THE
BOXHOLDER
JOURNAL of the POCONO PLATEAU ©2020, All Rights Reserved
VOLUME 25, NUMBER 4
July 16–29, 2020
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Disinterment plans disturb CTHA her remains are permanently interred in the crypt/mausoleum of the Church of Saint Ann in Coolbaugh Township is a major component of our local history. The Diocese of Scranton The Wills Mansion, located posted a legal notice in the Pocono Record February 13 & in the Village of Tobyhanna in Coolbaugh Township, approx20, 2020 of its intent to disimately one mile from St Ann’s inter the remains of Annie E. Wills and her husband Robert Church, was built in 1927 by Mrs. Annie Coroner Wills. It G. Wills, and their only son Joseph J. Wills and Mrs. Wills’ presently serves as a museum for the CTHA containing a brother, the Very Reverend wealth of diverse local artiJoseph J. Coroner. facts and archival collections, The Coolbaugh Township Historical Association (CTHA) celebrating the rich history of Coolbaugh Township, and filed objections to this action interpreting the interesting within the timeframe set by history of Annie C. Wills. the public notice. The objecAnnie Coroner Wills died tion was based on the grounds at the mansion in Tobyhanna that the story of Annie Wills on November 11, 1935 and her is an important aspect of our body, along with the bodies of local history and the fact that Editor’s Note: The following information was provided by the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association.
her family, are permanently interred in the Church of Saint Ann in the Village of Tobyhanna, Coolbaugh Township. Mrs. Wills is nationally recognized for her philanthropic and charitable deeds and she was extremely generous to the Catholic Church. She was a founding member of St. Joseph’s Foundling Home in Scranton (now known as St. Joseph’s Center), she bequeathed a collection of works of art to Marywood College, was the chief benefactor for the construction of St. Ann’s Church in Tobyhanna, and she was recognized by Pope Pius as a “Countess of the Roman Catholic Church” in 1928. Preserving our local history, the CTHA conducts tours of See CTHA, page 15
Parent Guardian Survey Results skewed in favor of inschool learning, with an understanding that health and safety remain the top priority with PMSD 2020-2021 school year plans.
PMSB takes first look at school reopening options by Jeanine Hofbauer While additional information is expected over the next two weeks, on July 15 Pocono Mountain School District administration introduced ideas for reopening to the school board. With the start of a new school year just weeks away, recent survey details shared parent/guardian thoughts to aid in direction. Though the majority response from the 2,467 participants was in favor of inschool learning, with a hybrid half-online and half-in-school second, and third all online
instruction, Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Robison made it clear these three phases rely solely on maintaining the health and safety of students, faculty and support staff. She said PMSD is in sync with other districts with “accurate, realistic, responsible” planning. She reported Google Classroom training for teachers, reading survey responses loud and clear demanding more teacher/student interaction. First Student bus transportation disinfecting of buses, and social distancing seating of up to 48 students on larger buses See PMSB, page 2