Deadline looms for WCHS bus trip

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Historical Society’s first bus trip of the fall is scheduled for Sunday, September 16, with visits to the Hudson River Art School Trail in the Catskills and a side trip to historic Hudson, NY, for lunch and shopping. The bus will leave the Route 6 Plaza at 8:00 a.m., returning to the plaza around 6:30 p.m.

The first stop will be the home of Thomas Cole (1801-1848), the founder of the Hudson River school of painting, at Cedar Grove. The visit includes a guided tour of Cole’s Federal-style home and studio, featuring period furnishings, original paintings, Cole artifacts and memorabilia—with a magnificent view of the Hudson Valley. The site’s gift shop is located in the barn that was Cole’s original studio.

The bus will then move on to Hudson, NY, where Warren Street provides many restaurants and antique shops. A list of some of the restaurants will be provided with confirmations for the bus trip.

Next on the itinerary is the Olana State Historic Site. Olana was the home and workplace of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), a former student of Thomas Cole and a leading Hudson River School artist. Church called the picturesque grounds, with a Persian-style house built high on a hill with panoramic views of the Hudson River Valley, “the center of the world.” The visit will include a guided tour of the home with its exotic Moorish details and original furnishings as well as the landscaped grounds. Visitors can view additional significant buildings such as the Cosy Cottage, c. 1860, the first family home on the property.

The price of the trip (lunch not included) is $40 for WCHS members, $45 for non-members. Deadline for reservations is September 1.

For reservations, visit the Wayne County Historical Society at 810 Main Street, Honesdale, Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; by phone with credit card (Visa or MasterCar); or by mail to WCHS, PO Box 446, Honesdale, PA 18431. Include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Reservations cannot be accepted without payment and refunds cannot be made for cancellations after the deadline.

For more information email wchspa@ptd.net or call 570/253-3240.