MOSCOW

MOSCOW BOROUGH

Moscow was once part of Drinker Beech.  Its first settler was Reverend Peter Rupert, a Lutheran minister who purchased land from Henry Drinker.  He built the first log cabin along Drinker Turnpike (now Route 435). 

In 1830, the first inn was erected and was called the Pioneer House.  In 1838, the first school house was built on Mill Street.  By 1850, Reverend Rupert sold much of his land holdings to Scranton and Plat Iron Company for the purpose of building the D.L.&W. Railroad through Moscow. 

In 1852, a post office was established.  The Moscow House was built in 1856, it was then known as the Central Hotel, and Woodbrook Inn before being destroyed by fire in December of 1931. 

In 1865, the railroad was accomplished and a hill was named after Reverend Rupert and is where St. Catherine’s Cemetery sits today.

The old Red Mill sat on the corner of Brook and Lincoln Streets and was a shingle mill.  It was built by William Ehrgood in 1866. 

On January 7, 1873, an explosion in the sawmill and chair factory of William DeFrehn happened on VanBrunt Street.  April 29, 1873, a boiler in stationary engine at Edward Simpson’s sawmill on Maple Lake exploded.  June 11, 1873, Frank Edwards’ left leg was crushed and amputated.  July 29, 1873, in the center of Moscow, Merritt Starkweather was shot and wounded by Nathan Wheeler.  He died on August 8, 1873.

In 1874, the Valley House was built on Market Street.  In the late 1880’s, the Allen Hotel was built on Main Street (stood where Plociniak’s Garage is), it burned December 16, 1890. 

The Moscow Cemetery Association began in 1898.  By 1909, the borough charter was received.

In 1920, Cole’s Hotel was built on Market Street.  In 1922, Mountain View Inn on Route 435 was also known as Keifer’s Hotel was built.  Another Rooming House on Main Street was the Wardell Rest.  Its now an antique shop.

The original Moscow High School was destroyed on December 18, 1925 by fire.

St. Catherine’s Cemetery used to sit across from the Fire and Ambulance building and was moved to present location when the railroad was being built.  The laying of the tracks was done by Russian immigrants and may have been how Moscow got its name.