HONESDALE AND HAWLEY, PA — A collaboration between the business communities of Honesdale and Hawley involved a Stourbridge Line train excursion between the two boroughs on June 3. 

Thanks to A.M. Skier Insurance and Susan Glusica, the train was fully underwritten; free passage on three runs between the two towns were available. More than 450 people signed up to participate prior to the first departure from Honesdale.

The train ride with the theme “Explore the Town Next Door,” encouraged riders to shop, dine and explore. The event was the brainchild of the Greater Honesdale Partnership (GHP) and the Downtown Hawley Partnership (DHP). Participating businesses offered special discounts, and riders had a chance to win prizes by making a $10 purchase at three stores in each town and have their tickets verified. 

A variety  of people—from out of town, first-time train riders and long-time riders of the Stourbridge Line—particiated in the event. Given that Honesdale is the birthplace of railroading in the nation, the train—which offers many themed rides throughout the season—is a tourist attraction.

Kelly Alogna, project coordinator with the Downtown Hawley Partnership since 2021, was very enthusiastic about the turnout as well as the opportunity to work with her counterpart, Sandi Levens, executive director of the Greater Honesdale Partnership, who has been leading that agency since 2022.

At the end of the day, Levens was at the Wayne County Visitors Center in Honesdale when the last train returned with passengers from Hawley. She collected validated tickets from those who took advantage of the shopping in both towns. Winners were not yet picked at time of publication. 

Speaking of the collaboration, Levens said, “We wanted to do something together, and of course we wanted to utilize the train because it’s such an important part of both of our communities.”  

When asked if there would be other joint efforts, Alogna said plans were in the works for another train event in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Downtown Centers Conference at the end of June. “We’re working together to bring people at that conference in Scranton, to bring them up through Hawley, to do a walking tour in Hawley, take the train up to Honesdale, walk around Honesdale and get back on the bus and go back down to Scranton and back to the conference. So I think that you’re going to see our two organizations work together, which I think would be great.” 

Levens, too, is excited about future collaborations. “It’s something that has not been done before; our two partnerships working on a big event like this together. I loved that we could support both towns in one day.” 

The event was sponsored by Susan Glusica, a financial life coach from Equinunk, and A.M. Skier Insurance. “It wouldn’t have been possible if they didn’t help us pay for the train, and they really paid for the train for the day,” Levens said.