Judy, Thanks to Iris for the WCHS plug! You should be aware of schedules, however. The historical society is open 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday, while the courthouse is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, so if your time is limited Wednesday through Friday are the best days to hit both. I might suggest going to the historical society first, since Gloria is very familiar with what's at the courthouse and could point you in the right direction over there. They are very nice but don't always know what they have in the way of old records. And, some of the courthouse material is also on microfilm at the historical society - birth and death records 1893-1905, Orphans Court Docket for the early years, naturalizations, delayed birth records, etc. The courthouse has a microfilm room where you can get copies made. They are very accommodating, but naturally they are busy with current activities, so the more specific you can be about what you're looking for the better. The rooms with wills and deeds are open to the public. You just go in and look in the index, then go to the appropriate book. Although there are probate files in the open, for the old ones you're looking for you'll probably have to ask someone to fetch the file, which they're willing to do. As in most places these days, you have to pass through a security check at the courthouse. I always try to leave as much as possible locked in my car and just carry a pad and pen and money for copies. The public library has no genealogical information; they refer everyone to the historical society. My advice would be to sit down and decide what you're looking for specifically. Since your time is limited, you won't want to waste it looking for material that's available elsewhere. If you've already done the census, bring what you've learned with you. For the time period you're researching, hard evidence is pretty rare. In addition to Fife & Drum, there is a bed & breakfast on Main St. whose name escapes me, but I could look it up if you're interested. There's also another small motel called the Grandview. Since I live here I've never stayed in any of them, but as Iris says they are serviceable but not fancy. My cousin stayed at the Fife & Drum and said that the sheets were clean and the price right. If you want something more elegant, there are more upscale motels in Hawley and Hamlin. There are several luncheonette-type restaurants and delicatessens on Main Street, and if you're looking for something a bit nicer for dinner, ask Gloria and she'll point you in the right direction. We have a mall with a supermarket, K-Mart and some smaller stores, and across the highway is a large Wal-Mart. There are many small shops in town, including antique and gift shops. The weekends usually have lots of activities. There's a farmer's market every Saturday, train excursions to Hawley or Lackawaxen on the weekends, church suppers, etc. etc. While you're at the historical society you'll want to go through the museum (if you're not a member, there's a $3 fee that covers both library and museum), and the Dorflinger Glass Museum in White Mills is lovely. The Chamber of Commerce's Visitor Center has an excellent Gravity Railroad exhibit. The Wayne County Fair is the first week in August. I'm sure I've forgotten something, but both local newspapers (Wayne Independent and Weekly Almanac) have websites, so you could check up on upcoming events before you leave home. The most important things to remember on a short visit - know what you want to find and look for things that aren't available anywhere else. Ann