Monroe County Historical Association

HISTORY OF THE FREIGHT STATION

The station was built on McConnell Street in Stroudsburg in 1882 to serve the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad as a stopover point for freight trains coming through town. The railroad eventually stopped running through Stroudsburg, and in 1940, George Driebe bought the building and used it as an antique store at its original location.

Forty years later, the building had fallen into disuse and was to be torn down when the community banded and raised money to save it. The station was moved to its current location and restored on land that was donated by Ed Driebe, George’s brother, on Ann Street near McMichael's Creek.

The former Monroe County Museum Association used it as a headquarters in the early years at that spot, and dedicated the building on June 5, 1983. The museum association merged with the Monroe County Historical Society to become the Monroe County Historical Association, and maintained it as a train museum and for a while as an art gallery and lecture space.

It was rented by the nonprofit Jacob Stroud Association from 2011 to 2014, and shortly after it left, the Zion United Church of Christ of Stroudsburg leased it from the MCHA for $1 to open a thrift shop there.

The Miracles Happen Thrift Shoppe’s inventory is donated by members of the congregation and the community, and includes clothing, books, puzzles, games, toys and DVDs. It is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Directions

• Ann Street is a ONE WAY street one block south of Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg
• Access is from Broad Street