Hawley Borough taking Welwood Avenue property where home washed away in 1942 flood

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent

Hawley Borough is taking eminent domain against a small undeveloped parcel at 109 Welwood Ave. alongside the flood levee, where one of a couple houses in that immediate area went downriver in the 1942 flood.

The council has suggested potential uses for the little piece of ground, including a "pocket park" and a community garden.

Solicitor Robert Bernathy gave an update on the matter at the Dec. 13 council session. The .06-acre parcel is across the street from the parking lot for Cora's 1850 Bistro and next to where the Hawley Area Authority has a wastewater pump station. It has about 30 feet of road frontage. It has randomly been used for parking.

The property owner is listed as the Flora Stevenson Estate.

Councilor Elaine Herzog, asked later for background, said that attempts by the Authority and the borough to contact the owner(s) of record were unsuccessful. The council started talking about this in earnest in July and have been taking the appropriate legal steps, Herzog said, including trying to reach the current owner. There is a provision for just compensation if someone comes forward within the lawful time permitted.

The site of the former Hawley home of Flora Stevenson, lost in the 1942 flood, which also claimed her and her mother Ida Peters, is seen here, where the car is parked. Their lot at 109 Welwood Avenue extended back to the river; the flood protection levee was extended across the lot in 1962. The borough is in the process of taking the small parcel from the estate by eminent domain. The shed at right is on the neighboring parcel now owned by the borough. Cora's 1850 Bistro, at the corner with Church Street, is across the street.

The council approved the declaration of taking, pending a sketch plan. Bernathy said that at that time the declaration can be filed, and the owner has 30 days to file preliminary objections.

The lot between this and the corner with Church Street and the access to the Lackawaxen River bridge is owned by the borough. This lot contains a shed which stores emergency gate sections the fire department will install at the bridge between the two ends of the earthen levee, in the event of perilously rising river levels. A house that stood there was also lost in the flood.

At the time of the May 22-23, 1942, flood, the most disastrous on record in the Lackawaxen River Valley, the first two houses that stood between the bridge and the large apartment house still standing, were swept away. Two women who could not escape lost their lives. Nine died in the flood in Hawley. Both widows, Flora C. Stevenson, 68, and her mother, Ida H. Peters, 89, lived at 109 Welwood in a long, narrow house. The late Nancy Killam Gumble, in an interview concerning the flood, said she lived on nearby Paupack Street. She said she knew these women and could hear their screams as she watched their house fall into the river.

In addition, several houses that stood on Crystal Street, between the river and lower Church Street, and a small grocery market at the end of Church Street by the bridge, toppled into the swollen river.

This circa 1900 photo shows the first two houses at left on Welwood Avenue that were washed into the Lackawaxen River in the flood of May 22-23, 1942. What became the Flora Stevenson residence is the small building, second in line, at left. The foreground structure, which was a market, also was washed away. The market, at the end of Church Street, stood at what is now the beginning of the Riverside Park flood levee trail. At right is the Eddy Hotel, which today is Cora's 1850 Bistro. Third in line at left is an apartment house which is also still standing. Louis Hensel was the photographer.

The flood levee was built in 1962.

The Wayne County Tax Assessment Office lists the use of the former Flora Stevenson property for flood control and it is assessed at $1,100. The Tax Claim Office reports that there are no back taxes due on the property.

Other Hawley business:

Mayor John Nichols administered the oath of office for a new Hawley Police Department officer, Christian Robinson. Chief Daniel Drake said that Robinson comes with extensive experience in criminal investigation. The part-time department now has 14 personnel, up from 10 a year ago.

Christian Robinson, at left, was sworn in as a new Hawley police officer, Dec. 14, 2023. In center is Chief Daniel Drake and at right is Mayor John Nichols.
Christian Robinson, at left, was sworn in as a new Hawley police officer, Dec. 14, 2023. In center is Chief Daniel Drake and at right is Mayor John Nichols.

A conditional use hearing is set for 6 p.m. Jan. 10 for the revised plan for an apartment building project accessed off Barker Street, behind the Hawley Village Apartments property. The applicant, whose plan for a variance on the height restriction was earlier turned down, has revised the plan, creating two apartment buildings within the ordinance height restrictions. The council received a letter from residents of Hawley Village Apartments, voicing concerns. Solicitor Bernathy said they are welcome to attend the meeting to voice their thoughts, or a decision can be made to have the letter read into the record.

An inclusive picture board for Bingham Par requested by a local speech pathologist, Louise Eiteleberg was approved by council. The panel, which may be installed between the two playgrounds, has picture symbols for children and others with speech difficulties to point out what they need, such as a restroom, food, medical attention, etc. Eiteleberg said it appears the project could be done for under $1,000, which she is willing to donate. Scott Mead, Department of Public Works director, offered to install it.

The remaining funds from a Local Share Account grant will be used to fund new security cameras for Bingham Park. $10,811.15 will be used to purchase five cameras, for use at the bandstand, basketball court and skate park. The LSA grant pays for $10,000 with the remainder by the borough.

The 2024 Hawley Borough budget was approved, with a one-tenth mill increase (.0586 to .1586 mill) in the ambulance tax. Councilor Joseph Faubel explained that this is needed as part of the borough agreement to pay for the contract with Penn Ambulance. The agreement is held jointly with Palmyra Township and Paupack Township. Faubel said that for each $100,000 in real estate assessment, the tax increase would total $10.

The council agreed to proceed with purchasing three level-10 tasers for the Hawley Police Department, costing $15,568.50. over three years. Chief Drake said the department received a donation for half this amount.

Borough parking meters will not be enforced for the holidays, from Dec. 18 to Jan. 2.

Patricia Bartleson, center, at the Dec. 4, 2023, Hawley Council meeting, was thanked for her years of borough service. She had chosen not to run for re-election for council. Bartleson was first elected in November 2015. At left is Mayor John Nichols and at right is councilor Becky Mead.
Patricia Bartleson, center, at the Dec. 4, 2023, Hawley Council meeting, was thanked for her years of borough service. She had chosen not to run for re-election for council. Bartleson was first elected in November 2015. At left is Mayor John Nichols and at right is councilor Becky Mead.

Councilor Patricia Bartleson, who did not run for a new term, was thanked for her service to the borough.

The next council meeting was set for Wednesday, Jan. 2, to immediately follow the re-organization meeting at 6:45 p.m., at Borough Hall, 94 Main Ave.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Hawley Borough taking property where home washed away in 1942 flood

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