Benjamin F. Haines founded The Wayne Independent in 1878 and led the opposition to the construction of the new courthouse in Honesdale. That battle lost, but he stayed on as editor, publisher and owner of the newspaper. In 1900 he printed “Illustrated Wayne County,” which featured photographs and descriptions of people, places and businesses at the turn of the 20th century. 

Haines was born to a Quaker family from Orange County, NY, but his father had settled in Maryland by the time of Benjamin’s birth in 1849. Being an ardent supporter of the Union cause surrounded by Confederate sympathizers, he returned his family to New York State. Benjamin grew up in Orange County, graduating from the Academy at Montgomery, NY and Albany University, working briefly as a schoolteacher and purser on a steamship. He served an apprenticeship to a printer and contributed to various publications until he became owner and editor of the Hancock Herald (Hancock, NY) in 1874 and then moved to Honesdale to establish The Independent, where he remained until his death in 1916.

From the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society, 810 Main St., Honesdale. The museum and research library are open Friday and Saturday, 10 a. m. to 4 p. m.