Maplewood

Maplewood is a historic, unincorporated community located in Lake Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Though small and rural today, it once thrived as a hub of industry and transportation in the 19th century.

🏞️ Location & Setting

• Township: Lake Township
• County: Wayne County, PA
• ZIP Code: 18436 (shared with Lake Ariel)
• Nearby Communities: Elmdale, Greentown, Maple Lake, Gravity
• Time Zone: Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
• Elevation: Approximately 1,400 feet

🕰️ Historical Highlights

• Former Name: Originally known as Forrest Mills
• Industrial Roots:
  • Home to a sawmill and chair factory, which attracted workers and families
  • The Pennsylvania Coal Company built a gravity railroad through Maplewood in 1852
  • The Erie & Wyoming Valley Railroad added a line from Scranton to Hawley about a decade later, boosting passenger and freight traffic
• Maplewood Schoolhouse:
  • Built in 1876 at the corner of Lake Henry Road and Circle Road
  • Expanded in 1897 to accommodate growing enrollment
  • Taught reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, and later grammar and hygiene

🏡 Community Character

• Residential Style: Rural homes, cabins, and farmland
• Atmosphere: Quiet, wooded, and steeped in local heritage
• Modern Identity: A peaceful hamlet with deep historical roots and proximity to Lake Henry and Lake Wallenpaupack