The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has approved a historical marker commemorating Richard Puryear, a Black man who was lynched in Stroudsburg in 1894. The approval followed years of advocacy by local leaders and historians.

The marker recognition represents the culmination of efforts led by state Rep. Tarah Probst, Pike County Commissioner and Monroe County NAACP Past President Christa Caceres, and the Monroe County Historical Association.

Caceres, who became the first female Black commissioner in Pike County, brought Puryear’s story to Stroudsburg in 2020, initiating the process that led to the marker’s approval.

Puryear, a laborer, was accused of killing Christian and Louisa Ehlers , who operated a store in Tannersville. However, the truth surrounding the accusations r

See Full Page