming County. It was named after Senator Charles C. Sullivan, Butler County, who took an active part in procuring passage of the bill. Laporte, the county seat, was laid out in 1850 and incorporated as a borough in 1853. Laporte was named for John LaPorte, Surveyor General of Pennsylvania from 1845-1851.
Prior to the formation of Sullivan County, the area had been included in the New Purchase from the Indians in 1768. But Connecticut settlers, who had been ousted from the Wyoming Valley, entered and then had to be run off by Pennsylvania agents. Pennsylvania settlers were then, in turn, pushed out by the Indian and Tory attacks of 1778-1780. The Genesee Road from New York opened up the area, and in 1794 Aristide Dupetit Thouars, a French refugee, was one of the first settlers of the area which later bore a derivation of his name - the town of Dushore. A woolen industry was productive from 1802 until about 1860 in Forksville. Lumber and related leather tanning industries were most productive throughout the county from 1850 to 1900. Coal was discovered and mined in several areas of the county. In the early 1800's, Lewis Lake (Eagles Mere) was noted for its glass making industry. Today, tourism is Sullivan County's major industry, followed by lumbering and agriculture.
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and towns. The following townships and boroughs are located within Sullivan County's borders: Cherry Township, Dushore Borough; Colley Township; Davidson Township; Elkland Township; Forks Township, Forksville Borough; Fox Township; Hillsgrove Township; Laporte Township, Laporte Borough; Shrewsbury Township, Eagles Mere Borough.
The Sullivan County Historical Society was incorporated in 1938. Today, it is a complex consisting of the main building, the Baldwin House and garden, a barn and wagon shed and, the Celestia property. The main building includes the original 34' square portion built in the 1880's, which was used in 1894 to house the Courthouse records while a new (the County's second) Courthouse was being built. The Society acquired the use of half of this nucleus in 1956 to be used as the beginning of a 'home' for the Society's acquisitions. The Pauline Holcombe Wing was added to the original section in 1988 to further expand the facility. The Baldwin House depicts life in the mid 1800's. The barn and wagon shed are utilized for displays having to do with out of doors artifacts which are displayed by subject. The entire complex, when utilized for viewing, research and education, is made available during regular hours, or by appointment, for individuals or groups to tour the facility.
As noted above, the museum complex consists of four parcels: 1. The main building/museum. The museum is located behind the Courthouse, on Courthouse Square, in Laporte, Pa. This building contains records and artifacts relevant to Sullivan and surrounding counties. Included are: county and local government records; family histories and genealogies; school records and old school texts; photographs; postcards; old maps; a collection of local newspapers (not available for public viewing at this time); household implements and crafts; old toys; furniture; clothing; Lewis Lake Glass Co. bottles; displays about local towns and industries; accounts of local history. 2. The Baldwin House and garden. This parcel is located across Meylert Street from the Museum. Built in the 1850's, this is one of the oldest houses in Laporte. It is now a home museum illustrating life in Sullivan County prior to 1880. The garden is reminiscent of the herbs and flowers that could be found in an 1800's era garden. 3. The barn and wagon shed. This parcel is located behind the Baldwin House. Articles displayed here include recreation 'toys', lumbering, mining and farming implements and railroad memorabilia. One of the main displays is a late 1800's butcher shop/country store reconstructed in its entirety. 4. Celestia. The Society also owns the site of Celestia. This utopia was a religious community that was founded in the 1850's by Millennialists (Millerites). It was abandoned in the 1880's after the death of its leader, Peter Armstrong. At one time, the land was deeded to God. But, God paid no taxes, and the land was eventually repurchased by the Armstrong family at a sheriff's sale. It is located 1 1/2 miles south of Laporte on Rt. 42. Following are the Geo co-ordinates for Celestia: N 41.42297 - W 076.52448. These roadside co-ordinates indicate where the visitor would turn just before the state historic sign about Celestia when traveling south on Rt. 42 and then to make a right turn into the parking area. But PLEASE be ever mindful that you, the visitor, are parking on private property and treat it as such. Helping to respect the grounds will enable us all to preserve history for those of the future. So, please tread carefully, and lightly, so as not to disturb what you are about to see. Once out of your car, after walking a short distance south, you will be standing at the entrance of Celestia, which is now the historic ruins of one mans' dream towards salvation. This area has been marked to follow the Museum's Celestia brochure, which explains each location of the town's remaining foundations and to also coincide with the painting, which hangs in the Museum, that depicts the town. The Celestia site is maintained by the Sullivan County Historical Society for you to enjoy this era of history.
The Sullivan County Historical Society has always worked with an ongoing plan aimed at the availability of acquisitions and educating the public about Sullivan County's history having to do with all aspects of its making and its people. The contents of the Society's museum are for all age groups. To perpetuate the Society's museum success, all articles and items within it are donated acquisitions. All those who help in the Museum are volunteers. The many visitors primarily come through good word of mouth. The hours are made available, whether "officially" open hours or by appointment, for all visitors. Many senior citizens, home and public school children, family reunion groups, bus groups and sister historical societies elect to come in for more private tours during unofficial hours. The visitor can literally take their own tour with minimal guidance from docents. Along the way, identity tags, large font descriptions or accompanying compilings will satisfy their curiosity of practically all subjects. The Society has arranged displays by subject in each of their respective areas so as to keep the attention on one specific subject centralized for the visitor. This method has led many visitors to discover subjects that they otherwise had no interest in prior to viewing the displays. The all volunteer staff of the Society is its greatest hidden treasure. Being a small rural county, the volunteers very often have greater knowledge than even they realize about subjects having to do with Sullivan County.
The Sullivan County Historical Society has set as its mission and purpose, the acquisition/preservation/display and demonstration of those elements of daily life used by the people of Sullivan County. The Society is committed to the preservation of information and artifacts dealing with events and situations, both common and unique to the county, to ensure the availability of historical data for present and future generations. The Society, personally and collectively, is committed to the education of the people in the county and extended communities of the necessity and significance of preserving and presenting data, artifacts and historical lessons for all people. As the ways and the utilities of the past are the best indicators of progression into the future, the Society aims to preserve and restore elements of the past, by the present, to ensure safekeeping for future generations.
Click here for 1800's Obituaries
Any requests, queries, or comments can be directed to the following:
Nancy Spencer, site administrator, nordmont@chilitech.net.
Melanie Norton, wnorton@epix.net.
Sullivan County Historical Society Museum,
458 Meylert Street, P. O. Box 252
Laporte, Pa., 18626
(570)-946-5020
Lydia Stasiak, Technical Consultant
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