Browndale
School District
Type:
Village
Municipality
🏞️ Browndale, located in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, is a small village with a rich immigrant heritage and a legacy rooted in coal mining, silk production, and community resilience.
📍 Location & Setting
- Situated near Forest City, in the northern part of Wayne County
- Lies along the Lackawanna River, with scenic hills and wooded surroundings
- Part of the Forest City Regional School District and Western Wayne School District
🏛️ Historical Highlights
- Originally known as Browntown, the area was laid out by H.W. Brown around 1905
- Became home to many Yugoslav immigrant families, including the Babers, Harvatines, Draslers, and others
- Children crossed a footbridge over the Lackawanna River to attend school in Forest City
🏫 Browndale School
- Built in 1907 on land purchased from H.W. Brown for $350
- First teacher: Claude Arnold, just 17 years old, taught 30 students in grades 1–6
- English was a second language for many students, reflecting the area's immigrant roots
🏘️ Community Character
- A company-town feel, with homes built for coal miners and silk mill workers
- Strong sense of heritage and pride in its working-class origins
- Today, Browndale is a quiet residential area with echoes of its industrious past