On December 23, 1828, Honesdale was already a bustling community. Crews were busy building the Delaware & Hudson Canal and Gravity Railroad, which met in the new town, and families were already putting down roots in the former Dyberry Forks. On that date, Edward Mills drew up a subscription paper seeking to raise funds to establish a new church. The list of subscribers is a roster of prominent citizens of the day, including Alanson Blood, Edward Mills, Isaac P. Foster, Charles Forbes, John B. Jervis, Stephen Torrey, Zenas Russell and Russel Lord, to name just a few.

On February 11, 1829, the new church was organized in the boarding house later known as the Tabernacle, as a Church of Christ, designated “The First Presbyterian Church of Honesdale.” This photo of the church interior shows plaques honoring the charter members: Mary and Isaac P. Foster, Horace and Olive Baldwin, Stephen Torrey, Rebecca Schoonover, Lucy Forbes, Charles P. Clark and Joseph L. Kellogg. The present building, the second built by the congregation, was dedicated in 1868.  

From the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society (WCHS), 810 Main St., Honesdale, PA. The WCHS museum and research library are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. and museum only 12 noon to 4 p. m. Sunday until Columbus Day.