DALTON BOROUGH………………THEN AND NOW

While Dalton Ridge will be the borough's newest neighborhood, Bailey Hollow Lane was so named to honor the early history of the man who apparently was its first citizen. According to local historian and author Norm Brauer, Dalton's first settler was George Anson Bailey who built his first log cabin in 1801 just above what is now the intersection of Bank and West Main Street near Dalton Ridge.

The area was originally part of the old Abington Township, which covered much of what today is the northern part of Lackawanna County and Luzerene County even before that. After clearing land and eventually making a permanent home, George Bailey was followed to Abington by three of his brothers from the state of Rhode Island. With so many Bailey's in the area, it soon came to be known as Bailey Hollow, a name that would remain for almost seventy years.

The development of roads and railroads, the burgeoning coal and iron industry and the ongoing growth and development of the nearby Slocum Hollow, later to become the city of Scranton, made places like Waverly, Dalton and Glenburn popular summer destinations for some of the region's wealthiest residents. And as improving transportation enhanced the ability of early settlers to move about, commercial development in Bailey Hollow began to take root.

Growth of the village continued throughout the 1800's and into the early part of the next century with the establishment of gristmills, a post office, several churches, restaurants, a grocery store, drugstore, hotel, different mechanical shops, various businesses and eventually a school and a train station on the D.L&W railroad line.

In August of 1871, the Scranton Daily Republican newspaper reported that the people of North Abington had collectively decided to rename their village because "the name of Dalton was striking and beautiful and worthy of the finely growing village."

Dalton can also boast some of the finest architecture in the area as evidenced by several palatial estates that were built just outside the borough as well as classic traditional neighborhoods graced by beautiful colonial and Victorian style single family residences. On the outskirts of the small borough are several horse farms, some of which have bred and raised some of the finest thoroughbred stallions and fillies in the world.

Even today, several of the original buildings in the heart of the Borough serve as proud reminders of yesterday and today. The small town charm of Dalton stands in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of rapidly growing nearby towns, but the same formula that made it so desirable starting over two hundred years ago remains equally compelling for residents here who cherish being part of this small borough with such a sense of community.

Even with easy and access to major highways, larger commercial districts and the city of Scranton only a short drive away, "downtown" Dalton Borough offers the quick convenience of a grocery, bank, pharmacy, post office, library and other businesses and services. And while two buildings are merely reminders of former rail and trolley service, a bus stop on part of the COLTS (County of Lackawanna Transportation System) affords residents use of public transportation to destinations throughout the county.

Charming residential neighborhoods with a number of antique colonial era homes and commercial buildings, inviting sidewalks and a small "village green" define the center of the borough and a town park enables residents recreational opportunities right in their own backyards. Slightly over 1,200 people reside within the three square miles of Dalton Borough and neighboring Waverly is less than one mile away.

Glenburn Township borders Dalton to the south and the commercial district of nearby Clarks Summit, just over two miles away, offers an array of retail, shopping, and dining establishments. Just to the south of there and an eight-mile drive from Dalton is the Viewmont Mall area and the city of Scranton.

Only a mile away from the heart of Dalton is the Waverly Community House, fondly known as "The Comm" which serves the area as a social, cultural and recreational center. From exercise groups to art exhibits, concerts, plays, specialized classes and a host of ongoing programs, activities and year-round special events, this local landmark offers something for everyone twelve months of the year.

Just west on Route 6 & 11 and just over three miles is the beautiful 270 acre campus that is home to Keystone College, one of Northeast Pennsylvania's up and coming four year colleges which also offers a host of weekender courses and specialized programs to serve a variety of educational interests for people of any age. Farther west on Route 6, about a ten-mile drive from Dalton is the historic town of Tunkhannock.

The Countryside Conservancy, with offices at Keystone College, one of the region's premier organizations dedicated to preserving green space, is currently involved in an ongoing quest to bring the old trolley line "back to life" as a recreational walking trail. This effort includes following the route of the former Northern Electric Railway and trolley line which linked Scranton, Clarks Summit, Glenburn, Dalton, Factoryville, Lake Winola, and other points west and north.

Lackawanna State Park is located just beyond the Borough's borders and part of the Countryside Conservancy's aforementioned trail effort includes a separate walking trail from Lily Lake Road in Dalton directly to the state park.

Situated in a private and serene setting but with easy access to highways and into Dalton, of greatest importance to new residents of Dalton Ridge is perhaps that only a short stroll into the center of town will bring them to where neighbors can experience quintessential small town living, a true sense of community and a priceless slice of Americana.