First off, a very special thank you to Win Miller, Connie Waygood Borho and John Sling for helping me by providing me copies of their books about Lake Naomi history, as I looked everywhere to find these historical recollection booklets without luck. The olny place to find these books is the Pocono Pines Library reference section. This story is part of a series I began as an effort to rebuild my youthful memories of growing up on Lake Naomi in the Poconos back in the 1960s. As the stories came together, I wanted to start an oline dialog with others who might remember or are making their memories right now. We created an associated Facebook Group, called Lake Naomi Memories, for anyone to share their memories that help create a digital history footprint on the web. Oh, and they’ll certainly help me remember as well. Link below – enjoy the series!
The books showcased here are some of the best references to firsthand history in the Pocono Pines area. Two are written by members of the Miller family, whose parents were the founders of Lake Naomi, who had a major influence on the area. The other two are recollections and are great reads with stories and photos. The problem is, I think all four are no longer in print, so you’d have to trek to the Clymer Library in Pocono Pines or scour the internet for someone cleaning out their bookcase. Some day, I hope to return to the Pocono Pines area and hope there’s a local history section at the Clymer Library.
Lake Naomi Club Profiles and Reflections 1963-2013
Lake Naomi Club: Profiles and Reflections (1963–2013) was published to commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary. More than just a history book, it serves as a community keepsake—highlighting the evolution of Lake Naomi from its founding in 1963 into a nationally recognized recreational community. The volume blends archival photos, member profiles, and stories that capture five decades of sailing, tennis, swimming, and family traditions at the lake. Distributed primarily to members, the book preserves both the official milestones of the club and the personal reflections of the families who helped shape it.
Pocono Pines Then and Now by Frederick A. Lehre
Long before Lake Naomi was dotted with kayaks and cul-de-sacs, Pocono Pines was a sleepy mountain escape where Sunday meant hymns at the tabernacle and firewood was still king. In Pocono Pines Then and Now, Frederick A. Lehre takes readers on a charming ride from the horse-drawn simplicity of Lutherland to the tennis-shoed shuffle of modern-day summer homes. It’s a place where ice once arrived by rail and vacationers in high collars strolled dusty paths that are now paved driveways for SUVs hauling paddleboards. Lehre’s nostalgic lens reminds us that while the lake remains the heart of it all, the rhythm of life in Pocono Pines has changed — from hymnbooks to hot tubs, yet always with mountain air and memories in tow.
Naomi – A Jewel of the Poconos from 1882 by Irene Miller Gross
Irene Miller Gross is the daughter of Franklin C. Miller, co-founder of the Naomi Lake. Here’s a lively and nostalgic paragraph inspired by Naomi – A Jewel of the Poconos from 1882 by Irene Miller Gross (1891-1992)
In Naomi – A Jewel of the Poconos from 1882, Irene Miller Gross dusts off the pages of time to reveal a lakeside gem that once sparkled with steam whistles, straw hats, and the gentle clink of ice cream dishes at the Naomi Inn. Gross paints a portrait of Lake Naomi’s early days, when vacationers arrived by rail and dreams came true in rowboats, not real estate listings. It was a world of picnics on pine-scented shores, moonlit serenades, and the kind of quiet that only a mountain breeze could break. Today’s kayaks and condos may have replaced the carriages and corsets, but Gross’s tale reminds us that the true jewel of Naomi lies not just in its water, but in the memories still rippling beneath the surface.
Lutherland – a Dream Fulfilled and Memories by Ted Suttmeier
Lutherland: A Dream Fulfilled by Ted Suttmeier tells the story of Lutherland, a Lutheran retreat and resort community in the Pocono Mountains, from its founding in 1926 through the early 1980s. Conceived by church leaders in New York and New Jersey as a place where families and youth could escape city life to find spiritual renewal, fellowship, and rest in nature, Lutherland expanded to encompass over 1,300 acres, featuring cottages, youth camps, and recreational facilities. Over the decades, it became both a faith center and a vacation destination, remembered fondly by generations who attended retreats and summer programs. Yet financial and operational pressures forced it to broaden beyond its church roots, eventually adopting the name “Pocono Crest” in hopes of attracting a wider resort audience. The book reflects on how the dream of creating such a haven was both realized—in the memories, friendships, and faith it nurtured, and challenged by the economic realities of sustaining a large retreat community.
Changing Times in the Poconos by Emma LeBarre Miller Waygood
Emma LeBarre Miller Waygood was the daughter of Rufus W. Miller, co-founder of Naomi Lake (1891-1977)
Changing Times in the Poconos, 1882-1972 by Emma LeBarre Miller Waygood is both a local history and a personal reflection on ninety years of transformation in the Pocono Mountains. Waygood, a member of the prominent Miller family, offers an insider’s account of how a largely rural and undeveloped landscape evolved into a region shaped by resorts, improved roads, electricity, and growing tourism. Her narrative captures the interplay between tradition and progress, recording the arrival of utilities such as the Naomi Pines Electric Company, the spread of automobiles and highways, and the cultural shifts that came with an influx of summer visitors. Because she lived these changes and inherited family memory, the book balances factual detail with anecdotal richness, preserving the voices and stories of people who might otherwise be absent from formal histories.
The Miller connection gives the book particular weight. Rev. Rufus W. Miller and other family members had been instrumental in shaping institutions around Pocono Pines, including religious, educational, and civic ventures. Waygood’s perspective highlights these contributions. Her account illustrates how families like the Millers both guided and adapted to the region’s modernization, emphasizing continuity while acknowledging loss. As a result, the book stands not just as a chronicle of infrastructure and economic development, but as a cultural testament to identity, community, and memory in a changing Pocono landscape.
The Revolutionary War Over the Pocono Plateau (Requested for Review)
The Revolutionary War over the Pocono Plateau: The Road to Battle by Rick Bodenschatz (Historical Association of Tobyhanna Township) tells the story of how Gen. John Sullivan’s 1779 expedition carved the first military road across the rugged Pocono Plateau. The 28-mile march cut through places like Hungry Hill and “Hell’s Kitchen,” linking the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers as Continental forces moved to confront the Iroquois allies of the British. The booklet combines maps, archaeology, and local lore to demonstrate how this little-known campaign has left a lasting imprint on the region’s history.
Bodenschatz is a Pennsylvania historian and author who has written or co-authored several works that preserve community memory, including Juniata Terrace… A Walk Back in Time, First at Arlington: The William Henry Christman Story, and When I Grow Up… the Ten Decades of Eugene Edgar Kerrick, Jr.. His work focuses on uncovering and documenting the stories of local people and places, blending biography, archaeology, and regional history to keep these narratives alive for future generations.
Pocono Lake Preserve – A Centennial History 1904-2004
Pocono Lake Preserve: A Centennial History, 1904–2004 is a commemorative volume published by the Preserve itself in 2004 to mark its 100th anniversary. Written by James Zug (with contributions from others, including Karen Jordan Gowen), the book spans 312 pages in hardcover format and carries the ISBN 0-9755733-0-6. It traces the origins of the community back to 1904, when Philadelphia Quaker families purchased land around Pocono Lake to create a retreat rooted in the principles of simplicity, sincerity, and service. Through narrative, photographs, and archival material, the history recounts the founding families, the development of the grounds and cottages, the balance between preservation and recreation, and the unique culture of stewardship that has guided the community for a century.
Author(s): zug, James, Karen Jordan Gowen, et al.
ISBN-13: 9780975573303
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Pocono Lake Preserve
Released: Dec 31, 2003
Format: Hardcover, 312 pages
Have a book you’d like to share?
Add it in the comments section below.
Join the Discussion – Facebook Group – Lake Naomi and Pocono Pines Memories & History
Start your experience with a live look at the Club Beach at Lake Naomi – Livecam Click Here
North Beach View – Click Here
My Series Honoring the History of Lake Naomi & the Pocono Pines Area
About The Author
I decided to write these stories down because a friend of mine, with whom I grew up, now lives on Lake Naomi and still sends me photos of the Lake Naomi Club trophy case, where my name, along with my father’s and brothers’, lives on (Thanks, Sue). Thank you for allowing me to document this life experience for the record.
Brooks founded Mr. Local History and the Mr. Local History Project along with his wife, Jill. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and raised in Westfield, Brooks graduated from Westfield High School in 1980 and later from Bryant University. For over two decades, Brooks, along with his brother Brian and younger sister Cee Cee, spent their summers on Lake Naomi with their parents, Frank and Caryolyn Betz, who had lived on Canoe Brook Road since the mid-1960s.
He and his family owned the Pocono Boathouse (Pocono Pines, PA) and the Cranford Canoe Club in the 1960s through the 1990s.
There are likely many gaps in the history that I hope to fill, along with a return visit to Lake Naomi to reminisce and reflect on these stories. This story is part of a series dedicated to the history of Lake Naomi, Pocono Pines, and the memories of my family spending time together. Thanks for reading.
Top 10 Mr. Local History Posts This Week
Historical Businesses Directory of the Pocono Pines Area
| Business Name | Town | Details | Owner(s) | Started | Street |
| All Pro Basketball Camp | Pocono Pines | Sport | Dave Biggs | 1970s | Sullivan Trail |
| Baxters | |||||
| Between the Pines Hotel | Pocono Pines | Hotel and Dining – 1958 Naomi Lake Hotel – Now Mountaintop | Route 940 | ||
| Blakeslee Diner | Blakeslee | ||||
| Blakeslee Inn | Blakeslee | ||||
| Bonsor’s Store | Pocono Pines | General Store | Adam Bonsor Family | 423 and Firehouse | |
| Business | Town | Description | Owner(s) | Started | Location |
| Camp Owassia | Pocono Pines | Camp | Ned and Mike Skinner | 1920s | Woodland Avenue |
| Distelfinks Bakery | |||||
| Fireside Inn | Pocono Pines | ||||
| Frisbee Lumber Company | Pocono Lake | Lumber Yard | Owned by the Frisbee family from Athens Pa. Harvey Keiper and his son Gerald Keiper ran it for a long time. | ||
| Gloria’s Candy Cane | Pocono Pines | Candy/Ice Cream Shoppe behind Central Garage | Owned by the Frisbee family from Athens, Pa., Harvey Keiper and his son Gerald Keiper ran it for a long time. | 1972 | Rt 423 Village Center |
| Grecos pharmacy | Pocono Pines | Old Route 940 | |||
| Honey Bocks | Blakeslee | ||||
| Hungry Ed | Pocono Lake | Gloria Carr and Gloria Denton | Ed Lewis | 1965 | Route 940 |
| Jubilee Restaurant | Pocono Pines | Dining – 1968 Bill Van Gilder purchased the lodge | Harry Everhardt | 1960 | 940 / Miller Drive |
| Ken’s Country Kitchen | |||||
| Lake Naomi Clubhouse | Pocono Pines | Franklin Miller | 1921 | ||
| Lake Naomi Motor Lodge | Pocono Pines | Motel / Coffee Shop | Miller Drive | ||
| Lake Naomi Motor Lodge / Coffee Shop | Pocono Pines | ||||
| Lakeside House | Pocono Pines | Dining | Frank and Carrie Smith | 1918 | Firehouse Road |
| Lewis Market | Pocono Lake | Retail Store | John Lewis | 1969 | |
| M&Js Ranch | Pocono Pines | Bar/Food | Mary and Jim | Old 940 | |
| Matirko Hardware | Retail Store | ||||
| Megargles Par 3 Golf Course | Pocono Lake | Sport | Vincent Megargel | 3rd St. & Kipp Avenue, Pocono Lake | |
| Memorytown, USA | Mt. Pocono | A throwback town representing the early 1900s | Paul and Mae Asure | 1950s | |
| Mom’s Deli | Food | ||||
| Murphy’s Central Garage | Pocono Pines | Automobile Service | Jim and Orphelia Murphy | 1950s | Rt. 940 and 423 |
| Pioneer Diner | Mt. Pocono | Dining | Route 611 | ||
| Pocono Boathouse | Pocono Pines | Sailboats, Bicycles | Frank Betz | 1966 | State Street |
| Pocono Crest Lounge | Pocono Pines | ||||
| Pocono Lake Fruit Market (Lewis) Fountain | Pocono Lake | Retail – About 1969, John Lewis built a new grocery store | John Lewis | Old Route 940 | |
| Pocono Sport Shop | Pocono Pines | Fishing, Bait, SkiDoos, Laser sailboats | John Briggs and Hugh Lamberton | Old Route 940 | |
| Rudy’s Fountain | Pocono Lake | Retail | Rudy | 3rd Street | |
| The Village Squire | |||||
| Villa Varilla |
