Early History of Dunmore, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania:

(from History and Directory of Newton and Ransom Townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, 1754 - 1912)

In 1782, Providence became one of the townships of Northumberland county which had been organized in 1772, and embraced the territory in dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Upon the erection of Luzerne county four years later, it was included with its boundaries, but it was not organized into a township of that county until 1792, when it was separated from Pittston. As a township, Providence has become extinct. In April, 1819, a portion was set off as a part of Blakely; Jan. 4, 1829, the western portion was reannexed to Pittston township; March 14, 1849, Providence borough was erected from its territory; Hyde Park borough, May 4, 1852; Scranton borough, Feb. 14, 1856; Dunmore borough, April 10, 1862. The city of Scranton was incorporated April 23, 1866, which embraced within its limits all that then remained of the ancient township of Providence and the boroughs of Providence, Hyde Park and Scranton.

(the following sections from History of Dunmore Commemorative Seventy-Fifth Anniversary

Written by Margaret M. O'Hora and published by Dunmore Improvement Association which incidentally, included both of my grandfathers )

Roman Catholicism in Dunmore

Roman Catholicism took root in Dunmore with the building of the Gravity Railroad and the opening of the mines, which attracted the Irish Catholics from Carbondale to Dunmore. The first Catholics to come from Carbondale were: William Lynett, Anthony Melvin, Martin Higgins, James Flynn, Garrett Nash, Hugh Flynn, and Michael Crane. For a time they went to Scranton to attend services. In 1852, Reverend James Cullen established a Catholic mission in Dunmore, and the first mass was said at the home of Garrett Nash, continuing for some time until in 1855 the present church site was purchased from Charles Potter, as was the land for cemetery purposes. The church was dedicated in 1856 and was called Saint Simon the Apostle. James and Thomas Brehony, carpenters, who afterwards became priests worked on the structure. Reverend Father Moses Whitty said the first mass in the church. Reverend E. W. Fitzmaurice became the first resident priest serving until 1870, with Father Nathaniel McManus as his assistant. Reverend Michael O�Brien, a member of the first class ordained by Bishop O�Hara after the creation of the diocese of Scranton, was the next pastor, and reverend Michael Byrne his assistant. A short time after, during an outbreak of smallpox, Father O�Brien contracted the disease while attending a Catholic afflicted with the disease, and he died within a few days. Reverend Gerald McMurray, who succeeded Father O�Brien, remained as pastor until his death March 28, 1896. He built a new church, after the old structure was torn down, in 1872. His charge, until the year 1884, included all the territory east of Dunmore to Stroudsburg. One of his missions was at Gouldsboro. Moscow parish was carved out of the charge in 1884. The name of the Dunmore church and parish was changed to Saint Mary�s of Mount Carmel in the nineties.

Cemeteries

Dunmore is fortunate in possessing many beautiful cemeteries which are well kept, and conveniently located within its borders. The oldest cemetery is the Dunmore cemetery, located in the northern part of the borough on North Blakely Street, and considered one of the finest in Pennsylvania. It was started in 1828 when Levi Depuy set aside an acre of land for a burial ground. Gabriel Dunning, who died in 1828, was the first person to be buried in it. The cemetery now covers over 35 acres. It has a large receiving vault and beautiful mausoleums.

Mount Carmel cemetery, located on the O�Neill Highway, was planned in 1892 by Reverend Father McMurray and was surveyed by the W.A. Jenks. At that time 3000 lots were blessed by Bishop O�Hara.

Saint Mary�s Cemetery dates back to the time the church was built in 1855, and it is situated at the rear of the church on Chestnut Street. The land for the church and cemetery was purchased from Charles Potter.

The Greek Cemetery, a short distance below the Mount Carmel cemetery, was planned in 1919, and contains five acres of land.

The Forest Hill Cemetery, at the rear of Electric Street, is also a well known and beautiful cemetery.

(There are still more cemeteries that exist NOW in Dunmore)