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Honesdale Star Park

Coordinates: 41°34′26″N 75°15′19″W / 41.573915°N 75.255141°W / 41.573915; -75.255141
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gibbons Memorial Park, also known as Honesdale Star Park, is a park in Honesdale, Pennsylvania with a 30-foot (9.1 m) star in the center.

The park

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The park is dedicated as a memorial to a past mayor, Austin Flint Gibbons, and to his parents Dr. and Mrs. Peter S. Gibbons.[1] The actual park that the star is in lies at the top of a winding wooded road.[1] A local paper reported in November 1956: "The Christmas star has been placed on its frame in Gibbons Memorial Park, Irving Cliff. It will be lighted Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 21."[2] Perched on top of Irving Cliff, the highest mountain overlooking the town, the park is surrounded by a large fence that wraps around the premises.

Lent and Easter

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During the 40 days leading up to Easter, otherwise known as Lent, the star that watches the town disappears and is replaced by another image. A towering Christian cross is instead displayed over the town.

The cross has been permanently removed due to a First Amendment challenge.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Wayne County Historical Society". Waynehistorypa.org. 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  2. ^ Lyon, Mrs. Charles. "Around the Country with Our Correspondents." The Milford (PA) Dispatch, 15 November 1956, 5.

41°34′26″N 75°15′19″W / 41.573915°N 75.255141°W / 41.573915; -75.255141